English Devolution Plans

On 16 December 2024 the Government published its English Devolution White Paper, which gave details of its plans to transfer power and spending from Central Government to local Government.

Local Government Reorganisation

Alongside this the Government wants to reorganise local Government structure. This will involve changing the structure and responsibilities of local authorities.

Under the Government proposals the current two-tier structure of district and county councils would be combined to become a new single tier. The Government recommends that the new single councils would serve a population of 500,000 or more. Currently Torridge District Council serves a population of 68,100 (2021 Census).

The leaders of East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Torridge and West Devon Councils issued a statement in February 2025 that stated they were ‘united in our belief that the interests of the nearly 1 million people of Devon and Torbay will not best be served by a single ‘mega’ Council covering the entirety of this area. As districts, we have therefore reached initial agreement to work towards the formation of two new Councils that combine our existing areas as follows;

● A Unitary combining the South Hams, Teignbridge and West Devon areas with Torbay

● A Unitary including East, Mid and North Devon alongside Torridge District and the City of Exeter.

The new organisations are expected to take power from April 2028.

Parish Councils

The Government white paper included no plans to alter the structure of Parish Councils. It did however state that ‘the relationship between town and parish councils and principal Local Authorities would be ‘re-wired’, strengthening expectations on engagement and community voice.’

It might be that the new council would ask the local parish councils to undertake more work on their behalf, but this is not directly included within Government plans.