Devon County Council launches JR action over Exeter unitary plan

Devon County Council is to launch a judicial review of the government’s “cavalier” decision to award unitary status to Exeter City Council.

The county council pointed to claims that the permanent secretary at the Department of Communities and Local Government, Peter Housden, had been over-ruled over the decision.

Devon County Council leader John Hart accused the government of “riding roughshod” over the people of Devon and Exeter, ignoring its own rules and engaging in “shoddy practices for political gain".

He said: “We have clear legal advice that there is a substantial case to be made against the government for the cavalier way they took this decision.

“I have thought long and hard about whether to launch judicial review or not. Legal proceedings are always expensive. But in this case I believe it is incumbent on Devon County Council to mount this challenge.

“If this unwanted reorganisation is forced through, the cost to the council taxpayers of both Exeter and Devon will be multiplied many times over.”

Devon County Council’s move is likely to be followed by Norfolk County Council over the decision to award unitary status to Norwich City Council.

Norfolk’s chief executive, David White, recently said it will “certainly seek leave to challenge the decision in the courts”.

His comments were backed by the Keep Norfolk Local group of five councils in Norfolk.