Agenda item

To recommend to the Executive on 25^th November 2025, the Council’s preferred proposal for Local Government Reorganisation.

RECOMMENDED to the Executive that

a)     Teignbridge District Council endorses 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’.

b)     Teignbridge District Council only support the option of 4/5/1.

c)     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.

(14 votes for, 7 against and 16 abstentions)

The Chair thanked staff for their work in putting the agenda report together,  and staff and Cllrs who had attended the many meetings involving representatives of Devon County Council, Districts and Unitaries to discuss the potential Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) options for Devon.

The Executive Member for LGR, Cllr Nuttall referred to the agenda report which set out 3 recommendations at agenda page 3.

The Managing Director presented the agenda report advising that the Council was tasked in February 2025 to put together the 4/5/1 model with the other Devon local authorities (LA) to provide unitaries of around 500k population working with the existing LA boundaries. The public and stakeholders were consulted including the NHS, police, town and parish councils, universities, transport, bus and trains, and businesses. Over 1,750 responses were received from the public which was greater than any other Devon LA. 

Teignbridge would be the first of the Devon Councils to make a decision which should be based on what is the best option for residents and communities. Other LAs would decide in the next few days and proposals conveyed to Government. The Government would then take the lead with a public consultation expected February/March 2026, followed by a decision June/July 2026, and the setting up of shadow authorities.   

The financial assessments were undertaken by PIXEL and KPMG, companies with national experience of LGR and results were supported by all Section 151 Officers across the Devon LAs. 

The 4/5/1 model would support around 234 Cllrs across Devon each representing around 4,500 residents each.          

The Leader thanked the Managing Director, supporting staff and the Executive Member and referred to Local Area Committees (LACs) which would play an important role in connecting communities to the unitaries. 

Cllr Bullivant referred to Devon County Council’s published report the previous day on a 9/1/1 New Devon model and why this would result in an improvement for Devon residents.

 Cllr Bullivant proposed that the Council endorses the 9/1/1 New Devon model and not the 4/5/1 model. The proposal was seconded by Cllr Rogers.

Comments that followed included:   

- 9/1/1 model would result in a huge unitary and more electorate to each Cllr and is not a balanced model.

- The NHS support the 4/5/1 model.

- Universities are concerned that they will have a voice going forward and wish reorganisation to be actioned as soon as possible to minimise disruption.

- LACs work well in other areas of the country.

- Full savings of the reorganisations will be seen in year 6/7.

- The Government can only approve a proposal put forward. 

The Section 151 Officer confirmed the financial appraisal which had been supported by all Devon Section 151 Officers.

Cllr Macgregor proposed an amendment that recommendations 1 and 3 as set out on the agenda report supporting the 4/5/1 model be approved as the best option for the residents of Teignbridge. This was seconded by Cllr G Taylor.

A procedural matter was raised as to whether the amended proposal by Cllr MacGregor and seconded by Cllr G Taylor could be taken as an amendment or constituted a new proposal.

At this juncture the meeting adjourned for a short comfort break.

The meeting reconvened.

The Democratic Services Manager and Deputy Monitoring Officer referred to the relevant paragraph of the Constitution and advised that the proposal by Cllr MacGregor and seconded by Cllr G Taylor constituted an amendment and would be voted on first.

Cllr Macgregor confirmed the wording of his proposed amendment would be recommendation 1 and 3 of the agenda report as a recommendation to the Executive with a revised recommendation 2 of the agenda report to read:

2. Teignbridge District Council only support the option of 4/5/1.

The amendment was seconded by Cllr G Taylor.

The amendment to recommendation 2 would ensure that Dartmoor National Park in its entirety would remain in one unitary authority and address Cllrs concerns about the expansion of Plymouth City Council’s boundaries. 

A recorded vote in accordance with paragraph 4.13.5. of the Constitution was taken as follows:

For the proposal: Cllrs Bradford, Daws, Gearon, Goodman-Bradbury, Hayes, Macgregor, Mullone, C Parker, Radford, Rollason, Ryan, Sanders, K Smith, Swain, G Taylor, Major   Total 16

Against the proposal: Cllrs Atkins, Bullivant, Dawson, Foden, Peart, Purser, Rogers, Thorne   Total 8

Abstention: Cllrs Buscombe, Clarance, Cox, Henderson, Horner, Hook Jackman, keeling, Nutley, Nuttal Palethorpe, Parrott, Steemson   Total 13

The proposal was CARRIED and in accordance with paragraph 4.13.5. of the Constitution as recorded vote was taken on the substantive motion as follows and CARRIED:

For the proposal: Cllrs Bradford, Gearon, Goodman-Bradbury, Hayes, Macgregor, C Parker, Radford, Rollason, Ryan, Sanders, K Smith, Swain,

G Taylor, Major   Total 14

Against the proposal: Cllrs Atkins, Bullivant, Dawson, Peart, Purser, Rogers, Thorne   Total 7

Abstention: Cllrs Buscombe, Clarance, Cox, Daws, Foden, Henderson, Horner, Hook, Jackman, keeling, Mullone, Nutley, Nuttal, Palethorpe, Parrott, Steemson   Total 16

RECOMMENDED to the Executive that

1.       Teignbridge District Council endorses 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 support the option of 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.

(14 votes for, 7 against and 16 abstentions)