East Devon proposes county be split into two major councils

Devon should be split into two large local authorities with Exeter and Plymouth put into one of each, according to a proposal by East Devon District Council.

The proposal specifically suggests that East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon and Teignbridge district councils should create a unitary council with Exeter.
It added that a second unitary, that would include Plymouth, should be created, implying that Torbay, South Hams, West Devon and Torridge could be merged into this one.
This idea was backed by East Devon’s full council and will be sent to the government today (Friday 10 January), although it could be quickly dealt a blow given Jim McMahon, the minister for local government and devolution, has suggested Exeter might be able to go it alone.
Cllr Paul Arnott (Liberal Democrat, Coly Valley) said there had been a “blizzard of meetings” since deputy prime minister Angela Rayner last month announced the biggest shake-up of local government in 50 years. It will essentially abolish county and district councils in favour of larger, unitary authorities.
Unitary councils are responsible for all the services in their area, unlike the two-tier system that exists in much of Devon now, where the county covers some services and the districts others.
Devon’s councils have been racing to respond to the government’s devolution white paper.
While Friday’s deadline only appears to be relevant to councils that would need to postpone elections to “submit a clear commitment to devolution” – such as Devon County Council – Devon’s districts have sought to get their views into government anyway, believing this might allow them to have greater influence over their own fate.
“We feel it was worth at least one of the councils who could be involved in the proposed unitary council that we would be in, putting the idea out there as a recommendation, as something to aim for,” Cllr Arnott said.
Cllr Jess Bailey (Independent, Otter Valley) asked whether the other councils that East Devon is proposing it could merge with had echoed the suggestion.
“Have they included this proposal in their equivalent meetings on this issue?,” she asked.
Cllr Arnott acknowledged they hadn’t, but that they were aware of East Devon’s move to do so.
He added that the leaders of the other councils had “had chats about it being possible”, and that he wanted East Devon, as the largest district, “to try and show that extra bit of leadership”.
Various concerns were raised about a larger unitary council covering half of Devon, notably that such an authority could be more distanced from local communities, and that the expected efficiencies – both financial and in terms of how services are delivered – may not be realised.
Cllr Brian Bailey (Conservative, Exmouth Littleham) felt councils were being “dictated to” by the government, albeit acknowledging it had been “elected fairly and squarely”.
He continued: “In this white paper [from the government], there is no mention of residents or the lack of services.
“We need to get in the door and then alter the thinking of the creation process.”