Reimagining Devon
Frequently asked questions
Why do you think the 4-5-1 proposal is the right one for Devon?
The 4-5-1 proposal is one that has a clear and logical plan for the whole of Devon, which would see three unitary authorities delivering services. Plymouth would remain on its existing footprint or with a slight expansion into South Hams.
Two new unitary councils would then be created to cover the northern and southern areas of the county. The 4-5-1 plan minimises disruption by using the existing district council boundaries and would see the same number of councils (three) delivering vital services such as children’s and adults services as the current arrangement (where those services are delivered by Torbay, Plymouth and Devon County Council) but on different footprints. The best way to find out more is to read the Executive Summary of our proposal which can be found here.
When will the new unitary authorities be set up?
Government timetables have set out that elections to the new councils will be held in May 2027, so that the newly elected councillors can make appointments to key posts (such as the Chief Executive and other senior management) so that they can take forward the implementation planning for the new councils.
The new councils would take over delivery of services from 1 April 2028.
How do I have my say?
Each council in Devon has been engaging with residents and partner organisations throughout 2025 to help shape their proposals. The councils that have developed the 4-5-1 proposal have undertaken over 50 residents' engagement sessions and ran an online survey for eight weeks in 2025. The survey attracted over 6,000 responses.
We anticipate that the government will launch a formal consultation on the proposals in February 2026, when any interested parties will be able to make comments.
When the government decides on its preferred proposal, can we have a say for it to be changed?
No - following the formal consultation, the government will have the final decision on which proposal to implement.
How will town and parish councils be affected?
Town and parish councils will not be affected structurally by the changes. They will not be abolished.
In its English Devolution White Paper, the government confirmed that it wants to strengthen the relationship between town and parish councils and the new unitary councils. The 4-5-1 proposal sets out the intention to build on the positive and effective relationships already in place and involve towns and parishes in shaping future local engagement mechanisms.
In the meantime, we are committed to continuing our work with our town and parish councils to make sure they are in the best position possible to serve their local communities following the changes to local government. We believe community voices must be represented, and people should have influence over their place and valued community assets.
Does this mean we will have fewer politicians/councillors?
Yes, there will be less councillors under the new arrangements. There are currently 481 councillors in Devon. Each proposal submitted to government has a different number of councillors that are anticipated to serve Devon – ranging from 200 to 302. The 4-5-1 proposal sets out a total of 234 councillors.
How much will this change cost and how will it be funded?
The different proposals set out differing costs. The cost for the 4-5-1 proposal is anticipated to be between £73.9 and £101 million to implement the two new councils (as Plymouth is already a unitary authority). There is no new money to cover the cost of this change, but it will generate savings.
The savings for the 4-5-1 proposal set out that it will ‘payback’ the overall cost of change within under three years.
Will my Council Tax payments go up?
Council tax rates will eventually need to be aligned, so everyone in a specific unitary authority pays the same. It is likely that this will be a gradual process, with some Council Tax increasing over time and others being frozen until all residents within the area reach the same level of Council Tax. This will depend on where you live and how local government is structured in Devon.
Will you be closing any of the main council offices?
It’s too early to say, as this will be a decision for the new councils. What we do know is that local delivery hubs will be essential to delivering the services our communities need.
Many services delivered by the county council are already located in district council offices, to deliver effective and responsive services to local communities.
What happens next?
We are currently waiting for government to set out the timeline for the consultation. When it is announced, we will work across Devon to make sure that residents are aware of the opportunity to have their say. The best way to be notified is to go to your local council website and sign up to their newsletters.
