'Historic devolution deal will give us more control' say councils
Every council in Devon - except Plymouth - has agreed to work closer together in return for new powers and budgets
Last updated 25th Jan 2024
A share of £16-million is being offered to every council in Devon - except Plymouth - after they agreed to work closer together.
The Government will today formally announce a so-called 'devolution deal' which gives the councils more powers over budgets for housing, transport and developing skills - and a closer working relationship with Government departments.
Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young will formally announce the deal today, with the leaders of Devon County Council, districts and Torbay Council, in what's being hailed as a 'historic first for residents'.
If agreed, after a consultation with residents, the deal would see the creation of a new Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority (CCA) which 'would bring greater power closer to local councils and their communities to drive forward local priorities across the Devon and Torbay area'.
A spokesperson for the department for levelling up said: " A total of £16 million will also be awarded to support the delivery of local housing priorities, drive Net Zero ambitions and support green skills, and accelerate wider low carbon business transition across the Devon and Torbay area.
"The proposed Devon and Torbay Level 2 devolution deal is the tenth historic deal negotiated by the government since setting out its commitment to English devolution in its levelling up plan in February 2022 - the Levelling Up White Paper.
"This signing will also mean that 60 per cent of the English population will now live in a place covered by a devolution deal - up from 41% in two years."
Plymouth said it pulled out of the deal calling it a 'backward step' that could see the council having less say over things like transport
In a statement the council leader Tudor Evans said: “We embarked on the road to a devolution deal for Devon as we support the principle of devolving more powers and control over resources from London to our region.
“But the final deal on the table would have been a step backwards given that 25 years ago Plymouth became a unitary authority and took back responsibility for key areas such as education and transport.
“The aim of a devolution deal was to hand control from Whitehall to a Devon combined authority, not take away existing powers from Plymouth. To have agreed to give up powers on the promise of a little more cash would have been a backwards step for local democracy.
“Despite meetings with the Government Minister and numerous letters, they are insisting that we surrender our powers and funding regarding Transport. Therefore, we have no choice but to withdraw. It is massively disappointing given all the work that has taken place and we hope the Government will realise the final deal it offered was unreasonable and unrealistic and that it will reconsider in the future."