Council could hand over North Devon loos and parks before it ceases to exist

Parish and town councils in North Devon are keen to take over 81 community assets from the district council ahead of local government changes.

North Devon Council will be considering which assets such as parks and public toilets to hand over before district and county councils are abolished in 2028.

Otherwise they will fall under the control of a large unitary council which may be based many miles away.

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Expressions of interest have been made by 17 parish and town councils who want particular assets transferred to them.

Income generating assets such as car parks are generally not likely to be transferred unless there are very strong reasons for doing so.

The council’s strategy and resources committee agreed a policy for the transfer of assets this week and will be discussing the detail behind the 81 requests at the next meeting in April.

Any land transfer with a value of £100,000 or more will need to be to be approved by the secretary of state although individual community assets are not likely to exceed that value, a report to the committee said.

Among the considerations North Devon councillors will have to make is whether there is a risk to the asset should it transfer to the new unitary authority and the impact on local council taxpayers should parish/town council precepts need to increase to cover the costs of the asset.

The report said: “In considering requests, there must be a detailed consideration of what is in the best interests of the community, the council and the successor authority as decisions at this stage will have consequences in later years.”

Parish and town councils must pay the costs of the transfer, including the additional costs such legal conveyancing.

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North Devon Council says the volume of assets being considered will have a considerable impact on staff resources and the ability to deliver on the council’s other priorities in line with the corporate plan. It is likely it would need to bring in extra resources or outsource elements of the work.

There are currently five options for local government reorganisation in Devon with North Devon Council preferring a model which sees them in a new unitary authority with Exeter, Torridge, Mid Devon and East Devon.

Although considering it as the ‘best worst option’ there is concern from some councillors that this potential new authority will be Exeter-focused.

The council has set aside £175,000 over the next two years to pay for the local government shake-up.