Ugborough Parish Council Position Statement regarding Plymouth City Council’s proposal for Local Government Review.

Ugborough Parish Council does not support the plan that Plymouth City Council has submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Council considers that as it stands:

– There are no perceived benefits for our parishioners

– The proposed number of Councillors for the parishes will severely reduce representation and our democratic voice

– Plymouth does not have the knowledge or experience of rural communities to ensure our needs will be met

– It compromises the cohesion of the rest of the County

– It threatens to undermine the identity of the unique communities in our parish

Ugborough Parish Council also considers that the approach taken by Plymouth City Council to launch its bid in our community has been heavy handed and uncollaborative and with a presumption of “deed done” that does not lend itself to meaningful community engagement or give us the confidence that our community will be involved in shaping its future as part of Plymouth City Council.

There is little support for this proposal in our parish and it is our opinion that once Devon County Council has launched its preferred option alongside that of South Hams District Council and we have all the proposals on the table we will be able to properly consult with our residents and collaborate with all the stakeholders to ensure the best possible outcome for our Parish.

July 2025