WEST Devon Borough Council this week pledged to fight attempts by Plymouth City Council to extend its authority into Tavistock. The city council has put forward proposals to the Boundary Committee, part of the Electoral Commission, which could see it absorb 'travel to work' towns such as Tavistock and Ivybridge — the changes could be in place by 2010. But West Devon Borough Council has fought back by putting forward proposals of its own, with an initiative entitled the South Devon and Dartmoor Unitary Authority concept. In what could be seen as one of the most radical shake ups in local government for years, the Boundary Committee has been tasked by Secretary of State for Local Government Hazel Blears to recommend an alternative local government arrangement for Devon. West Devon and South Hams councillors have put forward their own alternative — a dedicated rural unitary council, working together with Teignbridge District Council, Devon County Council and Dartmoor National Park Authority. Such a unitary rural council, says West Devon, would be large enough to cope with declining Government financial support as it would have an expected population of around 260,000. Cllr James McInnes, leader of West Devon Borough Council, said: 'Both councils are concerned that unless a rural unitary concept is put forward to the Boundary Committee, there is a risk Devon's rural voice will be lost in other concepts which are geared towards the interests of major centres of population. 'Democratic representation is key in this concept. 'It's critical that we have a size of council that is close to its communities and not remote from them.' Cllr Alison Clish-Green of Tavistock's South West ward, said Devon's borough and district councils had been 'bounced' into the situation following the failure of Exeter's bid for unitary status. She told the Times: 'The status quo is not an option and West Devon had to submit something, which we have done. 'I feel strongly that rural authorities are completely different from city ones and am amazed at Plymouth's aspirations. 'Rural market towns and national parks do not fit comfortably in urban city boundaries.' Tavistock South ward member Ted Sherrell said he was totally against Plymouth taking control of a rural area. He said: 'West Devon has one of the largest districts in the country in area but has one of the smallest populations. 'I am not in favour of the Plymouth plan because it would mean we would be totally dominated by a city unitary authority. 'But I am in favour of the proposals for a rural unitary authority, including groups such as West Devon, Dartmoor National Park Authority and the South Hams because we have shared and experienced the same problems as a rural community.' A number of 'concepts' are being put forward by Devon councils and other interested parties to the Boundary Committee; the next stage is that two or three of these or an amalgam of the proposals will be selected by the committee by July for further debate, before one is put forward to the Secretary of State for Local Government. The concept document – Putting Our Rural Communities First – will be available on West Devon's website and copies will be available at the council office in Tavistock.
