Decision – Local Government Reorganisation

1.    
in accordance with Standing Order D11, that in light of the
Government’s deadline for submission of the Interim Proposals
the Cabinet’s decision (set out in 2. below) is determined to
be urgent.  Therefore, Cabinet
determines that Call-in shall be waived as any delay likely to be
caused by the call-in process would prejudice the public’s
and the Council’s interests.  The
Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinator was consulted on 7 March 2025;
and

2.    
that the Chief Executive, in consultation with Leader of the
Council, be authorised to submit an interim plan for local
government reorganisation impacting on Torbay to the Ministry for
Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on or before 21
March 2025.

To enable
Torbay’s initial views on future potential local government
reorganisation in Devon to be shared with Government and,
therefore, for Torbay Council to receive feedback from the
Government on the same.

The interim plan was
an opportunity for the Council to provide MHCLG with an update on
the progress being made on the options that were being
explored.  The options which it was
proposed to be considered further in developing final proposals
that were to be submitted in November 2025 are:

1.       
Torbay Council remains as it is;

2.      a new
unitary council is created covering Torbay, approximately half of
South Hams and most of Teignbridge (i.e. covering the South Local
Care Partnership of the NHS); and

3.      a new
unitary council is created covering the areas of Torbay, South
Hams, West Devon and Teignbridge, plus a new unitary council in the
east and north of Devon, and Plymouth remaining as is (or with a
slightly enlarged border).

A fourth option had
been discounted, namely a single Devon unitary authority (with or
without Plymouth).   It was felt
that a unitary authority of that size would be too large for it to
be efficient and effective whilst retaining a sense of place and
community.  There was also a significant
risk that those most vulnerable in the Torbay community who rely on
crucial services such as adult social care, children’s
services, SEND and homelessness would be negatively and
disproportionately impacted if Torbay became part of a single Devon
unitary council.

The decision in
respect of the Local Government Reorganisation – Interim Plan
will come into force immediately as the decision maker has decided
that any delay likely to be caused by the call-in process would
prejudice the publics and the Council’s interest. The
Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinator was consulted on 7 March
2025.

On 5 February 2025,
the Government issued a Statutory Invitation to the Leaders of all
of the two-tier councils and unitary councils in Devon to submit a
proposal for a single tier of local government in Devon.

As part of the
Invitation, the Government asked that an interim plan should be
submitted on or before 21 March 2025 which sets out the progress
that had been made in developing proposals in line with the
criteria and guidance provided. 

Since the invitation
from Government was received, the Leader of the Council had been
working with the Leaders of all the other authorities in Devon to
understand their positions.  Discussions
had been held internally between the Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet of
Torbay Council, as well as with all other members of the Council,
our strategic partners within our Place Leadership Board, our
Members of Parliament, and with interested members of our community
who attended a public engagement event.

The draft interim plan
sets out four potential options for local government reorganisation
and provided the details that the Government had asked to be
included in a non-binding interim plan. 

At the meeting,
Councillor David Thomas proposed and Councillor Chris Lewis
seconded a motion that was agreed unanimously by the Cabinet, as
set out above.