Twenty-six councillors (13 in Norwich and 13 in Exeter) have been booted of their respective councils following the government’s decision to overturn the decision to turn Norwich and Exeter in to unitary authorities.
The 26 councillors who had been up for re-election this May had their terms of office extended by a year to the date when the proposed all-up unitary elections were due to be held. Now the High Court has quashed the appeal against the decision stop the change to unitary status, a judge decided that for “legal reasons” these councillors will now have to fight by-elections if they wish to regain their places on the councils. The councils are now looking at what effect this has on the political balance and cabinets of both councils in the period running up to the by-elections.
More details are available on the BBC website.