SHDC is asking for opinions from areas that would be swallowed by Plymouth City Council

Conversations are taking place this month with South Hams town and parish councils that may be swallowed up by Plymouth City Council’s expansion plans.

As part of a series of engagement activities on the future of local government, Cllr Dan Thomas, the newly elected Leader of South Hams District Council, is inviting all 13 of the councils affected by Plymouth’s proposals to meet with him to find out what matters to them. District councillors for the affected area will also be involved.

Plymouth City Council 

A spokesperson for Plymouth City Council said in March: "The council will discuss key proposals to expand the city’s boundaries, including the Plymouth Growth Area, which could add 13 neighbouring parishes and 30,000 new residents.

"This modest expansion would create a more cohesive and efficient local government structure for the city, better equipped to meet the needs of our growing population." 

As requested by Government, a joint outline proposal has been submitted on behalf of all the Devon District Councils, except Exeter.

Known as the 1-4-5 plan, it proposes:

• Retaining Plymouth unitary authority.
• A unitary combining the South Hams, Teignbridge and West Devon areas with Torbay.
• A unitary including East, Mid, North Devon, Torridge and Exeter.

Multiple other initial proposals have also been submitted to Government by other councils in Devon. This includes Plymouth’s plan to expand into part of the South Hams.  

Cllr Thomas has written to the chairman and clerks of the 13 towns and parishes affected to discuss how they would like to move forward in the future. The feedback will help shape final proposals which will be submitted to Government in November. The town and parish council meeting will be held at Follaton House in Totnes on Wednesday, 18 June.

Leader of the Council, Dan Thomas, said: “Our communities are at the heart of everything we do as a council, and this must continue in the future.

“I am a district councillor for Newton and Yealmpton and have recently been re-elected to the county council to represent South Brent and Yealmpton – areas that are directly affected by Plymouth City Council’s expansion plans.

“That is why I feel it is important that one of the first things I do as Leader of South Hams District Council is to speak directly with the towns and parish councils affected. They are the grassroots of local democracy and can really give good insight into where people in their communities feel they belong.  

“Personally, I fail to see how the rural communities of the districts that are included in the affected area, can be best served by a city council, which quite rightly is focused on urban issues.

“We will of course be talking to all our residents, businesses and partners over the next few months to help shape the best possible business case for our proposal and to make sure that it meets the future needs of everyone we serve in the South Hams.

“It’s vital that the voice of our communities, including all local organisations and town and parish councils which deliver services at a local level, are heard.”

More information on local government reorganisation, including some FAQs can be found on South Hams District Council’s website.

Details will soon be available on how people with a connection to the South Hams can share their views on what is important to them.