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We advocate for the use of community and citizens’ assemblies as part of local authority public engagement, so that residents’ views are properly heard and included in important decisions. This approach helps rebuild public trust in politics and democracy.
We were therefore pleased to see that the Exeter Green Party manifesto for the 2026 city council elections includes a commitment to “improving how the Council listens, consults, and works with residents to tackle local problems including the use of a Citizens' Assembly”. The Exeter Liberal Democrats manifesto also commits to “holding a citizens’ assembly on the climate and ecological emergency”.
Below are each party's position on assemblies and public participation in decision-making, which we hope will help Exeter residents make an informed choice on 7 May. It will also act as a record to help us hold elected representatives accountable for delivering on their campaign promises.
Exeter Green Party will:
- Improve how the Council listens, consults, and works with residents to tackle local problems including the use of a Citizen’s Assembly.
- Undertake a community governance review, so residents can decide on our local services and representation.
- Involve residents in shaping their neighbourhoods, ensure people have a say on how developer contributions are spent.
- Create a community and council action group to help tackle the cost of living crisis
Exeter Liberal Democrat Party will:
- Fully involve its citizens in decision-making about the future of their city.
- Establish active community groups and forums to bring people together to solve issues
- Properly include local people in decision-making about the climate and ecological emergency, such as through a Citizens’ Assembly.
- Invite the public to take part in scrutiny panels within local communities for specific issues, with the power to make recommendations and propose improvements.
Exeter Labour Party
Exeter Labour Party have made no commitment to use assemblies as a way to improve public engagement and participation in local democracy. They disagree with us that the current Exeter City Council consultation and engagement processes are inadequate, leading to poor outcomes for residents, and increasing public disenchantment with local democracy.
They said: "The city council has spent a lot of time and resources on consulting and engaging with residents over recent years, and this will continue. Our annual Residents’ Survey provides an excellent insight into how people living in Exeter feel about their city and the services run by the city council. It is open to everyone online, and we also commission an independently run representative survey of more than 1,000 residents across every ward in the city. We also hold an annual budget consultation as well as consultations and engagement on key polices like Exeter’s Cultural Strategy and City Centre Strategy."
Exeter Conservative Party
The Conservative Group have made no commitment to use assemblies.
They said "The Conservative Group consider that it is one of the major jobs of a City Councillor to communicate with residents and to listen to their views and to represent them at Council Committee Meetings and at Full Council. The Conservative Group supports the creation of Neighbourhood Plan Areas and the creation of Residents’ Associations. The Conservative Group believes that any consultation process should be easily available both on-line and on paper and that residents should be encouraged by their Local Councillors to participate."
Exeter Reform Party
We were unable to find an Exeter-specific 2026 local election manifesto for Reform UK. They also did not respond to our request for a statement.
Other candidates
We were unable to find any relevant policies or commitments made by any of the other candidates.
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