EXMINSTER county councillor Alan Connett has called for independent auditors to investigate the way the Government is forcing councils to become unitary authorities.

He wants the National Audit Office to look into the plans to scrap current councils and set up new, unitary councils without having first assessed the true cost of its plans.

Cllr Connett, member for Exminster and Haldon, explained: ‘Councils are being forced to spend millions of pounds on various plans for their own abolition and to set up new unitary councils.

‘In Devon alone, that cost has been put at between £30m to £50m.

‘There is no money from Government for this. The costs is having to be met from existing funds.

‘This is money that should be going on services to local people.’

It’s been revealed, via a Freedom of Information request, that the Government failed to undertake its own research and assessment of either the costs

of scrapping and setting up new councils around the country, or the possible savings.

Instead, says Cllr Connett, they relied on a five year old report published by the County Council Network, a lobbying group representing the interests of county

councils.

In Devon, Exeter City Council has published plans to Hoover-up large chunks of neighbouring council areas in Teignbridge, East Devon and Mid Devon, so it can

meet the Government's requirements to become a Unitary council, which basically does what both the city council and county council do now.

Plymouth City Council is looking to annexe a swathe of parishes and communities in the South Hams and Devon County Council is now also consulting on future options as are some of the county's district councils.

Cllr Connett, who also chair the Audit Committee at County Hall, added: ‘All this is taking time, money and effort from the day-to-day services councils provide local communities.

‘The Government says it is forcing these changes because it will deliver significant savings.

‘Now we learn the hard truth that the Government didn’t do any research on the likely costs and savings but relied on a five year old report commissioned by the country's county councils trade organisation.

‘It’s not good enough.

‘The least the Government could do is its own homework on the real costs involved and what, if any, savings it will achieve.

‘The job of the National Audit Office is to hold the Government to account and report to parliament on the value for money of how public money is spent.

‘There appears to be a significant failing by Government in forcing these council changes on local areas without understanding the costs.

‘I have asked the National Audit Office to urgently review the Government’s actions without first obtaining its own reliable assessment of both costs and savings.’

In the meantime, added Cllr Connett, councils in Devon have no choice but to carry out the Government’s orders.

If they fail to put forward plans for new councils in November, it is believed the Government will simply order changes which are expected to be announced in the New Year.