ATTEMPTS by Devon’s opposition parties to delay a decision about getting more decision-making powers from government but combining their own powers has failed after the controlling Conservatives voted for the plan. 

In an at-times febrile debate on devolution at Devon County Council, Liberal Democrat, Labour and Independent councillors raised concerns about the proposals. 

The special meeting of the full council was called to ratify the cabinet’s decision this month to press ahead with plans to create a combined county authority, or CCA, with Torbay. 

Opponents questioned whether this was devolution as they saw it – bringing decision-making closer to the electorate – given it creates another level of government in which people are appointed rather than elected. 

Councillor Alan Connett (Liberal Democrat, Exminster and Haldon) called the proposal a “right Devon fudge”. 

“This is an extra layer of bureaucracy and suggests we want to spend more money on local government red tape than actually doing things,” he said. 

“The £1 million pledged to fund the first three years of costs of running the CCA could be better spent fixing potholes or solving road drainage problems.” 

Concerns were also raised that Torbay, as one of Devon’s smaller districts, could disproportionately benefit from the deal given its smaller population than the Devon County Council area. 

In spite of the disparity – Torbay’s 139,000 residents compared to the Devon County Council area’s 750,000 – both councils will have three voting members on the CCA. 

Other fears raised included district councils seeing their relationship with Homes England diluted, concerns about the long-term costs and how these would be met, and the potential impact on residents if Devon and Torbay officers spend time working for the CCA. 

Proponents of the CCA say the move will give the county greater control over adult education and skills, more say in transport and green issues, as well as a louder voice when it comes to securing cash from Homes England, the body responsible for funding affordable housing. 

Part-way through the debate, Devon’s Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Caroline Leaver (Barnstaple South), put forward a motion to delay the decision because of what she and other opposition members deemed as lack of clarity about how the CCA would function. 

But this motion was defeated, and the initial proposal to submit Devon’s bid to create a CCA with Torbay to the government was agreed. 

Councillor Jess Bailey (Independent, Otter Valley) said that while council leader John Hart, who is standing down, had emphasised that it had been a long process to get to this point, she questioned the lack of clarity. 

“For instance, why has Devon not established whether it will give district councils voting rights, as that could have been set out,” she said. 

“And this does not address the fundamental issue that this council is not properly funded.  

"It doesn’t address that at all, and I have no confidence that this will lead to any better services but just pointless bureaucracy and crumbs from the top table.” 

By Bradley Gerrard