Councillors consider proposals for future of local government in Devon

Councillor Julian Brazil, Leader of Devon County Council, said:

"There's a sense of frustration that councillors are not making the decision. I share that frustration, and our Cabinet isn't making the decision either.

"There is a general consensus about how we're being pushed and pulled, and forced to do this by government. Government has foisted this upon us. They talk about devolution and moving decision making to a lower level, but then decide they will choose how to do that. The irony isn't lost on me.

"I've always been in favour of unitary councils but the way we're being forced to do it is the problem. It's not news to anyone that I'm not a great fan of this process, but we have to do what we've been asked to do by government and try and get the best solution for people in Devon."

Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, Leader of the Green and Independent group, said:

"It's been really good to have had such considered points made on this. I'm furious with the government for what they're doing to us. We've been so messed around as local authorities delivering public services. We will oblige and we will send forward our proposals and hope we get a decent response from government. There's work to be done, to say the least, but what we've heard today is useful."

Councillor Michael Fife Cook, Leader of the Reform UK group

"LGR, in my view, has already achieved what the government set out and wanted it to achieve, that is to simply distract us all from the real problems so many of our residents face; it's smoke and mirrors again. We are mandated to deliver services that we can no longer afford; our government refuses to finance what it demands that we do. LGR has possibly brought the worst out in us all, to divide us and our communities along the lines of selfishness and self-preservation. Of course, like most of the rest of you, I have no vote here, so in reality, now the dust has settled and we have to decide on something, my something would have to be new Devon; or 'no' to everything, which I much prefer, but in reality we all know, that's just not an option."

Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, Leader of the Conservative group, said:

"All of these different plans have their merits, and the government has got to make a decision, but the government may have already made a decision on what's going to happen. At the end of the day, none of this addresses the issue we're all encountering, that we're not getting enough money in local government. We've been lobbying for many years but they haven't been listening to us. We're the forgotten south west. Whatever we do, it doesn't address the fact there is a lack of money coming into local government."