Latest News: High Court brands Exeter Unitary decision "unlawful"

Previous News:

New Government puts end to unitary plans

Plans to create a separate unitary council for Exeter have been stopped in their tracks by the new Government.

Following a last ditch meeting with representatives from the City, new Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said: "The message is very clear… do not waste the public’s money by spending any more money on this.”

A Bill to reverse the previous Government’s controversial decision on Exeter is now expected to be enacted before the summer recess.

Responding to the news, Councillor John Hart, Leader of Devon County Council said "I am absolutely delighted.”

"We never sought this reorganisation and the actions we took to contest the Exeter unitary proposal were not only in the best interests of the people of Devon but of the City of Exeter as well.

"This early announcement means we will not have to waste council taxpayers' money on reorganising the structure of local government in Devon at a time of deep economic recession. That is money which will be much better spent on providing services for local people.

"We now need to work closely with Exeter City Council on ensuring that the people of Exeter have the best possible service from their local councils. Undoubtedly, working together provides a much better prospect of meeting the challenges of the next few years than costly restructuring."

• Council calls on Government to think again
• Devon launches judicial review of Government's unitary decision
• Exeter Unitary plan branded as “costly madness”
• Gordon Brown confronted over £25m bill for Exeter Unitary

Background

Boundary Committee publishes advice on unitary local government in Devon

In December 2009 the Boundary Committee for England has published its advice to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on unitary local government in Devon. It put forward a proposal for a single unitary council for the current Devon county area. The Committee also recommended that the original proposal for unitary status for Exeter should not be implemented because of concerns about over its ability to meet the Government’s affordability criterion.

The Committee's report is available at Devon structural review

View the Council's response to the Boundary Committee, and financial cases:

• Devon County Council's response to the Boundary Committee (1.76MB - pdf help)
• A single Unitary Council for Devon
• A rural Unitary Council for Devon that excludes Exeter, Exmouth and surrounding Parishes

The deadline for submissions to the Boundary Committee closed on the 26th September 2008. Consultation responses and financial information is being considered by the Boundary Committee and a final decision on advice to the Secretary of State will be submitted by the Committee by 15 July 2009.

Court ruling on East Devon case

A High Court judgement in response to a judicial review sought by East Devon District Council has largely found in favour of the Boundary Committee. Summary and full judgement. (26KB - pdf help)

Previous Press Releases

Council calls for halt to unitary bandwagon

Leader condemns "two Devons" proposal

Final proposal for Devon reorganisation delayed

Business leaders and public sector back a single Unitary Council

Multi million pound savings from Devon's single Unitary Council

Boundary Committee backs plan to keep Devon United

Read more about the Boundary Committee review of Devon - a recent history...