Agenda and draft minutes

The Lord Mayor welcomed Councillors, officers and members of the press and public. He made the following statement:-

“The report for this meeting has been published at short notice and has not been open for inspection by members of the public for at least five clear days before this meeting.

In my opinion as Lord Mayor, there are special circumstances as to why the item should be considered at this meeting as a matter of urgency.

The government originally intended to publish the English Devolution White Paper in November 2024; however, it was not published until 16 December 2024.

In the letter addressed to all two-tier councils and neighbouring unitary authorities dated 16th December 2024, the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, in referring to the English Devolution White Paper and the government’s manifesto pledge to transfer power out of Westminster through devolution and to fix the foundations of local government’ set out the proposal to postpone the local government elections scheduled for May 2025, -  in order to help to manage the demands imposed on those authorities keen to proceed with devolution.

More recently, in their report dated 8 January 2025, Devon County Council have requested that the County Council elections scheduled for May 2025 be postponed.

On this basis I consider that there are special circumstances, which are: that the deadline imposed by the Minister of State of Friday 10th January 2025 means that these issues need to be considered and determined by this Council as a matter of urgency relating to whether submissions should be made to the Minister of State expressing this Council’s intentions as set out in the report before us.

If this council’s intentions are not submitted to the Minister of State by Friday 10th January 2025, then its proposals could be compromised.”

Councillors are reminded of the need to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests that relate to business on the agenda and which have not already been included in the register of interests, before any discussion takes place on the item. Unless the interest is sensitive, you must also disclose the nature of the interest. In accordance with the Council's Code of Conduct, you must then leave the room and must not participate in any further discussion of the item. Councillors requiring clarification should seek the advice of the Monitoring Officer prior to the day of the meeting.

Members were advised that Councillor Asvachin – who was both a Devon County Councillor and Exeter City Councillor – had received dispensation from the Monitoring Officer to vote on the item ‘Urgent Report on the Council's proposed response to the English Devolution White Paper’ (Minute No. 3).

To consider the report of the Chief Executive as a matter of urgency.

The Leader of the Council moved and read out the recommendations set out in the report as follows:-

That Council agrees:

1) To support the submission of a Letter of Intent to government by 10 January 2025 which indicates this council’s opposition to any future proposal for one unitary council for Devon and expresses Exeter’s intention to submit interim plans for unitary status for Exeter once we receive the Invitation from Government.

2) To support work with other neighbouring authorities to bring forward a Mayoral Strategic Authority which may cover the areas of Devon and Cornwall with a unitary Exeter as a constituent member.

That Council notes:

3) That the geography of the proposed unitary council for Exeter will be set out in the interim plan to be submitted to government in March 2025, after due consideration and agreement by Council.

4) That the Leader of the Council will work collaboratively with the Leaders of the other political groups on the Council as plans develop, ahead of proposals being brought formally to members. This Council will also work collaboratively, as much as is possible, with other local councils on the development of proposals going forward in the interest of Exeter and Devon as whole.

Councillor Wright seconded the recommendations.

The Chief Executive introduced the report, highlighting:-

·         the English Devolution White Paper published by the Government on 16 December 2024;

·         the four areas addressed in the document; and

·         how, for the purpose of the present meeting, Members would be focusing on Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

She explained the three different types of Strategic Authorities introduced within the new framework, namely:-

1.    Foundation Strategic Authorities;

2.    Mayoral Strategic Authorities; and

3.    Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities.

She then provided further detail into the White Paper and next steps:-

·         the White Paper restated Government’s ambition that all areas of the country would ultimately have a Mayoral Strategic Authority;

·         in two-tier areas, the Government would only establish County Combined Authorities (CCAs) for an interim period;

·         the Secretary of State would be given the power to create a Strategic Authority by ministerial directive where local consensus could not be achieved;

·         all councils in the 21 two-tier areas would be expected to reorganise over the current Parliament and into the next;

·         the Government intended for reorganisation to happen in a phased approach, with the first new unitary councils expected before the end of the current Parliament;

·         the Government had set an expectation that new unitary councils should be based on a population size of at least 500,000 but had indicated it would consider smaller unitary councils on an exceptional basis;

·         the Government had indicated that it would prioritise areas for reorganisation where this reorganisation could unlock devolution or deepen the existing devolution arrangements;

·         the Minister was expected to formally invite unitary proposals later in January 2025, asking for interim plans to be submitted in March 2025;

·         the timescale for the submission for final bids was expected to be set out in the invitation as well  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

It was noted that no questions from Members had been received.