Moves by government to reconsider how the county will be carved up have led to some politicians saying they’ll ‘fight tooth and nail’ against upcoming proposals.
Devon County Council’s Leader Julian Brazil says the public is being ripped off
Anger has emerged across Devon over plans by ministers to reconsider how to carve up Devon’s councils.
The proposed overhaul of Devon’s councils, that would have seen an expanded Plymouth, Exeter and Torbay while leaving a huge rural council covering the rest of the county, has now been withdrawn.
Minister Jim McMahon confirmed the decision on Devon had been scrapped, alongside that of eight other areas of England, and pledged to provide details of a revised decision by early next year, stating councils would be able to offer suggested tweaks to proposed reorganisations, and that some compensation would be forthcoming for money spent on the delayed overhaul.
Minister Jim McMahon says the decision to reorganise Devon’s councils has been withdrawn and a new decision will made in the coming months.(Image: Parliamentlive.tv)
But rather than cheer, there is dismay in several political quarters because the government plans to reassess its decision using the same criteria and the same proposals.
Some fear this will mean that ministers simply re-suggest the same proposal for Devon.
“I think there is a high probability that will be the most likely outcome which is why we will make sure they know we will fight that tooth and nail,” said Councillor Julian Brazil (Liberal Democrat, Kingsbridge ), the leader of Devon County Council.
“The proposals for Devon were a complete disaster, designed by the urban centres with nothing for the mainly rural population.”
He added that he felt the government had “shot our fox”, because by Parliament withdrawing the decision, Devon could no longer launch a judicial review against it.
Cllr Brazil said his council and district peers were now working on new ways to deliver services collaboratively in a way that could save money, but that he feared the government wouldn’t look at the progress being made with that initiative because of its statement that it would only consider the proposals it already has.
Devon County Council had proposed leaving Plymouth and Torbay as unitary councils, and merging the county council with Devon’s districts and Exeter City Council to create a large unitary authority, but Cllr Brazil seemed to suggest that would be less favourable than his efforts to simply collaborate more closely with districts.
David Reed MP (Conservative, Exmouth and Exeter East) said the back-and-forth of the local government reorganisation (LGR) process so far had been “wasting so much taxpayers’ money”.
“When the initial idea of LGR came about, I think the government thought the different levels of government in two tier areas could be broken down into unitary councils, but I don’t think they predicted the proposals would be for three or four unitaries in Devon,” he said.
Devon Tory David Reed(Image: Parliament TV)
“But they have realised the model is way more expensive and not like it is in London or Manchester; it’s a very different make-up here, with the disparity between rural and urban hubs.
“If the government is going to be bold, it needs the right legal justification to proceed, and it is the start-stop approach that annoys everyone as councils can’t plan and it diverts their attention away from the job they are supposed to be doing.”
Councillor David Wulff (Liberal Democrat, Tiverton Castle), the leader of Mid Devon District Council, said he would oppose a new decision if it failed to take account of local pressures.
“I will oppose any settlement that concentrates the benefits of growth in expanded cities while leaving rural Devon with a weaker financial base and the higher costs of serving a dispersed population,” he said.
“A decision that can withstand legal challenge must also be one that stands up to public scrutiny.
Mid Devon leader Cllr David Wulff has criticised the outcome of the reorganisation of Devon by claiming it creates a ‘two-class’ county.(Image: Mid Devon District Council)
“Residents deserve to understand why an option has been chosen, how alternatives have been assessed and what it will mean for their community.”
Cllr Wulff said the previous decision to split Devon into four unitary councils “did not give sufficient weight to Devon’s local circumstances”.
“Those concerns remain and must be properly addressed before a new decision is made,” he said.
“My concern has always been what these changes mean for the people we represent: their services, their ability to influence decisions and the future of the places they call home.
“Labour must explain how its previous decision to expand Exeter at the expense of surrounding communities served those communities’ interests.
“In my view, it placed the ambitions of an enlarged city authority ahead of rural identity and local accountability.”
Cllr Wulff added that with the aspiration – stated in the Budget this week – for local areas to keep more business rates income, that it would be vital for any new councils to be economically viable.
“Against that background, transferring businesses and land with future growth potential into expanded city authorities raises serious questions about the resources left to support rural services,” he said.
“Rural communities must be able to share fairly in the prosperity they help create.
“Ministers need to publish a clear assessment of how any boundary changes, alongside the new funding arrangements, would affect both urban and rural councils.”
Councillor John Loudoun, deputy leader at East Devon District Council, welcomed the government taking more time to consider its options, but stressed a decision was needed soon.
“It is essential that councils receive clarity on the next steps as soon as possible,” he said.
“Local authorities need certainty to plan effectively, set budgets, support their workforce and make long-term decisions on behalf of the communities they serve.
“While we welcome [Thursday’s] announcement, a prolonged period of uncertainty brings significant financial and operational pressure for the council.”
A new decision by the government is expected early next year, with elections for new councils happening in 2028, a year before they take control in 2029.