BETTER and more cost effective public services should be on the way for West Devon residents, following a new commitment announced by local authorities in the county. In a joint statement, Devon County Council, Devon's district and borough councils and the Devon Association of Parish Councils, have announced they are working together to achieve substantial proposals to improve the existing system of local government. The move is in response to the Government's recently published white paper, 'Strong and Prosperous Communities', which seeks to deliver better public services through a rebalancing of the relationship between Whitehall, local government and local people. It includes invitations to councils in England to make proposals for future unitary structures and pioneer new two-tier models. Devon County Council, the district and borough councils and Devon Association of Parish Councils will, however, jointly submit their own proposal for improved two-tier working to benefit local people and local communities in Devon. West Devon councillors Margaret Garton and James McInnes said: 'The white paper provides the opportunity for the county and district councils to work together, to find new solutions for delivering public services in Devon, which focus more effectively on the needs of our residents, businesses and communities — and less on administrative convenience and the demands of Whitehall. 'We believe it is in the best interests of West Devon for the borough to fully support this work.' Cllr Brian Greenslade, leader of Devon County Council, said: 'We support the positive features of the white paper and the opportunity to breathe new life into local democracy through more local choice and less national prescription from Whitehall. 'Building on the many good examples of joint working that already exists among councils in Devon, the aim of these emerging proposals will be improved local government that provides better services, closer to the people and are cheaper to run.' Cllr Bob Collier, acting chairman of the Devon Association of Parish Councils, said: 'The Devon Association of Parish Councils, which represents over 350 communities, is fully supportive of working closely with our colleagues at all levels of local government across Devon. 'Efficient service delivery aligned with strong community involvement is something which benefits everyone living in Devon, and town and parish councils are happy to make their full contribution to such a way of working.'
