Urgent Local Government Organisation Update
Published: 16 July 2026
𝗔𝘅𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 - 𝗨𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.
The future of local services is changing. We want to hear your views on what matters most to Axminster and our residents.
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) represents the most significant change to local government in Devon for over 50 years.
It is essential that the people of Axminster understand what these changes could mean for the town and have the opportunity to influence the future of local services.
We have been advised this morning that the Secretary of State (Ministry for Homes, Communities and Local Government – MHCLG) has decided to support the proposal to allow Plymouth, Exeter and Torbay to expand, and consequently create a 4th new unitary council which covers the remainder of Devon, from Axminster to Ilfracombe, from Tavistock to Salcombe.
It will take some time for all the councils involved to assess and consider the implications of this decision and how the delivery of key public services such as education, child social care, adult social care, highways etc will be maintained, and more importantly, funded.
There will, of course, be consequences for all the lower tier authorities across Devon (“town and parish councils”) and Axminster Town Council is no exception – the hard work of assessing what the future holds will now begin in earnest.
What is Local Government Reorganisation?
- Devon County Council and all existing District Councils will now be replaced by four unitary authorities (two existing ones which will grow in size, Plymouth and Torbay, and two new ones; Exeter City Council will become a larger unitary council by incorporating the parishes and towns around it. The new Devon unitary council will shrink in size and will be responsible for the remainder of the Devon geography not covered by the other three councils.
- The 4 new authorities will be responsible for delivering most primary local government services that they have already been looking after as smaller councils.
- However, some public services may be better delivered at a local level by town and parish councils and we have evidence of this by looking across the county line into Somerset where this process of unitarisation has been proceeding for the last 3 years.
- Town councils can choose to take on additional responsibilities if they have the resources and support to do so.
Here are five questions that we would like to know your opinions about:
- What services matter most to residents of Axminster?
- Which services would residents like delivered locally by Axminster Town Council?
- What improvements do residents want to see over the next 5-10 years?
- What concerns do residents have about Local Government Reorganisation?
- How can Axminster Town Council best represent the community during this period of change?
Please email: your responses to enquiries@axminstertowncouncil.gov.uk