Devon MPs take council reorganisation fight to Parliament with 6,000 signatures

More than 6,000 people have signed petitions calling on the Government to reverse its plans for local government reorganisation across Devon.

The petitions, organised by Devon MPs Rebecca Smith and Caroline Voaden, are being presented in Parliament today (Wednesday 2 September).

Ms Smith, the Conservative MP for South West Devon, has collected more than 4,200 signatures, while Ms Voaden, Liberal Democrat MP for South Devon, has seen nearly 2000 people sign her petition.

The petitions highlight concerns about the effect the proposed changes could have on communities across the county.

The Government confirmed in July that it had accepted proposals to expand Exeter, Plymouth and Torbay councils and create a new Devon Council covering the area between them.

The new councils are due to replace Devon’s current two-tier system of county and district councils in 2028.

Under the proposals, the number of councils providing local services across the area would be reduced from 11 to four. The new authorities would be responsible for services including bin collections, education, roads and social care.

In a Devon-wide consultation, the option chosen by the Government ranked fourth out of five possible options, receiving 20 per cent positive support.

Under the plans, Plymouth would expand into 13 South Hams parishes, while the remaining parishes would become part of the proposed Devon Council or an expanded Torbay Council.

The two MPs said residents had raised concerns about communities being divided, the future delivery of vital services, democratic representation, council tax and the financial viability of the proposed Devon Council.

Ms Smith said: “I have heard time and again from residents who are deeply worried about what these proposals would mean for their communities.

“I am not opposed to local government reorganisation in principle, but any changes must work for the people and communities affected. These proposals do not.

“If Andy Burnham truly believes in putting power into the hands of local people, he should listen, go back to the drawing board and think again.”

Ms Voaden said the proposed reorganisation was “completely unworkable”.

“Ask anyone with actual knowledge of Devon and they will tell you that Labour’s carve-up of the county is completely unworkable,” she said.

“It is patently clear a rural authority at the scale of the proposed Devon Council, with a road network comparable in size to Luxembourg, won’t be able to deliver services effectively or affordably.”

She added: “I have been contacted by hundreds of constituents this summer who are deeply worried about the risk these changes pose to local services.

“Their voices should count just as much as those of Labour politicians in Exeter and Plymouth.”

The MPs’ action comes after the Government said the four-unitary model was the best option overall.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the then Environment Secretary Steve Reed said the model would allow Devon’s three economic centres, Exeter, Torbay and Plymouth, to grow, with the potential to increase housing supply and create further growth opportunities.

Devon County Council has raised concerns about the proposed expansion of the cities and questioned how the Government reached its decision, the LDRS also reported.

The county council is expected to decide this month whether to mount a legal challenge against the Government’s decision.

Ms Smith has previously said she would continue to press the Government over the plans and ensure the views of residents in her constiuency are heard.

Ms Voaden has also called for the proposals to be reconsidered, saying devolution should be “built from the ground up, not imposed by Whitehall”.

The Government’s current plans are expected to come into effect in 2028.