It has been a significant few weeks in Westminster, with Andy Burnham becoming Prime Minister and Angela Rayner returning as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. As that department is responsible for overseeing the reorganisation of local government in Devon, it is a good opportunity to set out where matters now stand and what I will continue to press for.
On 16th July, the Government confirmed that Devon will move to four new unitary councils from April 2028. As part of those changes, Exeter will expand to include 49 predominantly rural parishes from East Devon, Teignbridge and Mid Devon. That means communities including Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton, Whimple and Broadclyst would become part of a much larger Exeter council, while our neighbours in Seaton and Ottery St Mary will join a large rural council stretching to the North Devon coast. This proposal was not included in Labour's General Election manifesto, and I understand why many local people feel it has come as a surprise.
My concern is not simply where the boundary is drawn, but whether the new council will understand and prioritise the needs of rural and coastal communities. Services such as social care, support for children with special educational needs and disabilities, road maintenance and public transport all depend on local knowledge. My job will be to ensure the voices of everyone in Exmouth and Exeter East are heard and that these communities receive the attention and services they deserve.
Earlier this year, I asked local people for their views through my constituency survey. 60% of respondents said they did not want to see council boundaries changed. Freedom of Information requests I submitted also revealed that the transition is expected to cost around £70 million, with £1.1 million already spent by Exeter City Council, East Devon District Council and Devon County Council preparing for the changes. I believe that money would be better spent improving the services people rely on every day.
This is the most significant change to local government in Devon since 1974. Although the Government has made its decision, it is essential that the implementation is properly scrutinised and that the interests of local communities are protected.
With a new Secretary of State now in post, I hope Ministers will ensure these changes are delivered carefully, transparently and with continued engagement from local people. I will continue to make the case for Exmouth and Exeter East at every stage, and I encourage anyone who has not yet shared their views to take part in my survey, which you can do here. The more local people who have their say, the stronger the case I can make on your behalf.
