News that the government is going back to the drawing board over a controversial plan to reorganise Devon’s local government.

The leader of West Devon Borough Council has welcomed an announcement from Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner to reorganise 14 plans s from across the country, including those in Devon.

Devon’s proposal suggested merging Devon’s county, district and unitary councils into four new unitary councils.

Cllr Mandy Ewings, leader of West Devon Borough Council, said: “The news coming from central government this afternoon that the plans for local government reorganisation in Devon are to be reviewed is a huge relief. When the plans for reorganisation were revealed in July, I expressed my deep disappointment that the proposal chosen did not serve all of Devon’s residents equally. The idea of three urban councils and one huge rural council serving the rest of the county didn’t seem fair to our county’s rural residents, including everyone living in West Devon.

“At the time of the initial announcement, I said how I felt the alternative Reimagining Devon proposal served everyone living in Devon fairly and equally. The review offers the government the chance to ensure that whatever happens with reorganisation in Devon, it takes into account the needs of every single person living in Devon.”

West Devon Borough Council will continue to work constructively with the government, Devon’s other councils and its local partners to ensure any plans for reorganisation strengthen services, support growth, and keep our communities at the heart of decision-making.

The rethink on the reorganisation plans have also been welcomed by Devon County Council, which had been preparing a judicial review. and other district councils.

The biggest change in the way local councils operate in half a century, it would have slashed the number of councils in Devon from 11 now to just four, and seen the urban centres of Plymouth and Exeter expand into neighbouring districts.

Controversially, it would mean all the new bodies having to take on some of the largest, most expensive and complex services – such as adult social care, education and highways – for the first time.

David Reed MP, the member for Exmouth and Exeter East, said he had “consistently raised concerns about these proposals”.

“This review must be a genuine opportunity to reconsider whether the plans being put forward for Devon are actually right for the communities they are supposed to serve,” he said.

He added that Exeter City Council figures suggested the reorganisation in Devon would cost around £70 million, and Freedom of Information showed councils in his constituency had already spent around £1 million of taxpayers’ money developing LGR proposals.

“Throughout the summer, councils across Devon have been forced to devote significant time and resources to developing a scheme that nobody locally asked for, when their focus should have been on the services people rely on every day, including adult and children’s social care, SEND provision, transport and our highways,” he said.