We reckon at least £8 million could be saved if Devon goes unitary. Any advance on £8 million?

By PRSD, on Friday, July 10, 2009

Here’s a few back-of-the-envelope calculations to work out some of the savings of Devon going unitary, in advance of next week’s Devon unitary council announcements.

If the eight district councils in Devon disappear then you don’t have to pay eight chief executives at around £100,000 each, that’s an £800,000 saving each year.

And with 40 directors (treasurers, etc) going on, let’s say £80,000, that’s a saving of £3,200,000 per year.

So, just with that top slice of management, there’s a saving of £4 million.

Around 400 district councillors on £10,000 each would be lost. Another saving of £4 million.

But then there’s the human side. Apparently 200 people would lose their job if Devon went unitary. With a 10 per cent staff turnover in local government annually, they wouldn’t be replaced (or create part-time roles as you wind down the positions.) There’s also the 30/50 calculation where you identify people with who are over the age of 50 with 30 year’s service, as they can retire on maximum pension with full redundancy.

But what of the cost to democracy?

Well, do you know your district councillor?

posted by Cptn

Check out how much East Devon District Council has spent on fighting the unitary – more than £175,000

• If you’ve got a more accurate assessment, then drop us a line and leave a comment below.

(join the People’s Republic of South Devon crowd sourcing experiment, where you can have your hand in investigations and stories for the site)

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graham

Allotment holder

My apologies, at least your reasons have been thought through

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allotment holder

i was responding to the back of a fag packet calculation mentioned in the article with my own back of fag packet calculation.

Devon County Council's business plan claimed a unitary authority would take just 2% off the total countywide budget. in that context, i'd rather retain local democracy.

The Boundary Commission proposals state that the saving are likely to be in the region of £40m per annum albeit that the initial costs will be about £67M to get these long term savings. Suggest that Allomment holder realises that council tax is levied per household not per head of population and that 90% of the council tax collected already goes to the County, thus the £7 person is irrelevant.
The redundancy and restructuring costs are built in to the above figures.

there are only 6 chief execs. north devon hasn't had one for some time. west devon and teignbridge share one.

you have not factored in redundancy costs.

yes, i do know my district councillor.

unitary devon would do bugger all for the rural north.

even by your fag packet calculations that's £7.00 per Devon resident (population 1.135 million, estimate for 2007 - http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/councildemocracy/imp...) per year. well worth it in my opinion.