ELECTED Members of Mid Devon District Council welcomed clerks and councillors from across Mid Devon’s towns and parishes, as it held its annual State of the District Debate.

Held on Wednesday, September 17, the event attracted more than 25 attendees and this year focused on Local Government Reorganisation.

The event provided a valuable platform for discussing the ongoing Local Government Reorganisation process and began with updates from the Leader of the Council, Luke Taylor and Chief Executive, Stephen Walford, who outlined the current status and strategic direction of the reorganisation process.

This was followed by insightful talks from Emma Plummer, Dave Farrow and Joy Norris who shared their experiences from Somerset Council and local parishes, offering insights into lessons learned and reflections on community impact.

Further contributions came from Liz Brookes-Hocking, Chair of the Devon Association of Local Councils who highlighted the importance of communication, while Paul Deal, Head of Finance, Property and Climate Resilience at Mid Devon District Council, addressed the governance and financial implications Local Government Reorganisation will bring.

An engaging session on climate change, led by Councillor Natasha Bradshaw, highlighted environmental priorities within the reorganisation framework, before the evening concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Mid Devon Councillor, Councillor Gwen DuChesne MBE.

Councillor Gwen DuChesne MBE, Cabinet Member for Parish and Community Engagement, said: “It was great to see so many parish and town councillors attend our event, which we really hope bridges a gap between the different authorities in Mid Devon.

“Often there is little time for wider, forward-thinking discussion in our day-to-day jobs, but this debate gave us all a chance to work together and listen to each other’s ideas and concerns as well as share valuable updates.

“Thank you to everyone who gave their time to take part in the discussion and to those who made the event a success.”

Summaries of the talks and discussions have been shared with all of the local councils and Mid Devon District Council says it will continue to work with parish and town councils as the Local Government Reorganisation process moves forward.