COUNCILLORS have been running the rule over Devon’s proposals for the reorganisation of local government in the county.

At a special meeting of Devon County Council’s Full Council on Friday, November 14, councillors had the opportunity to comment on Devon’s draft business case.

Devon County Council is proposing that the County Council and the existing eight district councils are replaced with a single unitary authority serving around 840,000 residents, while retaining the existing authorities of Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council.

The business case for Devon’s proposals, subject to approval, needs to be submitted to government by Friday, November 28.

Feedback from councillors will be considered at a special Cabinet meeting next Tuesday, November 18, when it makes its final decision on the proposals.

While no vote was taken at the Full Council meeting, there was a shared frustration from councillors over what’s being asked of local councils.

Councillor Julian Brazil, Leader of Devon County Council, said: “There’s a sense of frustration that councillors are not making the decision. I share that frustration, and our Cabinet isn’t making the decision either.

“There is a general consensus about how we’re being pushed and pulled, and forced to do this by government. Government has foisted this upon us.

“They talk about devolution and moving decision making to a lower level, but then decide they will choose how to do that. The irony isn’t lost on me.

“I’ve always been in favour of unitary councils but the way we’re being forced to do it is the problem. It’s not news to anyone that I’m not a great fan of this process, but we have to do what we’ve been asked to do by government and try and get the best solution for people in Devon.”

Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, Leader of the Green and Independent group, said: “It’s been really good to have had such considered points made on this.

“I’m furious with the government for what they’re doing to us. We’ve been so messed around as local authorities delivering public services. We will oblige and we will send forward our proposals and hope we get a decent response from government.

“There’s work to be done, to say the least, but what we’ve heard today is useful.”

A statement from Councillor Michael Fife Cook, Leader of the Reform UK group, was read out by his deputy Councillor Neil Stevens QVRM, on behalf of all of the party’s county councillors.

His statement said: “LGR, in my view, has already achieved what the government set out and wanted it to achieve, that is to simply distract us all from the real problems so many of our residents face; it’s smoke and mirrors again.

“We are mandated to deliver services that we can no longer afford; our government refuses to finance what it demands that we do.

“LGR has possibly brought the worst out in us all, to divide us and our communities along the lines of selfishness and self-preservation. Of course, like most of the rest of you, I have no vote here, so in reality, now the dust has settled and we have to decide on something, my something would have to be new Devon; or ‘no’ to everything, which I much prefer, but in reality we all know, that’s just not an option.”

Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, Leader of the Conservative group, said: “All of these different plans have their merits, and the government has got to make a decision, but the government may have already made a decision on what’s going to happen.

“At the end of the day, none of this addresses the issue we’re all encountering, that we’re not getting enough money in local government. We’ve been lobbying for many years but they haven’t been listening to us.

“We’re the forgotten South West. Whatever we do, it doesn’t address the fact there is a lack of money coming into local government.”

Councillors heard that the proposals for a new unitary council for Devon would provide continuity in critical services such as children’s safeguarding and adult social care, avoiding the disruption and risks that would be caused by breaking them up under separate unitary authorities.

The proposed new authority would have 16 Neighbourhood Area Committees, providing the opportunity to bring together councillors, parish representatives, the voluntary and community sector, businesses and public service partners. This will ensure communities have a strong voice.

Establishing these Neighbourhood Area Committees would not remove any assets or powers from local town and parish councils.

Government will examine all of the proposals it receives from authorities in Devon and decide which proposal(s) will go to statutory stakeholders for consultation during the first half of 2026.

A final decision is expected by government next summer, with shadow elections due to be held in May 2027. The chosen new authority/authorities will take on their new powers and responsibilities on April 1, 2028.