“Plans to unite south Devon under a single elected mayor follow a visit to the county by the Local Government Secretary Sajid Javid in October when he made it clear that only “ambitious” devolution bids including mayors would get new money and significant powers.
It cuts across an existing devolution bid covering the whole of Devon and Somerset which has already been submitted to the government.
All of the councils involved in the new proposals had signed up to the earlier bid – but there has been growing frustration at its slow progress and the refusal of the councillors leading it to accept a mayor.”
BBC Devon Live website
The item does not state which parts of South Devon this includes.
CORRECTION:
it does:
“Exeter City Council and the two unitary authorities in Plymouth and Torbay are leading the initiative which would see a new combined authority stretching from Exeter to Plymouth.”
It comes hot on the heels of a plan to create a much more official “Exeter Travel to Work Area” including Exeter, East Devon, Mid-Devon and Teignbridge. Including bringing on board unelected business people to make decisions for us, of course – none of that pesky democracy here, thank you!
Whither Devon and Somerset now? And whither North Devon and its hinterland?
East Devon Watch 