Purpose

Final proposal to be submitted to Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Council will consider the matter before Executive on
25 November 2025

Decision

Agreed:

RESOLVED that Executive:

(1)   agrees the Draft Final Proposal for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Devon;

(2)   support the creation of four proposed new unitary councils (the geographic details of which were outlined in the report) as follows:

• a Unitary council for Exeter and surrounding parishes;
• a Unitary council for Plymouth and surrounding parishes;
• a Unitary council for Torbay and surrounding parishes; and
• a Unitary council for the Devon Coast and Countryside.

(3)   agree to a Joint Submission with Plymouth City Council to present a shared Executive Summary with the two individual proposals as appendices. Members noted that Plymouth City Council supported this approach and their Cabinet agreed a similar recommendation at their meeting on 24 November 2025.

(4)   grant delegated authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, to make any further minor amendments to the LGR proposal prior to its submission to Government by 28 November 2025.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report and as amended at the meeting.