What people told us
Creating a new system of local government is not simply about structures, boundaries or organisational charts. It is about people, communities and the places they call home.
Throughout the development of Exeter City Council’s final proposal, we have engaged widely - not just with other councils, but with the people, partners and organisations who make Devon what it is.
Across early 2025 and into the summer and autumn, hundreds of conversations took place. These included meetings, workshops, briefings with parish councils, discussions with local businesses, voluntary and community groups, public sector partners, young people, and a wide range of civic and professional networks. Their insight has been essential in shaping the final proposal.
The message was clear: Devon needs a simpler, more coherent, more responsive system of local government - one that is easier to navigate and better reflects the way people live and work today.
A system that puts decision-making closer to home
A strong theme from residents and community groups was the desire for greater local influence and accountability. Many people told us they felt disconnected from decision-making, especially in rural and coastal communities where services can feel distant or inconsistent.
Residents consistently said they want:
- decisions made by people who understand their area
- a clear sense of which council is responsible for what
- a stronger local voice, especially when it comes to planning, transport and housing
- quicker, more responsive services
People across Devon - from small villages to larger towns - want a system that reflects the unique character of their community. They told us they value their parish identity and local networks, and they want those preserved and strengthened, not diluted by reorganisation.
A structure that reflects real life, not administrative history
Communities told us that the current district and county boundaries no longer match the way Devon works. People don't see their daily lives divided neatly into “county”, “district” or “city” areas. Instead, they move fluidly - living in one place, working or studying in another, accessing healthcare elsewhere, and using transport routes that criss-cross district borders.
The message was clear:
the current geography is outdated and often gets in the way.
Stakeholders emphasised that reorganising around functional economic geographies - including travel-to-work areas, housing markets, commuter patterns and service links - would be more intuitive and result in better, fairer decision-making.
This feedback helped shape the proposal for four unitary councils, each representing genuine place-based communities.
The importance of protecting rural and coastal voices
While Devon is home to fast-growing cities, much of the county remains deeply rural or coastal, with different pressures and priorities. Many participants stressed the risk that these voices could be overlooked in a one-size-fits-all model.
Key issues raised included:
- ageing populations and increasing social care needs
- long travel distances to services
- limited public transport
- higher housing costs relative to wages
- digital connectivity challenges
- reliance on local networks, volunteers and community resilience
These concerns were crucial in shaping the proposal for a dedicated Devon Coast & Countryside Unitary Council, ensuring rural and coastal needs are not overshadowed by the priorities of larger urban areas.
This model supports local identity, local relationships, and local priorities - a message heard repeatedly across engagement sessions.
Support for simpler, more joined-up services
Residents often said they struggle to know which council to approach, particularly when services overlap or when issues cut across multiple authorities. Many shared stories of being passed between organisations or encountering inconsistency because different councils work differently.
People told us they want:
- one council per place
- one point of contact
- simpler processes
- joined-up planning and delivery
- less bureaucracy and duplication
Businesses echoed these views, particularly around planning, licensing, transport and economic development. They stressed that clarity and consistency are essential for business confidence and growth.
The four-unitary model directly responds to this by removing the two-tier split and creating single, accountable authorities.
The need for clearer regional leadership
Public, private and voluntary sector partners - from hospitals and universities to transport providers, emergency services and LEPs - highlighted the need for clearer strategic leadership across Devon.
Many said that working with 11 councils creates fragmentation, delays and uncertainty. They emphasised that unified “place-based” authorities, supported by a strong Combined County Authority (DTCCA), would provide:
- better alignment of priorities
- stronger ability to secure funding
- more coordinated approaches to transport, skills and climate action
- improved long-term planning
These insights shaped the proposal for four councils working as one system alongside the DTCCA.
Communities want councils built around identity and cohesion
Parish councils, community groups and local representatives made this point repeatedly:
“Keep our community together.”
People said they wanted:
- parish boundaries respected
- towns and villages kept whole
- communities not split by arbitrary lines
- governance that reflects cultural, social and historical ties
This feedback had a direct impact on the proposal: the new unitary areas are drawn from whole parishes, not fragmented districts. This protects local identity while aligning boundaries to functional geographies.
How the feedback shaped the final proposal
Our engagement did not merely inform the proposal - it changed it.
It strengthened the case for:
- a four-unitary model
- the creation of a rural and coastal authority
- expanded boundaries for Exeter, Plymouth and Torbay
- neighbourhood-level governance
- the use of parish boundaries to preserve identity
- simpler, more responsive public services
- a structure aligned with the way people actually live
The final proposal is therefore not just a technical submission. It is a response to what local people told us matters most - communities that feel heard, local services that work, and a system that makes sense.