Devon council leader to step down after 15 years

John Hart says he leaves Devon Council Council in a good position with a balanced budget

The leader of Devon County Council (DCC) has announced his intention to step down from the post.

It marks the end of a 15-year run for John Hart, who became leader of Devon's then opposition Conservative Group in 2007, winning power in the 2009 election.

Mr Hart said he would leave the council "in a good position with a balanced budget".

A ballot would now be held to decide the next leader, the Devon Conservative Group said, with Mr Hart remaining in post until then.

'Sorely missed'

Mr Hart said: "It is the right time for me to stand down as leader."

Describing the "privilege and pleasure" of serving the people of Devon, he thanked his ward for their "continued support".

"Devon is the county in which I grew up and have lived all my life, in which I've run my family business, got married and raised my children, and it is the county which I love," he added.

The Conservative leader said he was proud of his record of "producing balanced budgets in every year of his leadership except one exceptional year during Covid".

On his legacy, he said budget management this year meant leaders could "propose an allocation of an extra £10m" for repairing potholes and for drainage work on roads.

Meanwhile, he said an agreement with the government for £95m funding for special needs education would "hopefully finalise our devolution deal, along with Torbay Council".

Mr Hart was first elected to his home ward of Wembury and Erme in 1989 and now represents Wembury and Bickleigh after boundary changes.

Among career highlights, he cited the "major reorganisation of education in Exeter" and winning a £100m contract to rebuild all five secondary schools.

DCC said Mr Hart was also leader through the national period of austerity and the Covid-19 pandemic, when the county council was the regional lead authority for south-west England.

He set up Team Devon, uniting leaders to support "the most vulnerable" during Covid.

The council cited among his achievements a £2bn investment in infrastructure, including the South Devon Link Road, the opening of Okehampton railway station and the introduction of daily train services to Exeter and the expansion of Exeter’s Science Park.

He oversaw the county council's commitment to be net carbon zero by 2030, it added.

Mr Hart paid tribute to his wife Rita and children for their support.

Sir Gary Streeter, Devon's longest-serving MP, said Mr Hart had been a "tower of strength" in the life of the county.

Christine Channon, Mr Hart's predecessor added: "John combines great political skills with a limitless capacity for hard work.

"He will be sorely missed as leader and we all wish him and Rita well for the future."