“A ‘GOLDEN Triangle’ of local authorities could lead South Devon to a new and prosperous future with government investment running into hundreds of millions of pounds.
That’s the belief of Torbay Council ruling Conservative Group leader David Thomas who has confirmed that very preliminary talks have been held to change the way councils are run in South Devon and the county.
Under the new structure Torbay and Plymouth would unite and then invite Exeter to join the devolution party as a ‘real Trinity’ for the future.
But one politician reportedly against a new ‘super’ South Devon council is Torbay mayor Gordon Oliver who has decided to snub the talks. He is believed to be still firmly behind working with Devon County Council who, with other partners, have already submitted a devolution bid of their own.
Cllr Thomas revealed: “I had a phone call to ask if I would attend an informal meeting of the chief executives and leaders of Torbay, Plymouth and Exeter councils.
“The leader in Torbay is Mayor Oliver. I was asked as leader of the majority group because anything that moves forward will be a council decision.
“Once I was invited the mayor made it clear that that he did not wish to attend the meeting. He sent out an email saying he was not attending and that he did not want to deal with Exeter and Plymouth. He was only interested in a Devon unitary authority.”
“The deal that we would look at bidding for would be £1billion for the local economy and it would bring decision making into the South West.
“”This could be the opportunity for a Golden Triangle, a real trinity. I can only speak for Torbay. The only way this can work is if the two unitariies, Torbay and Plymouth, work together. Exeter can be asked to join shortly afterwards. Any other districts may be part and parcel of this.”
He said under the new potential deal, the councils will not change. The new authority would sit above. But he said part of the devolution deal is that they would have to have an elected leader, commissionaire or mayor.
Cllr Thomas said: “These are very early days, but the rules of the game as set out by the government minister is that if you want devolution powers you have to an elected leader. You have to have to have that if you want the Full Monty.”
He claimed some of the local authorities in the Devon/Somerset devolution deal do not want to have an elected mayor at the helm and he added: “My view is why would you not want to investigate the opportunities here?
“I cannot understand why the elected leader or any councillor would not want to investigate this potential route on the table. We all know the problems we have in Torbay including deprivation and declining budgets. This is an opportunity to resolve some of those issues.”
He said he had spoken to his group and they are ‘on board.’ He said he had also talked to opposition group leaders and, although they have yet to take it to their members, they have said personally the options should be explored.
So, “a route on the table” and he’s on board! Imagine if only the 3 councils ganged up – where would they have their HQ!
East Devon Watch 