Residents in North Devon and Torridge are being encouraged to take part in a landmark public survey that will help decide how council services are delivered across the county from 2028.
The structure of local government across England is set to change in a process called local government reorganisation. This means Devon’s current ‘two-tier’ system with a county council and eight district councils along with Torbay Council and Plymouth City Council will end.
Last year, councils across the county developed proposals for new unitary authorities. North Devon Council and Torridge District Council were part of a group of seven district councils in Devon to jointly submit the proposal Reimagining Devon, which would result in three unitary authorities:
- Exeter and Northern Devon – a unitary authority with East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon, North Devon and Torridge
- Torbay and Southern Devon – a unitary authority with South Hams, Teignbridge, Torbay and West Devon
- Plymouth City Council remaining a standalone unitary authority.
The proposal, also known as the 4-5-1 model, is one of five proposals submitted by councils across Devon. A modified version of the proposal from the districts, known as 4-5-1+, has also been submitted and includes a modest expansion of Plymouth into four parishes within South Hams.
A public consultation is now open and runs until 11.59pm on Thursday 26 March. Responses to the consultation will help inform the UK Government's final decision on which proposal will be carried forward.
Councillor David Clayton, Leader of North Devon Council, said: "This is a generational change to local government and how so many of the services that affect all of our day-to-day lives are delivered, which is why it is vitally important that you have your say on these proposals.
"We believe the 4-5-1 and 4-5-1+ proposals offer three authorities that are big enough to be financially sustainable and deliver major services while remaining local and accessible, with communities at their hearts. We encourage everyone to look at all of the options on the table and respond to this consultation before it closes on 26 March."
Councillor Ken James, Leader of Torridge District Council, said: “We believe the 4-5-1 and 4-5-1+ proposals will create balanced authorities which can thrive and ensure no community is left behind. Following a great deal of collaborative work across political and geographic boundaries we believe that we have created a structure that is financially robust, reflects Devon's unique geography and identity, and will deliver high-quality, accessible public services in the heart of our communities.
"The Government consultation is your last chance to influence how your area is governed for future decades and we want as many residents as possible to have their say. We have been assured by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government that every response will be treated equally, so I would strongly encourage every resident, business, local voluntary sector partner, parish and town council to complete the consultation.”
Details of all five proposals and links to the UK Government's consultation can be found on the Devon LGR website or by heading directly to the consultation page on gov.uk.
Paper copies of the proposals and the consultation can be found at North Devon Council's Town Centre Hub in Green Lanes Shopping Centre, at Torridge District Council, Riverbank House, Bideford, EX39 2QG, and in Devon's libraries.
A decision on which proposal will be taken forward is expected from the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government this summer. Elections for the new authority would take place in May 2027 before it commences in 2028.
