Announcements only from the Chair of Council, Leader, Members of the Executive or the Managing Director.
Minutes:
The Leader referred to the recent very sad passing of Councillor Mike James, referring to him as a true gentleman who was well respected and known for his civility and dedication to the community. The Leader passed on the family’s thanks for all who had attended the funeral.
The Managing Director gave an update on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) as advised by MLCHG follows:
· District Councils will be consulted on the Structural Change Order (SCO) a Statutory Instrument made to implement the proposed changes for LGR on their proposals, and need to be submitted by 18 June 2026. This will include the unitary authorities being proposed, the Joint Committee to help implement the changes prior to the Shadow elections May 2027 and run from the date of the SCO until the Shadow Authorities elections in May 2027 and arrangements for the Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) and Deputies.
· The SRO has normally been the Chief Executive of the County Council, who would be answerable to the Minister.
· The consultation will also agree the arrangements for the Shadow elections in May 2027 and agree the Returning Officers. Wards will have new boundaries.
· There will be a request for a split of expenditure on the implementation costs.
· The date which it takes effect and whether town and parish council elections are aligned with the unitary elections will also be part of the consultation. DALC (Devon Association of Local Councils) has requested alignment to avoid significant costs which would fall to the precepting towns and parishes, potentially exceeding their annual budget.
· An all Member briefing will be arranged when the consultation have been received for feedback from Members for the responses to the consultation which, due to timescales would be agreed with the Group Leaders following the briefing.
· There is not a consistent approach amongst Devon Districts, Torbay, Exeter and Plymouth and County regarding proposed structural changes. The response from Teignbridge would include a comment on all different proposals to ensure that Teignbridge is not disadvantaged as far as possible.
· A response on the consultation will be expected by 16 July, 2026, and a response on the SCO will be expected sometime between September and December 2026.
· 14 days after the SCO, the Joint Committee will be required to be set up which will oversee the process leading into the Shadow Authority. Officers will form the implementation team ensuring all will be in place for the first meeting of the Shadow Authority following the elections in May 2027. The Executive and Leader will be approved and officers recruited for the statutory officers of Chief Executive, Section 151 Officer and Monitoring Officer, followed by appointment of Directors.
· The Joint Committee will then be dissolved, the Shadow and existing authorities will work together until May 2028 when the Unitary Authority would come into effect.
· It was expected that Teignbridge Council’s elections will not take place in May 2027 and that Councillor terms of office will be extended for 1 year until the Shadow Authority is effective.
The Chair announced that outside organisation appointment will be updated to reflect any changes to Committee Chairs, to be agreed later in this meeting, and the recent Executive Member changes.