It meets at Exeter Guildhall and has its main offices at the Civic Centre on Paris Street.

[10] In 2010 the government proposed that the city should become an independent unitary authority, like nearby Plymouth and Torbay.

[11][12] At the end of 2024, in response to the moves towards creating a Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority, the council put forward a motion to bid for unitary authority status, which was approved unanimously by the council in early 2025.

Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms took effect has been as follows:[17][18] The role of Lord Mayor of Exeter is largely ceremonial.

The leaders since 1983 have been: Following the 2024 election, the composition of the council was:[28] The Greens and Liberal Democrats sit together as the "Progressive Group".

Full council meetings are generally held at the city's Guildhall at 203 High Street, which was built around 1470.

[32] Following the May 2022 elections, David Harvey (Pinhoe) left the Labour group, and subsequently sits as an Independent.