Authority puts forward new plan to redraw county’s political map

A FRESH bid to redraw Devon's local government map is ‘not the status quo’ and could lead to improved services, according to county leaders.

- by BRADLEY GERRARD Local Democracy Reporter

Cllr Paul Arnott presenting the New Devon proposal

(Bradley Gerrard/LDRS)

Under a new proposal put forward by the county council, Devon's 11 councils would become just three, with a so-called ‘New Devon’ unitary authority being created by a merger of the eight district councils with the county council, while Plymouth and Torbay would retain their existing boundaries.

It comes after differing plans have been put forward by other councils ahead of next month's deadline to let the Government know firm proposals.

Council chiefs have been forced into coming up with ideas after the Government announced it wants to see an end to the two-tier system of government seen in places including Devon, with a county authority responsible for some areas and more local district councils in charge of others.

Plymouth and Torbay are already served by unitary authorities which are responsible for all matters on their patch, as the Government wants, but are both below the 500,000 population figure set as a target by Whitehall. Despite that, both would like to stay as they are.