Devon County Council
County council to impose new local government tier despite majority opposition to devolution deal
Emptiness of claims that new combined authority will be accountable reflected in failure to respect consultation results as all eight Devon district councils decry prospective democratic deficit.
SEND deficit deal demands £50m budget cuts, £13m asset sales and use of £20m financial reserves
Department for Education to contribute £95 million over nine years, but terms of deal require Devon County Council to break even on SEND within two years despite five years of multi-million pound overspends.
Devon devolution deal to create unaccountable local government layer for paltry £16 million payoff
Democratic deficit to increase as city and district councils lose control over housing and prosperity funding and transport policy powers moved out of reach, while county council plans to approve deal irrespective of public consultation outcome.
Bus corridor consultation presents more incremental changes to Exeter road network
£2.4 million Heavitree and Pinhoe Road “upgrades” have “potential for an approximate four-minute journey time saving” at peak times along length of each corridor.
£50 million county council 2024-25 service delivery cuts concealed by £93 million costs increases
Figures essentially unaffected by budget scrutiny process during which councillors sought details of where and how cuts would fall but received few proper answers.
Judge quashes planning permission for 350 homes at St Bridget Nurseries in Old Rydon Lane
High Court judgement finds city council did not properly discharge duties or take material considerations into account, council officer seriously misled planning committee and county council failed in statutory local highway authority role.