News

January 2010

Our next talk is on Thursday 14 January in Matthews hall at 7.30 p.m. (Doors open at 7 p.m. when tea, coffee and wine will be available). John Allan, who is Honorary Curator at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Archaeologist for both Exeter Cathedral and Westminster Abbey, will speak on “The Anglo-Saxon Charter of Topsham”. The talk is free for members of the Topsham Society and £2 for non-members.

The Boundary Committee for England (part of the Electoral Commission) has completed its review of the structure of local government in Devon. It has proposed that Devon should move from the current “two tier” system of District Councils (including Exeter City Council) and a County Council and should become a single unitary authority covering all of Devon (except Plymouth and Torbay, which would remain as they are).  

The Boundary Committee’s full report can be accessed on its website, www.boundarycommittee.org.uk and will also be available at local council offices and main libraries.

It is now for the Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government to take a decision on whether to:

(i) implement the Boundary Committee’s proposal for a unitary authority for Devon (with or without modification)

(ii) implement the alternative proposal from Exeter City Council for two unitary authorities, one for an enlarged Exeter and one for the rest of Devon (with or without modification), or

(ii) take no action. 

Representations on this can be sent to the Secretary of State by e-mail to DevonStructures@communities.gsi.gov.uk or by writing to:

Unitary Structures team

Department for Communities and Local Government

Zone 3/J1, Eland House

Bressenden Place

London SW1E 5DU.

The period during which representations can be made closes on 19 January 2010.

GEOFF WILKINSON (879107)

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