Skip to content

Elections delay possible as crunch meeting called

BBC The steps to the main entrance of County Hall on Topsham RoadBBC
Councillors will discuss future plans for devolution in Devon at the meeting at County Hall

Plans for major changes in local government will be discussed at a "special meeting" of all Devon County Council members that has been called for 9 January.

The government has set out plans to merge county and district councils into unitary authorities and to introduce elected regional mayors across multiple authorities.

Elections are due to be held in May for all Devon County Council seats but the government said it would consider proposals from any council to delay elections by up to a year "where this will help to smooth the transition process".

Local authorities have been asked to submit their devolution plans - including any postponement of elections - by 10 January.

James McInnes, leader of Devon County Council, wearing a patterned tie, blue shirt and blue blazer
James McInnes, leader of Devon County Council, said councillors would discuss devolution opportunities at a special meeting

Devon County Council and Torbay Council - but not Plymouth City Council - are already signed up to a Combined County Authority deal which will see them get money for areas like skills training and transport.

James McInnes, leader of the Conservative-run Devon County Council, said councillors would discuss "the opportunities" arising from the government's devolution launch and "collectively take a view about the way forward".

The leader of the opposition Liberal Democrats, Caroline Leaver, said decisions about services needed to be taken as close to the affected communities as possible.

She said: "We know change is coming - we need to make sure that change is the best it can be for the people of Devon, rather than taking ill-considered decisions in undue haste."

Tudor Evans, leader of Plymouth City Council, wearing a white shirt and red tie and a grey zipped coat, standing in Armada Way, Plymouth
Tudor Evans, leader of Plymouth City Council, said he believed devolution could give the region a "bigger voice"

Tudor Evans, the Labour leader of Plymouth City Council, said devolution offered a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity".

He said: "It is on all local leaders to recognise the potential that devolution can bring – unlocking funding, resources and giving our region a bigger voice on the national stage."

Evans has previously floated the idea of a strategic authority across all of Devon and Cornwall but that idea has been firmly rebuffed by Cornwall's leader.

Torbay Council did not respond to a request for comment regarding the meeting on 9 January.

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].

More on this story
Related internet links