'Super-Mayor' could cover 1 million people in Devon

Elected mayor covering an area from Exeter to Plymouth via Torbay may have £1 billion budget

Most of Devon could be ruled by a single elected mayor under new plans that could scotch plans for a joint Devon and Somerset bid to run services currently provided by Westminster - if a new idea by three councils get off the ground...

On Friday,  council leaders from Exeter, Plymouth and Torbay met to discuss a new idea for an area spanning the three local authorities that would be run by a super-mayor. Existing councils would still run their current services - but the super region - covering a million people - would take on new ones.

It will need government approval, but could bring substantial funding - possibly in the region of a billion pounds. Central government is keen to let local authorities run more services that are currently the responsibility of Westminster.

Right now only one of the three areas - Torbay - has an elected mayor, and that post is set to be scrapped. Conservative-controlled Plymouth and Torbay Councils are 'unitary' authorities, which mean they are responsible for a greater range of services, such as highways, that Exeter leaves to Devon County Council. It's understood that the 'super-region' initiative was kicked off by Plymouth and Torbay, and that they invited Exeter City Council to be part of it.

Discussions will continue next week. If they turn out positively, neighbouring areas such as East Devon and Teignbridge will be invited to contribute to the plans.