Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority
Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority | |
|---|---|
 | |
 The combined county authority area within England | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 5 February 2025 |
| Leadership | |
Chair | |
Vice-chair | Vacant since 1 May 2025[note 1] |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 12 members |
 | |
Political groups |
|
| Committees | Governance and Audit Overview and Scrutiny |
Joint committees | Team Devon Joint Committee |
| Elections | |
| Indirect election | |
Last election | 19 March 2025 |
| Website | |
| www | |
| Constitution | |
| Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority Constitution | |
The Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority (DTCCA) is a non-mayoral combined county authority covering the majority of the ceremonial county of Devon.[1][2][3]
History
[edit]Since the Local Government Act 1972, the entirety of Devon had been governed by Devon County Council. This changed when in 1998, Plymouth and Torbay were separated from the county council to become unitary authorities.[4]
In early 2022, Devon, Plymouth and Torbay were selected as one of nine pilot areas in England by the UK government in the Levelling Up White Paper for "County Deal" negotiations. However, Plymouth City Council decided to withdraw from the deal in November 2023.[5]
Devon and Torbay proceeded without Plymouth with a joint proposal for a Level 2 Devolution Deal, a Combined Authority without a directly elected mayor. The deal was approved by both Devon County Council and Torbay Council[6] and submitted to the Secretary of State for approval in early May 2024.[7] The DTCCA is scheduled to be created in Autumn of 2024 or Spring 2025 following parliamentary approval.[8] Proposals for a non-mayoral combined county authority was approved by the new Labour government on 19 September 2024.[9][10] As of October 2024, it is not known whether the chair of the combined authority will be able to participate in the Mayoral Council for England and the Council of the Nations and Regions. The authority was formally launched on 5 February 2025.[11] There are provisions to expand the membership should Plymouth City Council join the DTCCA in the future,[12] and in February 2025 Plymouth, Devon and Torbay Councils agreed to explore the creation of a Mayoral Authority, which would supersede the non-mayoral Combined County Authority.[13]
Membership
[edit]There are 12 members: 6 constituent members with full voting rights, 4 non-constituent members who do not have voting powers unless extended to them by the constituent members, and 2 associate members who cannot vote under any circumstance.[12]
The six constituent members are chosen by Devon County Council and Torbay Council, who will each choose half. Two of the non-constituent members are selected collectively by the various district councils of Devon to represent their interests, and one is reserved for the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner. The remaining non-constituent member and the two associate members are elected by the constituent members of the DTCCA.[12]
Composition as of 4th May 2025:[14]
| Name | Membership | Nominating authority | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacant[note 2] | Constituent | Devon County Council | |
| Andrea Davis | Constituent | Devon County Council | |
| Vacant[note 3] | Constituent | Devon County Council | |
| David Thomas[15] | Constituent | Torbay Council | |
| Chris Lewis | Constituent | Torbay Council | |
| Swithin Long | Constituent | Torbay Council | |
| Paul Arnott | Non-constituent | District Councils of Devon | |
| Phil Bialyk | Non-constituent | District Councils of Devon | |
| Alison Hernandez | Non-constituent | Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner | |
| Vacant | Non-constituent | Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority | |
| Alan Dykes | Associate | Business Advisory Group | |
| Laurence Frewin | Associate | Skills and Employment Advisory Group | |
Notes
[edit]- ^ The incumbent Vice-chair, James McInness, stood down at the 2025 Devon County Council election and thus ceased to be a member of the Combined County Authority. The new leader of Devon County Council, when elected, will automatically fill the position for the remainder of his term.
- ^ The incumbent holder, James McInness, stood down at the 2025 Devon County Council election and thus ceased to be a member of the Combined County Authority. Devon County Council has not yet elected a replacement.
- ^ The incumbent holder, Rufus Gilbert, stood down at the 2025 Devon County Council election and thus ceased to be a member of the Combined County Authority. Devon County Council has not yet elected a replacement.
References
[edit]- ^ "Four devolution agreements signed off and others progressing". GOV.UK. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ "Devolution deals on the cards for Devon and Cornwall". www.bbc.com. 19 September 2024.
- ^ Observer, Exeter (September 27, 2024). "Government approves new Devon local government layer but says it still wants elected mayor". Exeter Observer.
- ^ "The Devon (City of Plymouth and Borough of Torbay)(Structural Change) Order 1996", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1996/1865, retrieved 29 July 2023
- ^ "Background - Devon and Torbay Devolution Deal". 2023-05-23. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
- ^ "Torbay approves Devon devolution deal". BBC News. 2024-05-01. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
- ^ "Council Leaders submit their proposal for Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority to the Secretary of State - News". 2024-05-03. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
- ^ "Timetable - Devon and Torbay Devolution Deal". 2023-05-23. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
- ^ Harratt, Stuart (19 September 2024). "Devolution deals approved by the government". BBC News. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "Devon and Torbay Combined Authority gets go-ahead". Radio Exe.
- ^ "Signed legislation brings Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority into being".
- ^ a b c "Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority – Final Proposal" (PDF). Torbay Council. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ "Councils collaborate on devolution plans". 28 February 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
- ^ "Appointment of Members and Election of Chair and Vice Chair" (PDF). devon.org.uk. 19 March 2025. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Decision - Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority (DTCCA) - Appointments". Torbay Council. 17 December 2024.