www.devon.gov.uk Devon County Council’s response to the Boundary Committee’s “Draft proposal for unitary local government in Devon” September 2008 Improving life for all Contents Contents Summary 1 1. Introduction 3 2. Draft proposal for unitary local government in Devon: Devon County Council’s 4 responses to the key questions identified by the Boundary Committee 2.1 Boundary Committee question 1 4 “Our view on the necessary inclusion of Exeter in a county-wide authority, particularly whether it will support the city’s economic growth and promote the growth of the county.” 2.2 Boundary Committee question 2 8 “Whether there is a need to extend the membership of the Devon Strategic Partnership to reflect more fully Exeter’s key role in the county.” 2.3 Boundary Committee question 3 9 “Further information on the community governance model envisaged for the city of Exeter as part of a county unitary authority.” 2.4 Boundary Committee question 4 10 “Further evidence that a county-wide unitary authority has a broad cross-section of support from a range of key partners, stakeholders and service users/citizens.” 2.5 Boundary Committee question 5 13 “Considered views from parish and town councils in regard to their envisaged role in the proposed Community Board arrangements.” 2.6 Boundary Committee question 6 16 “The roles and responsibilities of the proposed Community Boards, particularly as they are perceived by parish and town councils and other groups likely to be involved as Board representatives.” 2.7 Boundary Committee question 7 23 “How the County Council’s proposed community governance structures will be constituted by the new authority in order to ensure clear accountability for matters such as service delivery.” 3. Two Unitary Authority Pattern 25 4. Conclusion 33 Appendix 1: Political governance and democratic structures 34 Appendix 2: Key facts and figures 36 Devon County Council’s response to the Boundary Committee’s “Draft proposal for unitary local government in Devon” Summary Summary We share the Boundary Committee’s view that a single number of local authority members and strengthened to unitary authority for Devon would be the best pattern of local reflect Exeter’s key role in the county. government for the county, its people and communities and has the capacity to meet the five criteria set by the Secretary Boundary Committee question 3: Governance model of State. Our response to the consultation on the draft for Exeter proposal answers the seven key questions posed by the Exeter has a thriving network of neighbourhood and Committee and explains why the two unitary pattern fails to voluntary organisations. meet the five criteria Unlike the rest of Devon, it has no elected third tier (parish and town council) representatives. A community governance Boundary Committee question 1: Inclusion of Exeter in review for the current Exeter City Council area would be a county-wide authority initiated to establish the needs and wishes of the people of The inclusion of Exeter is critical to the county's Exeter. The outcomes might be the establishment of urban economy; vital for future transport, housing and parishes based on Exeter’s neighbourhoods and/or the employment development and essential to the development of neighbourhood partnerships. provision of value for money services. Exeter is not just a city by itself: it is an integral part of a much Boundary Committee question 4: Broad cross-section larger community reaching out into a wide sub-region. of support Exeter’s success is built on its strategic location and its future The response to the consultation on the draft proposal prospects are crucially dependent on the economic health of demonstrates that a change to a single unitary council Devon as a whole. Exeter cannot afford not to be part of for Devon would, if it were to be made, have a county-wide systems and structures for economic and land measure of support from a range of key partners, use planning. The inclusion of Exeter as part of a county-wide stakeholders and service users/citizens. unitary authority is essential for the delivery of effective and The level of support is in general at least that enjoyed by the efficient services which provide value for money. shire county unitary bids that were approved by the Secretary of State in July 2007. Boundary Committee question 2: Membership of the Devon Strategic Partnership Boundary Committee question 5: Role of parish and The Devon Strategic Partnership would be integral to town councils in the proposed Community Board the unitary authority's governance arrangements and arrangements enable partners to direct public resources towards the Community Boards would provide opportunities for priorities for Devon. parish and town councils to influence and participate in The Devon Strategic Partnership’s leadership role would be local decision making. enhanced by the creation of a unitary authority for Devon. Its Devon benefits from vibrant parish and town councils that membership would be reduced to match the reduction in the lead and represent their local communities. A single unitary Devon County Council’s response to the Boundary Committee’s “Draft proposal for unitary local government in Devon” 1 Summary authority for Devon would provide support and advice to Two unitary authority pattern parish and town councils and give them the opportunity to The two unitary pattern would increase complexity and take responsibility for local services where they wished to do require the dismantling of integrated service delivery and so. management arrangements. It is unclear how a coherent set of community engagement and neighbourhood Boundary Committee question 6: Roles and empowerment structures would be achieved for residual responsibilities of the proposed Community Boards Devon and the Exeter/Exmouth area. There does not seem Community Boards would provide a single channel for to be the prospect of this model commanding support. the unitary authority to organise its community engagement, consultation and decision-making in a Summary of the financial assessments submitted to the local area. Boundary Committee on 12 September 2008 The unitary authority would establish a framework for the accountabilities of the Boards. They would have a community Single unitary authority for Devon development budget and delegated decision-making ● Saving of £28million over five years responsibility for key service areas. The unitary authority, ● Transition costs paid in three years and eight months town/parish councils and their partners would jointly ● £19million year on year savings establish the exact area to be covered by each Board. ● Community leadership costs included ● Reducing council tax to lowest rate Boundary Committee question 7: Accountability for service delivery Exeter and Exmouth unitary A single unitary authority for Devon would provide ● Saving of £100,000 over five years services and exercise its responsibilities in a coherent ● Transition costs paid in four years and ten months and efficient way. ● £3.1million year on year savings Services would be delivered through area based structures ● Does not include community leadership proposals and teams. Area planning/licensing committees and sub- ● Reducing council tax to lowest rate committees based on the footprint of the three Spatial and Economic Boards would make decisions on planning Residual Devon unitary applications. ● Saving of £1.2million over five years ● Transitions costs paid in four years and 11 months ● £10million year on year savings ● Community leadership costs included ● Reducing council tax to lowest rate 2 Devon County Council’s response to the Boundary Committee’s “Draft proposal for unitary local government in Devon” 1. Introduction 1. Introduction We share the Boundary Committee’s view that a single We focus in this response on answering the seven key unitary authority for Devon would be the best pattern of local questions posed by the Committee (as set out inside the government for the county, its people and communities and cover of this document) in relation to our initial concept for has the capacity to meet the five criteria set by the Secretary a single unitary authority for Devon (“Flying the Flag for of State that a proposal should: Devon: Strong Leadership and Local Focus”: April 2008). We also explain why the alternative pattern of two unitary 1. Attract a broad cross-section of support. authorities would not have the capacity, if implemented, to 2. Provide for strong, effective and accountable strategic meet the Secretary of State’s five criteria. Finally, we have leadership. include appendices which make initial suggestions about 3. Deliver the empowerment of citizens and governance and democratic structures and provide key facts communities, so that all communities have power and and figures. resources to influence the decisions that affect them in their localities. A single unitary authority for Devon would be able to 4. Provide value-for-money services – services should be respond to challenges and capitalise on opportunities provided effectively, efficiently and in an integrated and in ways that the current structure of local government coherent way, ultimately driving up customer satisfaction. sometimes serves to prevent or frustrate. Restructuring 5. Be affordable – the change to a unitary structure should Devon’s county and district councils into one new, deliver value for money and be self-financing, with efficient and responsive local authority would create transitional costs being capable of being paid back within the capacity to enable Devon to punch its weight at a five year period. regional, national and European levels. It would unlock the potential of the town and parish tier of local We believe that the alternative idea of a two unitary pattern: government and provide the structures to reinvigorate a residual Devon and an Exeter/Exmouth unitary authority both representative and participative democracy at the would fail to meet all five criteria – particularly the crucial local level.