Pause of councils change leaves bill of 'millions'

Plans to abolish all of the councils in Devon and set up four new unitary authorities have been "paused", with an estimated cost of several millions of pounds.

In a surprise announcement, the government said it was launching a review of plans across the country to look again at what would have been the biggest reorganisation of local government for 50 years "following legal advice".

The government had previously given the green light to plans for the expansion of Plymouth, Torbay and Exeter, with the rest of Devon forming a separate authority.

The Labour government had said it wanted to make local government simpler and more streamlined, but the plans were heavily criticised by other parties who said they would damage services while increasing costs to taxpayers.

The government had previously adopted the plans put forward by Labour councils in Plymouth and Exeter to expand the urban areas.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said in a statement it was launching the review to ensure the plan was "robust and aligns with new government priorities".

Paul Arnott, Liberal Democrat deputy leader of Devon County Council and leader of East Devon District Council, welcomed the decision but said the project had already cost millions of pounds.

He said: "At both county and district levels, at least 30% of officer capacity has been redirected to work on local government reorganisation - that is multiple millions of pounds."

Arnott said he welcomed the decision and said credit should go to Prime Minister Andy Burnham for having the "good judgment and humility" to pause and review the plans.

He said: "However, the district councils and the county council have been left with an enormous bill for this."

Exeter City Council leader Phil Bialyk said he was "disappointed that Exeter's long wait for unitary status will now be delayed while this review takes place".

Exeter previously tried to become a unitary council but those plans were halted by the Conservative government in 2010.

Bialyk added: "But I understand that there needs to a review because the new prime minister and new administration need to be satisfied that the decisions made are the right ones and that the right processes were followed."

South Hams District Council leader Dan Thomas said he was "pleased" the government had listened to responses about the proposed changes, which would have seen the council abolished.

Thomas said the plans had "caused deep disappointment and serious concern across our rural towns, villages and coastal communities".

Tudor Evans, leader of Labour-run Plymouth City Council, said the authority understood the decision.

He said: "We will continue to engage with the MHCLG as it reviews the programme and will await decisions on any future plans.

"In the meantime, we welcome its continued commitment to devolving more decision making away from Westminster.

"We will now plan to hold local elections next year on our existing boundaries."

Plans for local government reorganisation were originally launched in 2024 and elections were due to take place across Devon in May 2027 with the new authorities in place from April 2028.

The BBC has tried to contact the Conservative leader of Torbay Council for comment.

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.