ONCE the government has received proposals from all of the local councils in Devon it will examine their submissions. It will then decide which proposal(s) will go to statutory stakeholders for consultation during the first half of next year.

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

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.

Councillor Julian Brazil, Devon County Council Leader, said: “At the end of this process we all have to come together. Our duty is to deliver the services that our residents deserve.

“Within that is proper funding for local government. The fact children in Devon get less than nearly every other area in the country is grossly unfair and affects their life chances”. I totally agree with this point.

There’s a sense of frustration that councillors are not making the decision, we witnessed that in the earlier Full Council debate.

There is a consensus that we’re being pushed and pulled, and forced to do this by government.

There is no point in dying on the hill of Local Government Reorganisation.

The Minister will decide what happens, we will find out about that next Spring when the Government goes to consultation, shadow elections are due to be held in May 2027, all in public service will come together to deliver the service our residents deserve.

Mid Devon District Council is one of seven of Devon’s councils – East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Torridge, West Devon - have all worked together to create the Reimagining Devon Case for Change, a bold plan for Local Government Reorganisation with three unitary authorities across Devon.

On balance this is my preferred option. While we wait for the Minister’s decision there is work to be done.

Councillor Steve Keable

County Councillor and District Councillor