Who are the Boundary Committee for England?

The Boundary Committee for England is a statutory committee of the Electoral Commission, an independent body established by Act of Parliament.

It is responsible for reviewing the structure, boundaries and electoral arrangements of local government in England.

It is chaired by an Electoral Commissioner, Max Caller CBE, and has six Deputy Electoral Commissioners.

Committee members have considerable experience in senior positions in central and local government and higher education. The Committee is supported by a Director, Archie Gall, and a team of officers.

You can find out more about the Boundary Committee at: www.boundarycommittee.org.uk.

What’s happening to local government in Devon?

The Boundary Committee for England has been asked by the Government to look at the way the current County and eight District Councils of Devon currently work to see if they could be replaced by a unitary system of local government.

In other words, create a new single council or councils responsible for all local government services across the whole of Devon or parts of the county – services such as schools, emptying the bins, roads and public transport and caring for the elderly and disabled. These are called Unitary Councils.

The Government has asked the Boundary Committee to advise Ministers on its recommendations by December 31, this year.

What is a unitary council?

A unitary council is responsible for all the services currently provided by the County Council such as education, social services, roads, public transport, disposal of waste, libraries, recycling centres and street lighting, and also all the services provided by District Councils such as local planning, rubbish collection and recycling, street cleaning, housing, and leisure.

What prompted the Government request?

The Government asked for the county-wide review after it rejected a bid by Exeter City Council in 2007 to create a unitary council for Exeter based on the city’s existing boundaries.

The Government judged that the bid contained a number of financial risks and it would be unable to pay for itself within the five year target set by Ministers.

Devon County Council did not seek unitary council status and we had been working well with District Councils and the Devon Association of Parish Councils on improving the current system of local government in Devon.

Does this Review affect Plymouth and Torbay?

The Boundary Committee say in their Draft Proposal for unitary local government in Devon:  "Our draft proposal for Devon does not include changes to the boundaries of Plymouth and Torbay.  We have considered the implications for both these authorities of structural change across the two-tier area.  We are satisfied that, in aggregate, our draft proposal for Devon has the capacity to meet the outcomes specified in the Secretary of State's criteria.  In reaching conclusions on our draft proposal we do not consider that changes to the boundaries of Plymouth and Torbay are essential to facilitate a pattern of unitary local government across the county as a whole.  However, this does not mean that we do not consider that some boundary adjustments might be advantageous to the authorities concerned.  Those boundary adjustments could be promoted if a review under section 8 of the 2007 Act were undertaken at a later date."

Does the public get a vote on whether they agree or disagree with the Boundary Committee’s draft proposal?

There is no option to vote yes or no on the proposal.  However, members of the public and staff from any of Devon’s local authorities are able to respond to the review by writing to the Boundary Committee.  The important thing to say is that any view given must be substantiated by an explanation and reasons, and is not merely an expressed preference

How do I express my views?

You can express your views by using the Boundary Committee’s online form at:

www.boundarycommittee.org.uk, or by writing directly to:

Review Manager (Devon Review)
The Boundary Committee for England
Trevelyan House
Great Peter Street
London
SW1P 2HW

Tel: 0207 271 0512
Fax: 0207 271 0505

Email: reviews@boundarycommittee.org.uk

What were the Secretary of State’s five criteria, or how will the Boundary Committee decide what to advise the Government?

Earlier this year the Boundary Committee invited councils in Devon to submit initial concepts – outline proposals – for unitary local government.

They considered proposals that were to meet five key tests, which were:

They must:

• Be affordable – the cost of reorganisation must be paid for from savings within five years
• Provide value for money and fair access to services
• Provide strategic leadership
• Provide neighbourhood empowerment
• Have a broad cross section of support

The Committee considers that their draft proposal for Devon – a single Devon county authority to include all the authorities in the two-tier area – to be most likely to achieve these key tests.

The Committee has also said that they see some merit in a two-unitary pattern of local government in Devon – for an expanded Exeter and Exmouth authority comprising these two urban areas.  But the Committee say in their draft proposal that they "are not persuaded that there is sufficient likelihood that it would better meet the outcomes set out in the five criteria than our draft proposal.” (section 5.9 - The Boundary Committee for England Draft Proposal for unitary local government in Devon, July 2008)

What is the timetable for the Boundary Committee’s Review?

Stage 1, March 3 – April 11 2008: Outline concepts for unitary local government.

Stage 2, April 14 – July 4 2008: Committee considers concepts and decides on draft proposals

Stage 3, July 7 – September 26 2008: Public consultation and financial information gathered

Stage 4, September 29 – December 19 2008: Consultation responses and financial information considered.

Final decision on advice to Secretary of State Committee to advise by December 31, 2008

It is anticipated that any new council proposals would be implemented by April 2010.

What’s happening in Cornwall?

From April 2009 Cornwall will have a powerful single unitary council representing 560,000 Cornish residents.  Devon County Council believes a single unitary for Devon would protect Devon’s centuries old identity and ensure the County had a strong voice in the South West region, nationally and in Europe

When will any new unitary council or councils begin providing services in Devon?

The Boundary Committee has been asked to provide advice to the Government by December 31, 2008. The Government has to allow four weeks for comments on the Committee’s recommendations and, if Ministers decide to proceed, put an implementation order for any new unitary council before Parliament in the new year of 2009. It is understood that the Government would want to see any new unitary councils in operation by April, 2010.

More information on the Boundary Committee Review