The Green councillor for Totnes and Dartington outlines how devolution offers opportunities for effective, publicly owned services
The government’s recent proposal to dissolve district councils and transfer their responsibilities
to new larger unitary authorities has sent a ripple of anxiety through local councils across
Devon. Under the plan, the county, district, and city councils have been asked to submit
proposals for reorganising services based on recognisable areas with populations of at least
500,000.
While the shape of this reorganisation is still uncertain, it presents a critical opportunity to ask:
what should local government services look like – and who should run them?
For the Green Party, the answer is clear. We believe public services should be publicly owned,
publicly delivered, and designed to meet the real needs of our communities. These services go
far beyond waste collection and road maintenance. They include education, housing support,
planning, support for disabled people, fostering, and provision for children with special needs.
Public health and adult social care are also major responsibilities, accounting for a significant
share of our council tax spending. Added to this is vital environmental work, such as monitoring
air and water quality and enforcing protections against those who damage or destroy wildlife
habitats.
This web of services is central to the wellbeing of our communities and our environment – and it
deserves to be properly valued and resourced.
Unfortunately, the system has been steadily eroded over the past decade. Austerity policies
introduced by the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition in 2012 slashed central government
funding to local authorities. Councils were given five years’ notice that their core funding would
be phased out entirely by 2018. The impact was devastating. Devon County Council lost a third
of its staff. South Hams District Council cut nearly a quarter. As services shrank, potholes
multiplied and maintenance was deferred. Requests for services that were once routine are now
too often met with the all-too-familiar response: “Computer says no.”
The situation was made worse by Brexit, which drove up costs, and by the chaos of the COVID
pandemic. But these were not the only factors. A deeper, longer-term issue lies in the legacy of
privatisation – a model first championed under Thatcher and then extended by Blair through
Public Private Initiatives (PPIs). These deals handed over key public services to private
contractors, removing direct council control and eroding democratic accountability. The result?
Less transparency, less value for money, and a workforce often denied basic rights.
Now is the time for change. This proposed shake-up in local governance gives us the chance to
bring services back in-house, where they belong. Councils should be empowered to deliver
services directly through their own staff – experienced officers who understand their
communities and are invested in their success.
There’s already proof this works. South Hams District Council’s recent decision to return waste
collection services to in-house delivery has shown the benefits: better value for the public,
improved working conditions for staff, and stronger local control. Public delivery also means
employees are more likely to have access to fairer pay, stable contracts, and the right to be
represented by a recognised trade union – rights that are often harder to secure under private
contractors.
But it’s not just about scaling up. Local governance needs to work downwards too. Larger
authorities must strengthen ties with town and parish councils, empowering them to develop
services that reflect local priorities and enable community involvement.
A Green Vision for local government puts people and planet first. It values care, cooperation,
and sustainability over profit. And it offers a future where thriving local services support thriving
local communities – without costing the earth.
Learn more
Cllr Jacqi Hodgson stands for re-election in Totnes and Dartington
Open letter on local government reorganisation from Devon’s Green councillors