Exeter outlines its growth ambitions

CITY councillors in Exeter will vote next week on a move to spread the authority's control and swallow up nearly 40 smaller communities in Devon.

- GUY HENDERSON Local Democracy Reporter

The city council believes it will help boost its population to more than 250,000, fitting the Government's criteria for one of its new unitary authorities.

Local councils across the country will face major changes as part of the Government's move to 'streamline' the way local authorities work. In Devon it will mean the abolition of district councils and the creation of larger unitaries covering the county.

The existing districts all favour a '1-5-4' model in which Plymouth stands alone and the rest of the districts split to create two larger councils.

The five-council section would include Exeter, East Devon, Mid Devon, Torridge and North Devon.