DEVON’S Conservatives have been accused of a “blatant political move” to hold onto power by allegedly seeking to postpone county council elections scheduled for May.

Cllr Luke Taylor, Liberal Democrat leader of Mid Devon District Council, claimed the Conservatives who run Devon County Council want to delay the poll, a move which has been suggested in certain situations in the government’s devolution white paper.

Such scenarios include a council’s willingness to merge with one or more of its neighbours to create a larger, unitary-style council, and to accept the notion of a regional mayor.

“Regretfully, in a nakedly, blatant political move, an abhorrent anti-democratic attempt to hold on to power, the Conservative leader of Devon County Council [Cllr James McInnes] is putting forward a proposal for Devon and Torbay to join together and create a huge unitary council to cover all of Devon and nearly one million people,” Cllr Taylor said.

He added that the move is a way to delay what “many see as the inevitable downfall of his administration”, and suggested Cllr McInnes had not approached him “to explain his rationale”.

“But he has planned an extraordinary meeting in January to vote through the proposal,” Cllr Taylor said.

Asked whether Devon County Council is trying to postpone May’s elections, Mr McInnes said his authority would be “engaging fully with all our neighbouring authorities”.

He continued: “The government has made clear its ambitions around the devolution of powers from Whitehall, and new local government structures.

“We already have an ambitious devolution deal for Devon and Torbay, with the new Combined County Authority coming into being early in the New Year.

“It gives the area more powers to make significantly important decisions locally about key priorities such as housing, employment, education and skills, and the environment.

Cllr McInnes added that Devon would discuss the white paper at a special council meeting on Thursday, January 9 where “we will collectively take a view about the way forward.

“Ultimately, my driving motivation is to do what is best for the people of Devon, and to get the best deal for Devon,” he added.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner wants to abolish the two-tier system of local government that is prevalent in Devon. The white paper promotes the benefits of unitary councils, which are responsible for all local services.

Cllr Taylor said he had initially thought Devon might be able to move more slowly than other areas, because the county council and Torbay Council had secured a devolution deal earlier this year by creating a combined county authority that was set to be granted greater powers in various areas, including transport.

But this interpretation of the white paper appears to have changed rapidly, he said.

Cllr Taylor confirmed he is speaking with other district leaders to discuss the creation of a smaller unitary authority that would cover half of Devon and hit Ms Rayner’s aim for the new larger councils to cover at least 500,000 people.

Bradley Gerrard