Anger over recommendation for a county super-council
ALL of Devon's district councils should be swept away, with their services being run from Exeter, the Government has been told.
The Boundary Committee, which was set up to study the reform of local government in the county, is recommending turning Devon County Council into a super-council.
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Plymouth and Torbay would remain independent, but councils like West Devon Borough and South Hams District Council would be abolished.
Vivien Pengelly, the leader of Plymouth City Council, said: "This whole process has been a shambles from start to finish and a scandalous waste of public money
"It has taken nearly a year for the committee to be in a position to make recommendations that we believe are flawed and not in the interests of the residents of Devon.
"We want to see a solution that delivers economic prosperity for South West Devon and we believe that a single unitary Devon structure will not do that."
The Boundary Committee should have reported back in the Spring, but delayed advising the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government until the outcome of an Appeal Court challenge.
The committee has spent nearly two years and taken evidence from hundreds of interested parties.
The Secretary of State now has to decide whether to go with the committee's recommendation; implement the proposal that sparked the review, to turn Exeter into a third unitary authority; or do nothing.
The district councils have fiercely opposed the plans.
Cllr James McInnes, leader of West Devon Borough Council, said: "Our council is rising to the challenges of one of the worst recessions on record. Yet all they want to do is throw this good work into the melting pot which will result in the quality of services deteriorating at the very time when they are needed most."
"Look no further than Cornwall Council, where the original cost of implementing unitary status has trebled to more than £60 million."
Legal appeal – Page 16
6 Comments
by Michael Hall, Tavistock
Thursday, December 10 2009, 8:11PM
“Whether one supports the idea of a unitary authority or not, and personally I am implacably against turning Devon into one of the sub-regions of the South West Region of the EU (that's what it amounts to!), there is absolutely no justication for the significant expense that this ill-thought-out exercise would generate given the present economic climate. By all means concentrate on improving on what has been in place all along should it be deemed necessary! It may have its faults but... IT AIN'T BROKE! SO STOP TRYING TO FIX IT!
Apparently the Cornish UA certainly isn't all it was cracked up to become!”
by Insider, .
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 8:59PM
“Before the folks in Devon go down this path they should take a close look at what's happened in Cornwall since it went unitary:-
-Social care rated as failing
-Director resigns
-Senior staff either off sick long term or jumping ship
-DCSF sending in hit squad
-Frontline services being cut back to make savings
Well done to the Lib Dems for creating such a mess.
Don't do it Devon.”
by Dave, Honduras
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 1:35PM
“Do it. Cost the Lib Dems very dear when they did it in Cornwall. Listening to and working for the people you are supposed to represent seems to have eluded you.”
by Benny Factor, The Imperial.
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 10:17AM
“Sounds like a good plan to me. How could they do worse than the amateur jokers we currently have.”
by The Anarchist, Plymouth
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 10:14AM
“Im starting my own business at the moment. All this incompetent mob of jobs worths have done is stop me developing a business that will benefit the citys hospitality industry significantly. Heaven forbid we make Plymouth a success. This bunch of time wasting, jobsworths have had their day. Kick them out of power and put someone in place that will let this city shine. The council listens to its staff rather that its tax payers and local businesses.
They drum up uselss ideas like the 'Sharon Davies' life centre because what this city needs is more green space removing and more buildings isnt it! NO. im sick of these idiots”
by Martin Benbow, Mannamead
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 8:36AM
“After the outrageous sale of Citybus and other loss making schemes Mrs Pengelly is the last person to lecture on economic stability. She and her group of incompetents sole interest in redrawing the political boundaries in Devon is to preserve and indeed extend their own party's powerbase, virtually forever. That's a prospect that should strike fear into the hearts of everyone localy.”