WEST Devon Borough Council is to look at ways it can generate income following the decision to vote against the creation of a single second-tier council with South Hams District Council.

On Tuesday, October 31, councillors voted 18 to 13 against forming a single council to cover the district of South Hams and the borough of West Devon.

The proposal had come forward as a means of ensuring that both areas would be better equipped to handle mounting financial pressures. Despite current cost-cutting measures, the councils are still facing a combined budget gap of £1.9-million each year after 2020, due to further government cuts.

Leader of West Devon Borough Council Phillip Sanders said: ‘We are now going to do an in-depth examination of the whole of our expenditure and find ways to generate additional income.

‘I will stress that we are not looking to reduce staffing levels as these are already very tight.

‘We are looking at where we can generate income and that will take us a couple of months.’