Share your views on how Devon should be run!
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A lot’s suddenly been happening on the local government reorganisation front…
TO DELAY OR NOT TO DELAY EXETER’S MAY ELECTIONS
At the end of last year, looking at the vexed issue of Shaking up local government in Devon, we considered the question of delaying local elections.
Back then, Plymouth council confirmed its elections were to go ahead, but Exeter remained unsure. A month later, it was being asked why councils are being abolished and elections cancelled in Devon – as Exeter City Council made up its mind to ask central government to postpone the local elections in May.
It does seem to be about party politics:
Opposition councillors believe they would be in a good position to take seats from Labour given the party lost all of its seats in Exeter in last year’s Devon County Council elections, and the party’s performance in national polls. Labour denies any allegations of “running scared” and says Exeter is a strong Labour city where the party still has widespread support. Of the 13 seats that would have been up for election in Exeter, eight are held by Labour, meaning they could have faced losing control of the council.
But it’s now been announced that the Exeter council elections have been restored after a major government U-turn – with it being suggested that Keir Starmer has u-turned on cancelling council elections after a legal threat.
And whilst the Labour-led Exeter City Council defends the ‘election shambles’, the LibDem-led County Council says the Exeter elections U-turn avoids a ‘dangerous decision’. For a non-partisan look at the story, the Exeter Observer recounts how the Exeter local elections are to go ahead in May after the government cancellation U-turn.
ASKING FOR OUR VIEWS ON THE OPTIONS FOR LOCAL GOVT REORGANISATION
Now that we know where we are with regard to local elections, what about central government’s proposals for reorganising local government?
A week ago, the government announced that the major local government shakeup in 14 areas as open for views – saying that Local Government Reorganisation is an ongoing process to deliver simplified more efficient local authorities and reduce wasted spending on bureaucracy.
So, then, people are being asked to share their views on how Devon should be run: The existing authorities have come up with various plans for how they would like to carve up the county and the government is now asking the public for their views on what would work best, external.
The local councils are encouraging us to take part, including the District Council which has helpfully given a summary in its press release as views are sought on proposals for new Local Government arrangements for Devon:
A consultation on the future of local government in Devon has been opened by the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
This is the latest step in the process for reorganising local authorities following UK Government’s decision to simplify local services in England.
All authorities in the County had the opportunity to respond and there are now five proposals on the table for the county;
- “Reimagining Devon” – three unitary authorities proposed by South Hams, Teignbridge, and West Devon.
- “Reimagining Devon” – three unitary authorities, with a request to modify the boundaries of Plymouth, proposed by East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon, and Torridge.
- “The Case for Devon” – three unitary authorities, including a single large unitary council for Devon, alongside the existing Plymouth and Torbay unitary councils, proposed by Devon County Council
- “Proposal for Local Government Reorganisation in Devon” suggests expanded boundaries for the Plymouth and Torbay unitaries, a new unitary council for Exeter and the surrounding area, plus a rural and coastal unitary covering the remaining area, proposed by Plymouth & Exeter City Councils.
- “Proposal for Local Government Reorganisation in Devon” which is similar to the Plymouth & Exeter proposal, but suggests that Torbay would maintain its current boundaries, proposed by Torbay Council.
Government is now consulting on these options to inform their plans for the new authority, which will be announced in summer 2026.
Councillor John Loudoun, East Devon District Council’s Deputy Leader, said: “Devon councils have been working hard to develop these proposals, focused on the goal of securing the future delivery of vital services across the county. I strongly encourage residents and community organisations to take part in the government’s consultation. Your views will help ensure that it fully understands the opportunities and challenges facing Devon, and that any future local government structure is resilient, effective, and capable of supporting our communities for generations to come.”
The consultation can be viewed at https://www.devonlgr.co.uk and will be open until Thursday 26 March 2026.
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