Will Torridge be “at the bottom of the pile” under devolution?

A proposed devolution deal for Devon and Torbay is an “enforced dictatorship” which could  leave Torridge with the “rough end of the stick” when it comes to cash hand outs in the county, it’s been claimed.

Torridge District councillors are writing to the government to express their concerns over how the proposed new county combined authority will be overseen. They claim it leaves Devon’s eight district councils with a limited input.

The plan will result in some central government powers being handed to local government, with the combined authority making decisions about big investments and transport functions.

The top team of 12 people will consist of three councillors each from Devon County Council and Torbay Council, two nominated from district councils and representatives from education and business as well as the police and crime commissioner.

Last week, the leader of Exeter City Council, Phil Bialyk, welcomed the plans, saying although Exeter had only district status, the Labour-run council was satisfied with just two seats from the districts.

Under devolution, Devon will have more power to improve public transport, drive net zero ambitions and green jobs, adult education, skills and deliver more affordable homes.

With the deal comes £16 million of new capital funding which has to be spent over the next financial year.

Speaking at a meeting of Torridge District Council, the county council’s director of performance and partnerships, Keri Denton, said £8 million each would be spent on local housing and low carbon projects.

There would be £15 million, transferred from Whitehall, to spend on local priorities for adult education and £3 million for developing technical skills for young people. The amount of future funding is still unknown.

But Torridge councillors claimed the plan effectively creates a fourth tier of government in Devon which may make it even harder to get money the area needs.

“Whitehall is a long way from here, but Exeter seems almost as far because of the lack of representation we get,” said Cllr Doug Bushby, (Ind, Bideford North).

“If this proposal is successful Devon County Council will have to up their game to make things better for the whole of the county.”

Councillors were told that Team Devon, made up of all eight district councils along with the county council, would sit directly under the combined authority and be the forum in which local members would have the most say.

A scrutiny panel will be chaired by opposition parties at DCC and Torbay,  an audit committee and several advisory panels.

The way devolution works is dictated by the government’s Levelling up and Regeneration Act and cannot be changed despite the House of Lords raising concerns, councillors were told.

All powers that districts currently have won’t be taken away and the combined authority would have “the ear of government” and able to access more funds for housing through Homes England.

Mrs Denton said that £2 billion Homes England hadn’t spent had been handed back to the Treasury which could have been used in Devon.

Cllr David Brenton (Lab, Bideford South) said Torridge was “at the bottom of the pile” and he didn’t see this changing with a combined authority, and there would be no opportunity for the districts to appeal decisions it makes.

Cllr Anna Dart (Ind, Hartland) added: “We always get the rough end of the stick, because we are at the end of the line here in Torridge. More housing is good but what about the infrastructure, that’s what we need as well as the homes.”

Cllr Annie Brenton (Lab, Bideford West) said: “I agree with devolution but bottom up, not top down. The little authorities are continuing to be squashed. The government is pushing something and pretending its devolution.

“It’s more like a manipulation process to spread the blame for the county council’s huge deficit and close the mouths of the district councils who will have no ability to protest about what goes on in the county.

“A partnership should be a partnership of equals – this an enforced dictatorship,” said Cllr Philip Hackett (Ind, Broadheath).

The public consultation on the combined authority ends on Sunday 24 March. Councils will have the option of not being part of the deal. Plymouth has opt outed as it doesn’t want to relinquish its transport powers, but a seat on the top table is vacant in case it changes its mind.

Cllr Lyndon Piper (Lib Dem, Holsworthy) said he liked the idea of devolution and it had to start somewhere. “It can’t be any worse than it is now,” he said.

Ms Denton told the meeting that it was hoped that all decisions made by the combined authority could be met by consensus rather than a vote.

She said 60 per cent of England is now covered by a devolution deal and the whole of the country would be by 2030, regardless of who is in power after the next general election.

Councillors agreed that it would be more detrimental to be outside the CCA, but that they would express strong concerns about the governance and equal power given to Torbay which has 300,000 fewer residents than the rest of Devon, excluding Plymouth.