Torbay Council, alongside Devon County Council, is currently negotiating a Devolution Deal for Devon and Torbay. This would include the creation of Combined County Authority.

That

1)    the proposed Devon and Torbay devolution deal be supported; and

2)    a public consultation be carried out in conjunction with Devon County Council from 12 February 2024 to 24 March 2024 to invite views on the draft proposal to establish the Devon & Torbay Combined County Authority, be agreed.

The powers and the transfer of Government funding included in the proposed devolution deal promise to bring greater control to Devon and Torbay to help tackle local priorities, including the need for: new training and retraining opportunities; improved coordination of public transport; more affordable housing and investment to support local business, green jobs to increase productivity and pay.

An alternative option would be not to proceed with a public consultation on the proposed Devon and Torbay devolution deal. If this option were to be adopted, then there would be no guarantee that a devolution deal and the potential associated powers and funding would be available to the area in the same way in the future.

This decision will be implemented immediately.

Devon, Plymouth and Torbay was one of nine areas invited by Government, as part of the February 2022 Levelling Up White Paper, to agree a devolution deal. Plymouth City Council decided on 17 November 2023 to withdraw from the negotiations towards a proposed devolution deal.

The proposed devolution deal for Devon and Torbay was announced by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Homes and Communities and published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) on 25 January 2024. It is available on the DLUHC website and further information about the proposed deal is at www.devontorbaydeal.org.uk

The powers and the transfer of Government funding included in the proposed devolution deal promise to bring greater control to Devon and Torbay to help tackle local priorities, including the need for: new training and retraining opportunities; improved coordination of public transport; more affordable housing and investment to support local business, green jobs to increase productivity and pay.

Government would devolve the powers and funding to a new legal body established by Parliament that brings the members of the existing local authorities together: the Devon & Torbay Combined County Authority (DT CCA).  The statutory requirements for implementing the proposed deal include public consultation on the draft proposal to establish the DT CCA and the Council’s consent to the secondary legislation.

At the meeting Councillor David Thomas proposed and Councillor Chris Lewis seconded a motion that was agreed unanimously, as set out above.

None.