Rockbeare Parish  Council

Public Statement

Rockbeare Parish Council notes the recent announcement concerning the reconfiguration of democratic structures across Devon, including potential changes to district‑level governance and the future role of principal authorities. This development has significant implications for all ongoing boundary‑related processes currently being undertaken by East Devon District Council (EDDC).

In light of this announcement, the Parish Council, again, formally records its position that the proposal to remove part of Rockbeare parish in order to augment Cranbrook is now inappropriate, ill‑timed, and procedurally unsound. The proposal is rooted in a Community Governance Review (CGR) initiated under the existing district‑council framework. However, the Government’s stated intention to restructure local government across Devon introduces substantial uncertainty regarding:

• the future powers and responsibilities of EDDC;
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• the validity and continuity of CGR processes undertaken under the current governance model;
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• the potential transfer of decision‑making authority to any successor unitary body; and
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• the strategic context within which parish boundaries will be considered in future.
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Given this emerging landscape, it is neither prudent nor justified to proceed with a boundary alteration that may be rendered obsolete, reversed, or materially altered under a new governance structure. Any such change risks creating administrative confusion, undermining community identity, and imposing unnecessary disruption on residents at a time when wider structural reform is under active consideration.

Rockbeare Parish Council therefore continues to oppose the proposed boundary change on the (inter alia) grounds that:

1. The governance environment in Devon is undergoing significant review and potential reorganisation;
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3. The CGR process may not remain valid or binding under any new authority;
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5. Decisions made now may conflict with, or be superseded by, future county‑wide arrangements; and
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7. It is not in the public interest to implement parish‑level boundary changes during a period of structural uncertainty.
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The Parish Council will continue to monitor developments closely and will provide further updates as more information becomes available. Residents are encouraged to remain engaged and informed as the wider reconfiguration process progresses.

Carolyn Y. May LLB(Hons), M.A. (Finance & Investment), B.Sc. 

Clerk and RFO Rockbeare Parish Council