Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 4^th November 2025.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the previous meeting on Tuesday 4^th November be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

It was PROPOSED by Councillor Keeling and SECONDED by Councillor Palethorpe and

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the previous meeting on Tuesday 4^th November be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

None.

Councillor Keeling reminded the Executive that a dispensation has been granted to Members of the Council who are County Councillors or MPs to enable them to take part in matters relating to Devolution and/or Local Government Reorganisation. 

The dispensation also applies to any Members who are employed by or are the spouse/partner of an employee of another District or County Council in Devon.

Members were also referred to the email from the Democratic Services Manager and Deputy Monitoring Officer sent Friday 21^st November 2025 regarding the matter being an Executive function and guidance to Members on lawful participation.

No Declarations of Interest were received.

To note forthcoming decisions anticipated on the Executive Forward Plan

The Executive Forward Plan was noted.

Members of the Public may ask questions of the Leader or an Executive Member. A maximum period of 15 minutes will be allowed with a maximum of period of three minutes per questioner.

None received.

To receive the recommendation from Full Council on 25^th 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 28^th November.

The agenda and associated documents can be viewed: Agenda for Full Council on Tuesday, 25th November, 2025, 10.15 am

RESOLVED

That the Executive:

1)    Approve the recommendations (1/4/5 only) as set out at Full Council (on 25^th 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. 

The Executive considered the recommendation from Full Council which met earlier on Tuesday 25^th 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 25^th 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. 

Executive Member Decisions

The Individual Executive Member Decisions were noted.