South Hams Bite Back on ‘Wretched’ Government Proposals

The South Hams Councillors were resolute and mostly united in their disapproval of Local Government Reorganisation plans that will change the way Totnes and surrounding towns and villages will be governed in future calling the plan “totally inept and incompetent”

At last weeks urgent business meeting in Follaton House chaired by Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, Cllr Dan Thomas related the comment that the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) – “Shows how we wasted an entire year of this councils work, doing something the Government patently wasn’t interested in” he went on to say that the chosen plan for the “Devon Coast & Countryside Authority” in which most of Totnes will reside received only 20% positive support from Devon Chief Executives and colleagues with 69% having a negative response and that the proposal ranked 4th out of 5 options available. The existing proposal failed to gain majority support on any of the measures of geography, ability to deliver, reflecting local needs, community engagement and financial viability. He stated the government proposal “absolutely cannot credibly claim that this decision reflects the views of Devon residents, it’s Councils or it’s organisations“.

This is a shocker

Cllr John Birch was concerned about the financial implications of the LGR and requested to know the cost of the process but it became clear that this was unknown and will require further external independent assessments will be commissioned in order to find out. Indicating that further costs will be incurred to find out what the existing costs are!

Concerns were raised over the work required to transition from existing councils to the new unitary authorities whilst also continuing to provide the support and services for the proposed date of 1st April 2028. The South Hams District Council as a whole will need to discover ways to manage the additional capacity needed for the process to function.

There were hopes that a letter expressing concerns from the council as a whole to the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham would not “fall on deaf ears” considering that his aim was to help every postcode. The SHDC meeting agreed with Cllr Birch’s amendment that government “demonstrates its failure to understand or appreciate the needs of the county’s rural towns and villages as well as our coastal communities”

The meeting went on to support possible legal action “for a judicial review challenge in respect of the Government’s decision…” They also called on local MPs to support them in their call for a rethink of the current LGR proposals.

Councillor Julian Brazil summed up to explain that they have sent Freedom of Information requests to ascertain how Government came to it’s decisions and that the council will send a pre-action letter (showing intention to take legal action).  He pre-empted the accusation of spending a quarter of a million pounds to take legal action saying this in the face of 80 million to implement this “wretched plan“. He explained they are not against the need for a re-organisation in principle and can see advantages but …”if we are going to do LGR, we do it properly, and this isn’t. This is a shocker.” He continued “I feel for the people of Totnes, half of you will be in Torbay, half of you will be in Devon Council”… “A complete lack of understanding of Devon and Devon’s people.”

He proposed an evolution rather than a revolution as being cheaper, more effective and creating less disruption for staff and services.

Councillor Ged Yardy wanted to question the financial viability regarding the literal size of the region of Devon Coast & Countryside Authority citing the demographic age of the constituency being high while the geography being so large. Councillor Nicky Hopwood pointed out that the council should recognise that they are so united regardless of personal political persuasion.

The council will reconvene for a cabinet meeting on the 10th August to discuss what was called “an affront to democracy” claiming that Greater Exeter and Greater Torbay regions will be bankrupt from day 1!