Torridge
ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW
MOVING THE BOUNDARY? Torridge could link up with Exeter in a large Devon unitary authority
It appears that a Devon
unitary including
Exeter with significant
devolution of real power
to local areas using the
model outlined would
best meet the needs of
the people of Torridge
TORRIDGE believes that local government in the 21st
Century should be focused on achieving real benefits for
local people in local places.
It believes that assessing the impact on Torridge citizens and
businesses is paramount in making the big decisions.
Those were the principles it adopted when the Boundary
Committee – at extremely short notice in March – sought
the Council’s views on how local government might look in
Devon under any proposed boundary changes.
The choice came down to a matter of balance: Would the
economic and strategic leadership advantages of a larger
unitary authority outweigh the attraction of a smaller unitary
that would keep local democracy closer to home and
safeguard the special characteristics of North Devon? In
the end Torridge looked for a solution that offered the best
of both worlds—the economic advantages of scale and the
democratic advantages of place.
Torridge - a great place to live, work & visit
On this basis, Torridge decided that a larger Devon
unitary authority, which includes Exeter, would
offer the best chance of meeting and protecting
the needs of its communities under any future
structure, but with the caveat that a creative
approach to community leadership and local
engagement be built into the solution.
“Establishing these networks would ensure the
local democratic power is enhanced rather than
lost,” said the submission. “The inclusion of the
economic power of Exeter in a unitary authority
serving North Devon is of critical importance
to ensure communities in Torridge are not
disadvantaged by their remoteness and sparse
population.”
To this end, Torridge, in its submission to the
Boundary Committee, recommended the creation
of Market Town Community Networks within the
new unitary – it suggests three in the existing
Torridge area based around Bideford-Northam,
Great Torrington and Holsworthy.
Here are the key points of the Torridge submission:
VILLAGE IDYLL: The special charms of Northern Devon
Torridge is driven by a conviction that our citizens,
businesses and communities should be at the
heart of everything that local government does.
This principle has driven our efforts to progress
shared services and is central to the way we work.
WARD BY WARD - HOW THE COUNCILLORS VOTED
Establishing Market Town Community
Networks would ensure local democratic
power is enhanced rather than lost
TORRIDGE was frustrated by the very short
timescale given to consider its response to
the Boundary Committee – a view shared by
its fellow Town and Parish Councillors and its
partners in the business and voluntary sectors but few authorities can have done more to keep
their communities informed.
In a whirlwind round of meetings between
March 3 – when the Council Leader and
Chief Executive met the Boundary Committee
- and April 7, when the Full Council reached
its decision, there were two informal Council
meetings, one Full Council briefing, three
separate forums with the Holsworthy, Great
Torrington and Bideford-Northam advisory
committees, staff consultations and briefings
and further consultations with Parish Councils
and the Citizens’ Panel.
Putting citizens and businesses first has guided
us in making our submission – we’ve listened
to local people. Putting citizens and businesses
first has also shaped our vision. We want an
effective and confident unitary authority equipped
to improve the socio-economic prosperity of our
communities, while safeguarding our distinctive
physical and cultural environment and improving
the quality of life for all. Torridge has distinctive
characteristics, with important differences between
north and south of the district and any new unitary
authority must respond to these differences. There
is a strong sense of place in northern Devon, and
this is particularly felt in the north part of Torridge.
Instinctively this leads to the consideration of
creating a Northern Devon unitary authority with
a single focus on championing the ambitions of
our area.
But we also acknowledge the realities of the
situation. Public services must be provided as
efficiently as possible and the unitary authority
must have the resource capacity to make local
ambitions a reality. This leads to the consideration
of creating a larger unitary authority that includes
Exeter.
However, there are concerns that a large unitary
authority would lead to a dilution of democratic
representation and a loss of effective local power.
So it is critical that the new solution must enhance
the power of local communities rather than reduce
it. We see the creation of Market Town Community
Networks based on our main towns as essential
for establishing local priorities and ensuring that
resources are channelled to turn local ambitions
into reality.
Assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the
options has led us to build a vision based on a
single unitary authority serving the whole county
of Devon, excluding enlarged authorities serving
Plymouth and Torbay. A large Devon unitary
authority including Exeter would ensure that
the new authority has the sustainable capacity
to deliver. Establishing powerful Market Town
Community Networks would ensure that local
democratic power is enhanced rather than lost.
TALKING SHOP; Council Leader James Morrish consults with Parish Councillors in Holsworthy
We want to transform the way local
government works in Devon. Our vision
for unitary government does not involve
bolting services currently provided
by District Councils on to services
currently provided by the County
Council. Neither does it involve bolting
services currently provided by the
County Council on to services provided
by District Councils. Simply rearranging
existing Councils like this would
represent a huge missed opportunity
for the future. We envisage the creation
of a new unitary authority that acts in
innovative ways with the central focus
on the needs and aspirations of local
people and places. It appears that a
Devon unitary including Exeter with
significant devolution of real power to
local areas using the model outlined in
this submission would best meet the
needs of the people of Torridge.
THE FINAL WORD
Members of Torridge District Council recognise that the current
review of local government in Devon is likely to have very significant
implications for the people of Torridge.
Protecting the interests of our people and businesses is fundamentally
important to us and decisions about the future shape of local
government are among the most important decisions we will make.
Members have contributed passionately to our debates on the subject
of unitary local government on behalf of the people they represent. I
am convinced that the key points made in our submission are critical in
any proposals which are taken forward by the Boundary Committee.
The key outcome must be a governance framework that clearly defines
local priorities and then delivers real benefits. This is an opportunity to
re-think local government and put local people and local places first
James Morrish
Leader, Torridge District Council
Contact Us - tel. (01237) 428700 or email: communications @torridge.gov.uk