More than 300 councillors in new Devon authorities

Devon is set to have more than 300 councillors across four new local authorities in a massive shake-up of local government.

The government said the county should be split into four unitary authorities with three urban areas of Exeter, Plymouth and Torbay and a fourth for the rest of Devon.

Ministers have decided there should be 86 councillors for Exeter, 64 for Torbay, 68 for Plymouth and 103 for a council for the rest of Devon.

The new councils have been given names by the government - Exeter Council, Torbay and South Devon, Greater Plymouth and Devon Council - which each authority could apply to change in the future.

The current county council and all of the district councils are being abolished with elections to the new authorities due to take place in May 2027 ahead of them taking control in April 2028.

Including all of the district councils, there are currently 481 councillors across all 11 councils.

The existing councils are being asked to come up with maps setting out ward boundaries by 17 August.

The government said it would contribute £900,000 to set up each new unitary authority, totalling £3.6m for Devon.

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