Devon councils consider a ‘1-5-4’ plan, a local government shakeup, to potentially form three large unitary authorities.
Details about the plan should be announced soon. Plymouth would stay a unitary authority. It might even gain some land from South Hams. The ‘5’ becomes one big council. This joins East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon, Exeter and Torridge.
The ‘4’ would be a second council merger. South Hams, Teignbridge, West Devon and Torbay would join. The government wants to change local government. It wants to get rid of the two-tier system.
Currently, two councils manage different things. Devon County handles roads, for example. District councils collect waste. The government likes fewer, bigger unitary councils best. Each council should serve around 500,000 people. Growth areas might get exceptions to that size rule.
Councils must send proposals by March 21. They must say how they could reorganize. This would create fewer, larger councils. Devon currently has 11 councils. This number could shrink to three. This depends on the government approving the ‘1-5-4’ proposal.
Seven district councils are working together. They are creating this proposal. Exeter wants to become its own unitary council. Leaders generally think the ‘1-5-4’ plan might work.
A problem area is Plymouth’s boundary expansion. Some think Plymouth should include Saltash. But Saltash is actually in Cornwall. Expanding into South Hams seems more likely. The exact size of that change will spark debate.
Devon County Council’s support is also uncertain. They could back the 1-5-4 plan. Alternatively, they might suggest something else.
Details about the plan should be announced soon. Plymouth would stay a unitary authority. It might even gain some land from South Hams. The ‘5’ becomes one big council. This joins East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon, Exeter and Torridge.
The ‘4’ would be a second council merger. South Hams, Teignbridge, West Devon and Torbay would join. The government wants to change local government. It wants to get rid of the two-tier system.
Currently, two councils manage different things. Devon County handles roads, for example. District councils collect waste. The government likes fewer, bigger unitary councils best. Each council should serve around 500,000 people. Growth areas might get exceptions to that size rule.
Councils must send proposals by March 21. They must say how they could reorganize. This would create fewer, larger councils. Devon currently has 11 councils. This number could shrink to three. This depends on the government approving the ‘1-5-4’ proposal.
Seven district councils are working together. They are creating this proposal. Exeter wants to become its own unitary council. Leaders generally think the ‘1-5-4’ plan might work.
A problem area is Plymouth’s boundary expansion. Some think Plymouth should include Saltash. But Saltash is actually in Cornwall. Expanding into South Hams seems more likely. The exact size of that change will spark debate.
Devon County Council’s support is also uncertain. They could back the 1-5-4 plan. Alternatively, they might suggest something else.