Empowering communities

Putting people and place at the heart of local decision-making

Changing the structure of local government is not only about creating new councils. It is about building a system that strengthens local identity, improves accountability, and gives communities a clearer voice in shaping the places where they live. Throughout the engagement process, residents across Devon told us they want decisions made closer to home, by people who understand their area and its needs.

Whether it is a city neighbourhood, a rural parish or a coastal village, people want to feel that their views matter - and that local services and priorities reflect their community’s character. Our proposal responds directly to this by creating a simpler system that enables more local influence, clearer lines of responsibility, and stronger connections between councils, partners and residents.

A framework for stronger local involvement

With four new unitary councils responsible for all local services in their areas, decisions will no longer be split between district and county councils. This creates a more understandable system where communities:

know who to contact
know who represents them
can influence decisions more directly
are better able to shape local priorities

A single-tier model makes it easier to involve residents meaningfully, because the organisations making the decisions are clearly defined and aligned to real communities.

Local governance models that could be developed

Each new unitary council will have the freedom to design community governance arrangements that best suit the needs of its place. Different areas may wish to adopt different approaches, and it will be for the new councils - in partnership with residents, town and parish councils, and community organisations - to decide what works best.

One potential option that could be explored is the creation of Neighbourhood Area Committees or similar locally focused forums. These would bring together councillors, residents and partners to discuss local priorities and influence services.

Importantly:

These committees are not yet agreed,
The model may vary between unitary areas,
And final decisions will be taken after formal consultation and once the new councils are established.

Other local involvement models could include:

strengthened parish and town council roles
local community boards or area panels
thematic partnerships focused on issues like transport, planning or community safety
participatory budgeting schemes
neighbourhood forums to support planning and local development frameworks

The key commitment is that communities will have more influence, but the exact mechanisms will be shaped locally and developed transparently.

Supporting and strengthening town and parish councils

Devon has a strong history of local identity expressed through its parish and town councils. These bodies are trusted, rooted in local knowledge, and play an important civic role.

Under the proposed new structure:

parish and town councils remain essential partners
their identity and boundaries will be preserved - parishes will not be split
they will have clearer, more direct relationships with the new unitary councils
they may be supported to take on greater influence over local priorities, if they wish
they will continue to play key roles in community resilience, local events, culture, planning conversations and neighbourhood wellbeing

This approach strengthens local identity rather than centralising it. Communities stay intact, and councils can work more collaboratively at the local level.

Why empowering communities matters

Residents consistently told us they want:

decision-making that is closer to the ground
faster responses
clearer accountability
services that reflect the character of the local area
opportunities to shape priorities and projects
councils that understand local context

A single-tier structure provides the foundations for this. Local voices become easier to hear, and councils can respond based on a clear understanding of community needs.

This approach is designed to work for every type of place:

Urban neighbourhoods where populations are diverse and growing
Rural villages where community networks are vital and services may be distant
Coastal communities with seasonal economies and unique environmental pressures
Market towns that act as hubs for surrounding parishes

No single model will fit every community - and the new councils will be able to choose what works best for their area.

Building stronger partnerships and resilient communities

Empowering communities is not only about giving people a voice in governance. It is also about strengthening relationships between councils, residents and local organisations. Under the new structure, there will be opportunities to enhance:

partnership working between councils and voluntary groups
local approaches to climate action and nature recovery
community safety and anti-social behaviour initiatives
youth engagement
inclusion and wellbeing programmes
neighbourhood-led responses to emergencies and extreme weather

The new councils will be better placed to coordinate these efforts because they will have responsibility for all local services within their area.

A system rooted in Devon’s identity

Devon’s identity is built from its communities - villages, parishes, towns, neighbourhoods and districts, each with its own history, character and sense of place. By drawing new unitary boundaries along full parish lines, the proposal protects that identity rather than diluting it.

Empowering communities ensures the new system is not only modern and efficient but shaped by the values, voices and traditions that make Devon unique.