Torbay Council, alongside Devon County Council, is currently negotiating a Devolution Deal for Devon and Torbay. This would include the creation of Combined County Authority.

That Cabinet recommends that the Council:

(a)          Thanks all those who responded to the consultation, for the time they gave in considering the draft proposal and in preparing responses to it;

(b)          Considers the analysis of the responses (Appendix A) on the draft proposal for the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority showing the variety, breadth and range of views expressed;

(c)          Approves the proposal (Appendix B) for the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority (DT CCA) for submission to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, taking into consideration and having due regard to the consultation responses and the Public Sector Equality Duty;

(d)          Delegates authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to consent to the making of the necessary Regulations to create the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority thereby implementing and giving effect to the proposal, subject to those Regulations reflecting the principles in the proposal document and this report;

(e)          Notes that, subject to the approval of the proposal and making of Regulations, the Council will give consideration to a draft constitution for the DT CCA in September 2024; and

(f)           Notes that Devon County Council will be asked to support the establishment of the Team Devon Joint Committee and with the proposed terms of reference being considered by Devon County Council in September 2024.

To enable the next steps towards the establishment of the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority to be undertaken.

An alternative option would be not to submit the final proposal to the Secretary of State.  If this option was to be adopted, then there would be no guarantee that a DT CCA and associated devolution deal with the potential associated powers and funding would be available to the area in the same way in the future.

The recommendations of the Cabinet will be considered at the Extraordinary meeting of Council being held on 30 April 2024.

The proposed devolution deal for Devon and Torbay was announced by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Homes and Communities and published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) on 25 January 2024.

At its meeting on 2 February 2024, the Cabinet agreed to support the proposed Devon and Torbay devolution deal and resolved to carry out a joint public consultation with Devon County Council (as the Constituent Councils) on the draft proposal to establish the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority (DT CCA).

The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act requires that prior to submitting a proposal for a CCA to the Secretary of State, the Constituent Councils (i.e. Devon County Council and Torbay Council) must undertake a public consultation on the proposal in the proposed area. The Constituent Councils are obliged to carry out the consultation across the proposed area and consider the results.  It was recommended that the proposal for the DT CCA be agreed by the Council for submission to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

At the meeting Councillor David Thomas proposed and Councillor Chris Lewis seconded a motion that was agreed unanimously by the Cabinet, as set out above.

None.