Mid Devon District Council has welcomed the Government’s announcement that plans for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Devon are to be paused and reviewed.

The Government announced today (7 September) that plans for 14 areas, including Devon, will be reviewed following updated legal advice and as Ministers consider how local government reform should align with the Government’s wider plans for devolution.

Mid Devon’s Leader and Cabinet recently wrote to the Secretary of State raising concerns about the way the reorganisation process was being carried out, particularly the limited opportunity for meaningful local democratic involvement in decisions which would fundamentally change how communities are represented.

The letter highlighted concerns about the compressed timetable for developing new warding arrangements, the importance of respecting community identity and attachment to place, and the risk that the voices and distinct needs of rural communities could become diluted within much larger authorities.

It also argued that further devolution could bring significant benefits to Devon, including greater opportunities for strategic investment, infrastructure and economic growth, but that this must be accompanied by strong local democratic structures which give communities a meaningful voice in the decisions affecting them.

Councillor David Wulff, Leader of Mid Devon District Council, said:
“I'm glad that the Government has listened to the concerns being raised by people and councils across Devon and has decided to pause and review its plans.

“We have consistently said that decisions about the future of local government must recognise the communities and places that councils exist to serve. Our recent letter to the Secretary of State highlighted our concern that local voices were being lost in a process moving at considerable pace, and that rural communities in particular risked being left with a weaker voice.

“This pause gives us an opportunity to look again at what we are actually trying to achieve. I hope the Government will now work with local leaders and our communities to develop meaningful devolution which genuinely shifts power and resources closer to the people we represent.

“That must also include an honest conversation about how local government is funded. Whatever structures we ultimately have, councils need sustainable funding if we are to provide the services our residents rely upon and help our local economies thrive.

“We want to work constructively with Government on what comes next: protecting local democracy, securing the powers and investment Devon needs, and ensuring that the opportunities from devolution and economic growth reach every postcode. Whether someone lives in one of our cities, a market town or a small rural community, no part of Devon should be left behind.”