COUNCILLORS in Teignbridge have agreed to keep legal action on the table in its fight against the Government's proposed local government shake-up in Devon.

Members of the ruling executive agreed the the council should support a judicial review if legal advice identifies grounds to challenge the government's preferred model for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

Their decision comes after the government announced it is pausing plans for the major shake-up in Devon to review its proposals to create four councils instead of the existing 11.

Councillors remain concerned that, despite the pause, the government has not withdrawn its preferred option for Devon.

This would create four new unitary councils across Devon. Three would be centred around the urban areas of Plymouth, Exeter and Torbay, while the remainder of Devon would fall into the fourth area.

Teignbridge as it is currently would be split between Torbay, Exeter and the wider Devon authorities.

Members of the executive agreed that the proposal fails to meet the needs of Devon’s rural towns, villages and coastal communities.

Members also highlighted that this option ranked fourth out of five in the Government’s own public consultation.

Councillors are concerned the proposed changes could leave rural areas underrepresented and weaken local decision making across much of the county.

The Executive also agreed to write to Angela Rayner MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, calling on her to reconsider the proposals. Devon’s MPs will also be asked to support that request.

Cllr Richard Keeling, Leader of Teignbridge District Council, said: ‘The Government has paused these proposals, but it has not withdrawn them.

‘The Executive felt it was important to make our position clear. We do not believe this is the right plan for Devon's rural towns, villages and coastal communities.

‘The option chosen by Government came fourth out of five in its own consultation, yet it is still being pursued. We believe the proposal risks leaving many communities worse off and does not reflect the needs of the whole county.

‘We will continue to seek clarity from Government about what this pause means and what happens next. If legal advice suggests there are grounds to challenge the decision, we believe that option should remain open.’