Frustrated councillors believe they and their communities are being left powerless as the future of Devon’s local government is decided.
Every district council in the county has met in the last few days to discuss its responses to government proposals to reorganise the way local government works across the country.
Devon’s district councils could be swept away as a new super-sized authority is created, possibly combining Devon, Torbay, Plymouth and even Cornwall under the direction of an elected mayor.
Cllr Sally Morgan (Lib Dem, Bovey) told a meeting of Teignbridge Council: “This is something that is being done to us, rather than us doing it.
“It is being rushed through at a time of national and local uncertainty, and we need to be vigilant on behalf of our residents and staff. This is a massive distraction at a time when we need it the least.
“There is a huge chance that some vulnerable residents could fall through the gaps.”
Cllr Suzanne Sanders (Lib Dem, Chudleigh) added: “The unitary decision has been taken away from the public. It is a diktat.
“It is going to impact very much on the public because a unitary authority will be much further removed from our residents.”
And Cllr Kevin Lake (Con, Kenn Valley) said he is ‘uncomfortable’ with the process.
“I am uncomfortable with the government’s attitude to rural areas,” he said. “This is just a diktat that is going to be imposed by central government.”
Council leader Richard Keeling (Lib Dem, Chudleigh) told colleagues: “The devil is in the detail.” He has joined the leaders of other district councils in Devon in opposing the idea of a single large unitary council covering the whole of the county, saying it would be too big and too remote from local communities.
“It doesn’t benefit our residents, and that must come first,” he said. “The main priority in all of this is to make sure that the residents and businesses of Teignbridge get the best deal.”
Members voted unanimously to tell the government they supported ‘genuine devolution’ but were worried about the pace of change and did not support the creation of a single unitary authority for Devon, if that is the only option on the table.
They also registered their opposition to delaying the planned county council elections in May.
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