Devon County Council readies legal challenge to government reorganisation

Devon County Council, the largest authority in the county, is preparing a possible judicial review of the UK government's plan to restructure local government. Council leader Julian Brazil said officers will submit Freedom of Information requests to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and file a pre‑action letter before the end of July, with a cabinet meeting in September and a final decision by 16 October.

Councillors from the Green‑led Torridge District Council have also called for a judicial review, arguing that the proposed Coast and Country council would merge rural towns and villages into a large authority of 455,000 residents, creating governance and transport challenges. They claim the plan treats rural communities with contempt.

Both bodies aim to launch the legal challenge before the statutory deadline if they do not receive a satisfactory response from the government.