Recommendation from Full Council - Local Government Reorganisation Proposal
To receive the recommendation from Full Council on 25th November on the Council’s preferred proposal for Local Government Reorganisation and agree the proposal to be submitted to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on Friday 28th November.
The agenda and associated documents can be viewed: Agenda for Full Council on Tuesday, 25th November, 2025, 10.15 am
Additional documents:
Decision:
RESOLVED
That the Executive:
1) Approve the recommendations (1/4/5 only) as set out at Full Council (on 25th November 2025) regarding Local Government Reorganisation and agree that these form the Council’s preferred submission to the Secretary of State.
2) Request that Dartmoor National Park to remain as a whole within a single unitary authority, which ever model is chosen.
3) Note the proposal known as 9/1/1 from Devon County Council as a viable option for consideration by the Secretary of State and to request that officers continue engagement with Devon County Council to assess the implications for governance, service delivery, and financial arrangements.
Minutes:
The Executive considered the recommendation from Full Council which met earlier on Tuesday 25th November 2025 to consider the Council’s preferred proposal for Local Government Reorganisation.
Full Council recommended to the Executive that:
(1) Teignbridge District Council endorse the submission of ‘Reimagining Devon – Believe in Better’ (Appendix 4) as the Council’s response to the invitation from the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for Local Government Reorganisation in Devon, with two new unitary authorities and Plymouth as a ‘continuing authority.
(2) Teignbridge District Council only supports the option of the ‘4/5/1’.
(3) Delegated power be given to the Managing Director, in consultation with the Executive Member for Local Government Reorganisation to submit the proposals and covering letter (Appendix 5) to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government by the deadline of 28th November 2025.
Councillors Nutley, Buscombe, G Taylor and Palethorpe spoke to this item in relation to the role and funding of the Dartmoor National Park Authority, the role of the current Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority. The Managing Director responded verbally to these questions, highlighting that National Parks are not in scope for Local Government Reorganisation and pointing to the report previously considered by Full Council earlier that day in relation to the Government’s proposals for Mayoral Strategic Authorities.
Executive Members confirmed their support for Dartmoor National Park to remain in one unitary authority, which ever model is chosen by the Secretary of State.
The Leader spoke to this item, highlighting that the Executive has listened to the views of Full Council.
After some deliberation on the final wording of the recommendations, it was PROPOSED by Councillor Keeling and SECONDED by Councillor Nuttall and
RESOLVED
That the Executive:
1) Approve the recommendations (1/4/5 only) as set out at Full Council (on 25th November 2025) regarding Local Government Reorganisation and agree that these form the Council’s preferred submission to the Secretary of State.
2) Request that Dartmoor National Park to remain as a whole within a single unitary authority, which ever model is chosen.
3) Note the proposal known as 9/1/1 from Devon County Council as a viable option for consideration by the Secretary of State and to request that officers continue engagement with Devon County Council to assess the implications for governance, service delivery, and financial arrangements.