WEST Devon Borough Council has rejected costly proposals by the Boundary Committee to restructure local government in Devon.

The Boundary Committee is seeking further comment from the people of Devon to its latest proposals published in March — the same two options put forward in July 2008. The consultation, which closes today (Thursday), follows fresh instructions from Communities Secretary Hazel Blears.

The committee has put forward two unitary patterns, one for a single unitary council for Devon and the other for a rural Devon unitary, with a separate Greater Exeter and Exmouth unitary. Both options exclude Plymouth and Torbay. If either pattern was implemented, all eight district councils in Devon — including West Devon — would be abolished. Any new reorganisation could be brought in as early as April 2010.

Last week West Devon councillors voted overwhelmingly against the committee's proposals and reasserted its view that sharing services with other councils, which has already saved hundreds of thousands of pounds of council tax payers money, is the right way forward.

Borough deputy leader Cllr Margaret Garton said: 'This restructuring puts at risk the high quality services that so many people in West Devon value and for which we have been so often commended in independent inspections.

'With the country in deep recession and a General Election within the next 12 months, we do not believe this is the time to be embarking on wholesale reorganisation.

'The borough has always been fully committed to seeking ways to improve our services and efficiency. We firmly believe that evolutionary, not revolutionary change, is more likely to result in improved services and benefits for the taxpayer and which minimise risk.'

A single unitary authority for Devon would provide services for more than 750,000 people spread across 2,500 square miles. It would be one of the largest unitary authorities in England. The council says the proposal is costly, ill-conceived and will take local decision-making away from communities.

A unitary Devon would have the worst level of electoral representation in England with a proposed 100 elected councillors — one councillor representing 7,400 people, claims the borough.

For West Devon, just six councillors are expected to represent residents. Currently the area has 35 councillors – 31 borough councillors and four Devon county councillors.

The price tag predicted for the Devon reorganisation is £74.3 million and, after three and a half years, the transition is estimated to bring around 96.8 million in savings.

However, these estimates are based on 2007 figures which will have changed considerably in the current economic downturn of the last year.

The alternative proposal — a rural Devon unitary, with a separate Greater Exeter and Exmouth unitary – would be the worst possible solution for the county, say West Devon leaders.

They fear it would lead to a two-class Devon with rural areas being democratically and financially worse off. The two unitary option would cost an estimated £76.5-million to implement, with estimated savings after four and a half years of £98.2-million.

The Boundary Committee will make its final recommendation to secretary of state Ms Blears by July 15.

To have your say on the proposals, email [email protected]">[email protected]