James McInnes: Devon’s future at a crossroads

This is my first column of 2025 so can I wish you and yours a slightly belated happy and healthy New Year.

January is always busy in local government, but this month has been particularly hectic.

The start of a new year always heralds lots of meetings in the run up to our February Budget.

Our target budget, which Cabinet agreed earlier this month, includes above inflation settlements for adult care, children's services and roads.

No sooner had we agreed the budget targets then the full council met again to discuss the Government's White Paper and proposals for devolution and local government reorganisation which asked councils to provide interim plans for local government reorganisation by March 2025.

The deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Local Government, Angela Rayner, wants to sweep away the current two-tier system of county and district councils replacing them with sustainable unitary structures. There is also the ambition for deeper devolution and mayoralty for areas. 

All councils were asked for expressions of interest by January 10 from those wishing to be included on to an accelerated local government reorganisation process.

Councils with elections in May 2025 could also ask the Government to consider delaying the election for 12 months to enable the reorganisation proposals and deeper devolution plans to be developed.

The county council, by 37 votes to 12, agreed to support the submission of an expression of interest to join the ambitious reorganisation programme and to request postponement of the local elections. This included an amendment from our Labour leader that we would proceed at pace to produce proposals for local government reorganisation that meet the needs and aspirations of all Devon's varied communities. 

If accepted by the Secretary of State this would mean May's county elections would be postponed for a year. We expect a decision by the end of January.  

Whether or not our elections are postponed we will need to submit our interim plans for local government reorganisation in March with our final proposals in either May or autumn depending whether we are accepted on the accelerated programme.

The Government has made it clear that it intends to sweep away two-tier local government in the 21 county areas where it still exists.

So, we either work with the Government to get the best possible outcome for the people of Devon and the services on which you rely, or we drag our heels and get new structures imposed on us as an afterthought.

 If we're accepted on the ambitious programme and the May elections are postponed, it will enable us to concentrate fully on getting the best possible deal for Devon and its residents.

I firmly believe this proactive approach will give the county council the best opportunity to shape both reorganisation and deeper devolution in the best interests of our residents and communities within challenging Government timescales. 

We won't be able to do this and hold elections.  Interim plans are required by March - if an election continues in May the sensitive pre-election period would commence at the end of March making it difficult to develop proposals during this time.  

A May election would mean new councillors having to be inducted and, within weeks, asked to take momentous decisions about what local government should look like in Devon for the next 50 years. 

We anticipate – with retirements - the new council would consist of around 50 per cent new faces. I believe it's better we postpone the elections and rely on the knowledge and experience of longstanding councillors of all parties to decide the best way forward for Devon.