Council Leader welcomes decision on future of local councils in Devon
City Council Leader Cllr Phil Bialyk has welcomed the Government's announcement on local government reorganisation in Devon.
The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has approved the joint proposal by Exeter and Plymouth city councils to create four new unitary authorities for the county.
This means that in future, one council rather than multiple councils will deliver most local services in each area.
The new unitary councils will be:
- An expanded Exeter – Exeter plus 49 surrounding parishes from Teignbridge, East Devon and Mid Devon
- An expanded Plymouth – Plymouth plus 13 parishes from South Hams
- An expanded Torbay – Torbay plus 21 nearby parishes
- Devon Coast and Countryside – a new council designed for rural and coastal communities
The decision follows a statutory consultation held earlier this year. Elections for the new shadow authorities are due to take place in May 2027, with the new authorities becoming fully operational on 1 April 2028.
For residents, there is no immediate change to local services. Bin collections, council tax, housing services, benefits, planning and customer contact arrangements will continue as normal while councils prepare for the transition.
Residents will be kept informed well in advance of any future changes.
Cllr Bialyk said: “I very much welcome this decision. Local government reorganisation is a unique opportunity to build a brighter future with stronger services and local accountability.
“It simplifies things for residents and communities by just having one tier of local government running services.
“Exeter and Plymouth’s joint submission recognised the importance of Devon’s growth areas while ensuring all four new councils have the scale to deliver high-quality services. I am delighted the Government has recognised this.”
He added: “Residents and communities will receive more information in the coming weeks and months on what this decision means for them, but for now there is no change, and it remains business as usual.”
Cllr Tudor Evans, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “This is a positive decision for Devon, and we are pleased the Government has recognised the strength of the joint proposal developed with Exeter City Council, and supported by two of our local MPs.
“Creating four unitaries will bring clearer democratic accountability, with decisions made closer to the communities they affect, and services shaped around the distinctive needs and opportunities of each area.”
Exeter City Council’s Chief Executive Bindu Arjoon said: “I welcome this announcement and we now have a lot of work to do to ensure a smooth transition to the new unitary authorities in Devon.
“That work is already well underway in Exeter and will now move forward at pace. We will work with other existing councils in Devon to ensure all residents and communities are fully aware of the change and feel part of the process.
“In the meantime, we will not be distracted from our responsibility to provide the best possible services for our residents.”
Residents can learn more about local government reorganisation atwww.exeter.gov.uk/lgr
