{"id":71281,"date":"2026-09-09T20:21:36","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T19:21:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/?p=71281"},"modified":"2026-09-09T20:21:39","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T19:21:39","slug":"council-calls-government-reimburse-devon-reorganisation-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/council-calls-government-reimburse-devon-reorganisation-costs\/","title":{"rendered":"Council calls on Government to reimburse Devon for reorganisation costs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Devon County Council is calling on the Government to repay the costs incurred preparing for local government reorganisation (LGR) before the programme was paused.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The council will write to the Secretary of State seeking reimbursement for the reasonable costs incurred by the council in responding to Government instructions and preparing to implement the reorganisation programme before it was paused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the Government has confirmed transition funding of \u00a3900,000 for each new authority, the county council says this will cover only a fraction of the costs involved in delivering one of the biggest changes to local government in a generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The original Exeter and Plymouth business case estimated implementation costs of \u00a370.1 million across Devon, but the council’s more recent work suggested the eventual cost could approach \u00a390 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

County councillors today were to consider earmarking \u00a330 million from its reserves to help meet the costs of implementing the Government’s preferred reorganisation model and to ensure services could continue safely during the transition. The funding would have been used to cover costs up to the proposed implementation date of 1 April 2028.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, following the Government’s announcement earlier this week that it would pause implementation of its local government reorganisation decision for Devon while it undertakes a rapid review, councillors agreed not to establish the proposed \u00a330 million LGR reserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It will however call on Ministers to reimburse councils for costs already incurred in preparing for the programme.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Councillor James Buczkowski, Cabinet Member for Finance, said:<\/p><\/div>\r\n \t\t

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“The Government’s position was explicit. Transition and implementation costs were expected largely to be met from existing local authority resources. That is why the paper before us proposed setting aside \u00a330 million from Devon County Council’s reserves.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

“Had the Government’s decision proceeded, whatever our views about it, we would have had a duty to make it work. We would have had to ensure that services remained safe and legal throughout the transition, and that whatever authorities emerged were capable of functioning properly from day one.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

“Costs have already been incurred. Staff have already been diverted. Programme structures have been established. Professional and specialist work has been commissioned. Work has taken place across finance, HR, legal, data, ICT, governance and our statutory services because Government instructed councils to prepare for implementation.<\/p>\n

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“Somebody has to pay for that. And I do not believe that somebody should be the council-tax payers of Devon.<\/p>\n

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“I therefore think it is entirely reasonable that Government should meet the reasonable costs resulting from its decisions.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cMonday’s announcement also gives us an opportunity. There is much that can be improved about the way local government operates in Devon. We can work together more effectively, share services and systems, reduce duplication and provide better value for residents.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should now have a serious conversation across Devon about how councils can work more closely together while protecting local democracy, local identity and local accountability.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can share more, collaborate more and save money without spending tens of millions of pounds abolishing councils and creating new organisations.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/blockquote>\r\n

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\r\n\t\t\"Councillor\r\n
\r\n Councillor James Buczkowski, Cabinet Member for Finance<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n <\/figure>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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Councillor Julian Brazil, Leader of Devon County Council, said:<\/p><\/div>\r\n \t\t

<\/p>\n

“The Government’s decision to pause local government reorganisation is an opportunity to take stock and have a more constructive conversation about the future of local government in Devon.<\/p>\n

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“Councils across Devon have already shown that we can work together effectively, and there is much more we can do.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe should be looking at how we can share services, share expertise, reduce duplication and deliver better value for taxpayers, while keeping decision-making close to the communities we serve.<\/p>\n

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“At the same time, it is important that the Government recognises the costs councils have already incurred in responding to its instructions and preparing for implementation.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cLocal taxpayers should not be left to pick up the bill for a process that was initiated and then paused by Government.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

“We want to work with our partners across Devon to build on what works well, improve where we can, and make sure every pound of public money is focused on delivering the best possible services for residents.”<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/blockquote>\r\n

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\r\n\t\t\"Councillor\r\n
\r\n Councillor Julian Brazil, Leader of the Council<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n <\/figure>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":62947,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[24,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-71281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dcc-homepage","category-democracy"],"acf":[],"featured_image":{"ID":62947,"title":"Council Chamber","alt":"Devon County Council's council 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