Democracy & Governance
Devon County Council 2025-26 budget to bring more service delivery cuts
£22 million cuts concealed by £60 million costs increases as council misrepresents financial position and fails to answer questions about where cuts will fall.
Multiple-choice survey on £3.5m budget cuts follows auditor criticism of council public consultation methods
Move to replace resident views on key decisions and policies with opinion polls and selective questionnaires follows serial failure to uphold own consultation charter.
How did Devon MPs vote on the assisted dying bill second reading?
Ten of Devon’s thirteen MPs voted in favour of a private member’s bill to legalise assisted dying in the House of Commons on Friday as the bill reached its crucial second reading stage.
2024-25 SEND overspend rises to £45.8m as government “safety valve” deal target breach doubles to £14.7m in two months
County council breaches Local Government Act by failing to publish budget documents in time for scrutiny and cabinet meetings and councillors complain about missing financial information and being “kept in the dark” about SEND delivery.
Government approves new Devon local government layer but says it still wants elected mayor
Devon & Torbay Combined County Authority expected to be first step towards regional governance structure as Institute for Government recommends absorption of Plymouth – and even Cornwall – into South West peninsula devolution deal.
