Barnstaple ‘could be largest town in new council’ after shake up
North Devon Council leader David Clayton has criticised the reorganisation of local councils as a ‘stich up’ but said Barnstaple could become an important centre in the new council as its largest town
North Devon Council’s Liberal Democrat leader has slammed the local government shake-up decision as a “stitch up” that was “always going to benefit the Labour-run councils of Plymouth and Exeter.”
Councillor David Clayton said the decision announced in the House of Commons yesterday (Thursday, July 16) by Steve Reed, secretary of state for housing, communities and local government was “not a surprise” but he believed it was “not the best option for Devon.”
However, he said the only silver lining was Barnstaple would likely be the largest town in the new authority and councillors would fight to make it an important centre.
The future council structure of Devon will see the county made up of four unitary councils consisting of an expanded Plymouth, Exeter and Torbay and a new Devon ‘coast and countryside’ authority which will contain North Devon, Torridge and West Devon district councils and remaining areas of East Devon, Mid Devon, Teignbridge and South Hams.
The new authorities will be responsible for all local services and will replace the eight district councils and Devon County Council, which will be abolished in 2028.
North Devon Council along with other districts had proposed a three unitary authority option known as the ‘1-4-5’ model which had put North Devon with Torridge, East Devon, Mid Devon and Exeter into one with the city being the key economic driver.
Cllr Clayton said: “This is what we wanted as we thought it would best serve our residents, it was all costed out and was the best all round option.
“I think most of us knew what would happen and that Plymouth and Exeter would get what they wanted as they are Labour councils and it’s a Labour government. We could all see the direction of travel and it’s been a bit of a stitch up.”
Cllr Clayton said he had always been in favour of unitary authorities, so it would become a one-stop shop for residents who currently had some of their services delivered by district councils and others by Devon County Council.
But he added: “This new coast and countryside authority will be absolutely huge and very rural.
“My biggest fear is that money will go into the authorities with large cities and the rural areas will lose out and we will be even more removed from the Labour government.”
“We have to fight our corner and make sure North Devon is represented in the new authority. We will just have to get on with it and make the best of it.”