3,300 signatures and rising!
More than 3,300 people have now signed my petition calling on Andy Burnham to think again about the Government’s Local Government Reorganisation decision affecting Devon.
This has never been about standing in the way of Plymouth. Of course Plymouth matters, but it must also be a good neighbour to the towns, villages and rural communities around it. The government’s decision to grow three urban councils comes at the expense of the rest of rural Devon.
The community I represent in West Devon will now be served by a single council responsible for delivering services across an enormous geographical area, stretching resources like social care, transport, highways and SEND support even further and taking decisions further away from the people they affect. This does not reflect the Government’s stated aim to bring democracy closer and see growth in every postcode.
Meanwhile, residents in the South Hams becoming part of a the new Plymouth authority will continue paying a parish precept on top of their council tax, whilst existing Plymouth residents will not. This creates a clear difference in how people within the same authority would be treated from day one.
These concerns cannot simply be dismissed. Residents are worried about losing their local identity, being separated from neighbouring communities and becoming more distant from the decisions affecting their local services.
There are also important questions about the reasons behind these plans still to be answered.
If this is not about more money for urban areas, why did one Plymouth Labour MP celebrate “a bigger area paying council tax and business rates” as one of the benefits?
If this is not about housebuilding, why did the Government’s own statement describe Plymouth as “a housebuilding priority” when explaining the changes?
The Government should not be pitching one part of Devon against another. It should be listening to residents and finding a solution that works fairly for everyone.
If, like me, you believe Andy Burnham should reverse this decision and start listening, please sign my petition here: https://www.rebecca-smith.org.uk/campaigns/sign-my-petition-tell-andy-burnham-reverse-labours-local-government-reorganisation
