Cities united

EXETER and Plymouth are two cities that don’t always see eye to eye. The respective football teams have been rivals for generations, vying to be Devon's top dog.

- by GUY HENDERSON Local Democracy Reporter [e-mail]

But a united front between their civic leaders could pave the way towards the new shape of the county’s local government.

Both Labour-controlled city councils have now signed off on their united support for four unitary authorities to cover Devon when the current system of county, city, unitary and district councils is abolished in 2028.

They want an expanded Exeter, an expanded Plymouth, an expanded Torbay and a fourth authority to take care of the rest.

Other councils have very different ideas, with the seven other district counties favouring a ‘4-5-1'model, with Torbay, South Hams, Teignbridge and West Devon combined in one authority, East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon, North Devon and Torridge in another and keeping Plymouth remaining on its own.

The county council wants to see it's ‘9-1-1’ suggestion brought in, with Plymouth and Torbay standing on their own and the rest of the county coming together in another authority.