FURTHER details of the new “interim” warding arrangements have been set out for unitary authorities in Devon, and they see some dramatic changes for the Crediton area.

As we all know, the plan is that Crediton becomes part of Exeter Council.

The proposal is that both Crediton Lawrence and Crediton Boniface wards will have two councillors each, similar to what we have now for Mid Devon District Council, but with the abolition of Mid Devon District Council and Devon County Council, it will be just these four councillors who will represent the town as part of Exeter Council.

In addition, both Yeo Ward and Upper Yeo Ward will combine to become a larger Yeo Ward, also with two councillors to represent the area as part of Exeter Council.

The whole of Tedburn St Mary Parish will have just one councillor as part of Exeter Council.

The majority of Exeter and Exmouth Council wards see their number of councillors increase to three councillors.

The Labour Government’s plan is the biggest local government shake-up in 50 years, Devon’s 481 councillors reducing to 321 as the county and eight district councils are abolished.

Devon councils have had just four weeks to come up with new ward boundaries which will see some communities being combined and larger populations per councillor.

The timescale was set by the government who announced last month that Devon would have four unitary councils responsible for all services in 2028 – Exeter Council, Torbay and South Devon Council, Greater Plymouth Council and a large, mainly rural, Devon Council.

The authorities will have 86, 64, 68 and 103 members respectively.

Devon County Council is making it clear to government that it does not endorse the arrangements due to the “demographic deficit”.

It’s been scathing of the government’s choice in how the county should be carved up following a number of alternative proposals that were put forward which it said better met the government’s own criteria.

The new Devon Council, which will stretch over 100 miles from north to south, was also unpopular with the public with only 20 per cent supporting it as an option during a public consultation.

Devon County Council will decide in September whether to proceed to legally challenge the government over its decision.

With regard to Crediton, Devon County Council has concerns about weakened community links, dilution of local identity as well as shared services falling across different areas, if it joins Exeter Council.

Members will be elected in all wards for the temporary shadow authorities in May 2027 to oversee the transition before the new councils take over in April 2028.

The Boundary Commission will have the opportunity to review the ward boundaries before implementation, the government has said.

A full list of the new warding arrangements can be found here: https://democracy.devon.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=44856#mgDocuments