There are several tiers of local government, and the structure changes depending on where you live. The tiers are as follows:

1. Parish and town councils

The first tier is that of parish and town councils. These councils may maintain local amenities such as recreational areas, footpaths and cemeteries, organise events or operate public conveniences. Large parts (but not all) of Devon is served by town and parish councils.

More about first tier authorities.

2. District/city and borough councils

The second tier is that of city/district/borough councils. These organisations deliver services such as housing, environmental health, planning, waste collection, licensing and elections. Devon has eight second-tier authorities. These are Exeter City Council, Mid Devon District Council, East Devon District Council, North Devon District Council, Torridge District Council, Teignbridge District Council, West Devon Borough Council and South Hams District Council.

More about second tier authorities.

3. County councils

The third tier is that of county councils, like Devon County Council. These organisations (which, like unitary authorities can be described as ‘upper tier’) deliver services such as adults and children’s services, highways and transport, waste disposal, libraries, public health and trading standards.

4. Unitary authorities

Unitary authorities are a form of upper tier authority which deliver all the services provided by both second and third tier councils. Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council are examples of unitary authorities and operate within their boundaries within the county of Devon.

5. Combined and strategic authorities

Combined authorities are new institutions established to oversee and deliver devolved powers and functions transferred from central and local Government. They are legal bodies enabling a group of two or more upper-tier authorities to collaborate and take collective decisions across council boundaries. They cover issues that require strategic oversight of the entire area and have responsibilities, and funding, to deliver economic development, strategic planning and transport, adult education, local growth plans and other functions.

The English Devolution White Paper proposes the creation of strategic authorities, a new overarching legal category. Combined authorities will automatically become strategic authorities under the proposals. Strategic authorities can be mayor led and will have responsibility for strategy development and programme delivery across specific areas of competence (broad thematic areas of activity) with corresponding functions set out against each of these in a statutory devolution framework.

In mayoral strategic authorities, mayors will have significant powers over housing and planning, including the ability to develop and propose the spatial development strategy for their areas, working alongside other members of the strategic authority.

On Wednesday, February 5, 2025, the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority (CCA) came into being. Progressing Devon and Torbay’s devolution journey, this means decisions previously made in Whitehall will now be made locally on priority issues, including housing, jobs and skills and the economy.

More about Devon and Torbay CCA.