CAROLINE Keane, the West Devon councillor who resigned from the Conservative party earlier this month, wants to hear the views of her electorate before she makes a decision on her political future.
Cllr Keane, who is one of the borough's Tavistock North ward members and a town councillor, will hold a public meeting in the Rundle Room at Tavistock Town Hall next week.
Cllr Keane said the 'widening gap' between her beliefs and those of the Conservative party was the main reason for her resignation.
She said: 'In order to represent my community as best I could, I found I was more often than not at odds with my fellow group members.'
'The reason I am holding this meeting is to hear what people have to say and to give them my reasons for stepping down as a Conservative.
'I also don't think councillors have the right to pre-suppose political movement without consulting with the electorate — the electorate deserve more respect than that,' she said.
Cllr Keane said she hoped electors would appreciate that she was being as open as she could with them. Depending on the outcome of the meeting she will decide whether to join another political group, become an Independent member or to resign from both councils and stand again for re-election under a different banner.
Cllr Keane's meeting will take place at 7pm on Wednesday October 24.