Devon County Council – Myth Watch!  

The David and Goliath struggle between plucky Exeter and over-mighty Devon is entering, we hope, its end game. Since the Government announced this week that it would grant Exeter's wish to run its own council – restoring to our city the status it enjoyed for 800 years until 1974 – the misinformation pouring out from Devon County Council's army of spin doctors has been unprecedented.   Myth 1: “The change will mean a big increase in council tax”. In fact, council tax in Exeter is likely to go down. Single tier councils are more efficient and streamlined because you only need one set of officials. Council tax in unitary council elsewhere is lower than it currently is in Devon. There is no reason why it need go up in Devon either. See below. Myth 2: “Devon will lose out if Exeter gets its own council”. In fact, those counties like Dorset, Wiltshire...