Last month the High Court upheld a challenge to the legality of the Exeter and Devon (Structural Changes) Order 2010 and the Norwich and Norfolk (Structural Changes) Order 2010 and quashed the orders – which would have made Exeter and Norwich unitary councils. The councils had been due to have elections for one third of their councillors on 6 May but the orders provided that the terms of councillors up for election then should be extended until a full council election in 2011.
With the orders annulled, what should happen to the councillors whose terms should have expired? The High Court has just ruled: they are disqualified immediately, and must be replaced at byelections. The ruling has changed the compositions of Exeter city council and Norwich city council.
A service provided by
Political and community consultation experts