A PROPOSAL to unite West Devon Borough Council with South Hams’ council took another step to becoming a reality after West Devon councillors backed the move.

On Tuesday, the full council unanimously passed recommendations from its hub committee to agree to, in principle, the formation of a single second-tier council for the West Devon and South Hams districts. The cost-cutting merger will almost definitely see the closure of the borough council’s Kilworthy offices in Tavistock and a central location found between Totnes and Tavistock for a new headquarters.

West Devon and South Hams have been facing financial pressures due to the phasing out of the money they used to receive from the Government.

Despite current cost-cutting measures, the councils are still facing a combined budget gap of £1.9-million each year after 2020, due to futher government cuts.

Councillors discussed how a unification would potentially protect frontline services provided by the borough council..

Cllr Bob Baldwin said: ‘We are one of the smallest districts in the country. If we do carry on as we are, we will run out of money in two years and South Hams will follow shortly after.

‘The fortunes of both councils are linked and locked together. The formation of a single council would be the conclusion of what’s been happening for ten years.

‘In conjunction with other cost-cutting measures, this has got to be seen as a significant step.’

Cllr Neil Jory said: ‘This proposal is a strategic one and aimed at protecting services, increasing resilience and increasing our influence within the region.’

They also debated deferring their decision after last minute amendments were made to the draft consultation document, following new information added to the document at the beginning of this week.

Cllr James McInnes said: ‘It would be a denigration of duty to our residents to try and slow this down. Any effort to slow it down would not be doing justice to the residents of West Devon.’

The first stage of any merger would be a period of consultation with the public and stakeholders from early August to September, with a follow-up full council meeting in October to either approve or reject the proposal.

One of the big points of discussion was the draft consultation document that has been put together. Several councillors were insistent that the document be reviewed before it goes out to the public.

Cllr Ric Cheadle said: ‘The current document is disingenuous. It promises things we can do now or will never do. It’s just trying to pull the wool over people’s eyes.

‘I’m not against the proposal — I just want the consultation document to be honest.’

Head of paid services at West Devon, Steve Jorden, said that a small group of councillors, along with a small group of South Hams representatives, would work together to create a new document that everyone would be happy with.

South Hams’ full council will discuss their position on the merger tomorrow (July 27). Assuming South Hams District Council agrees to the proposals, consultation will start at the beginning of August.