Decision

Purpose of report

Cabinet considered a proposal for Plymouth to become a full constituent member of the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority, a foundation strategic authority under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026, and to bring that proposal to Full Council for consideration.

Decision

Cabinet:

1. approved the development of a proposal, including the mechanism, the timing and the alignment with local government reorganisation, together with the related engagement with the Authority and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
2. agreed that the final proposal under section 47 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023, and the Council's consent to regulations under section 25, will be brought back to Full Council for approval before any submission to the Secretary of State.
3. endorsed the ambition that the Authority should be renamed the South West Peninsula Strategic Authority, and instructed officers to pursue that change with National Government and the constituent authorities as the proposal is developed.

Reasons for decision

1. The detailed design and sequencing require executive development and active engagement with partners. Delegation allows that work to proceed without delay.
2. Membership of a strategic authority is a significant matter for the city. Reserving the final decision to Full Council keeps democratic oversight of the commitment.
3. The name should reflect the full peninsula geography set out in the resolution of Full Council of 9 January 2025 and the joint expression of interest of July 2025. Any change of name requires regulations made by the Secretary of State.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Remaining outside of local devolved structures. This is the current position and was rejected because it leaves Plymouth outside the powers and funding of the strategic authority and exposes the city to being left behind as the national framework deepens.

Pursuing a separate strategic authority for Plymouth alone. This was rejected because the city's functional economy, housing market and travel to work area extend across the wider county, and a single city authority would not match the geography the framework intends, or carry the scale the area needs.

A South West Peninsula Mayoral Strategic Authority. This remains the Council's preferred long-term ambition, set out in the Council's resolution of 9 January 2025 and in the joint letter of the eleven Devon leaders of 25 July 2025. It was not pursued as the immediate step because it is not the shape National Government is currently progressing, with a separate arrangement being taken forward with Cornwall, and pursuing it alone now would risk leaving Plymouth between two devolution geographies and part of neither.

Declarations of interest

None declared in respect of this item.