Councillor Martin Smith - Bovey Ward, Teignbridge

09/09/2026

So, Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) will now be paused pending a review.

Apparently, one Labour Prime Minister has to check that the plans drawn up by the previous Labour Prime Minister fit in with his priorities. The 2027 local elections will go ahead on existing boundaries.

I was never a big fan in the first place of the plans announced in July to expand Plymouth, Exeter, and Torbay and leave the remainder of Devon – including Bovey Tracey and Heathfield and running from Salcombe to Ilfracombe to Holsworthy to Seaton – as one unitary authority with a massive – and strangely-shaped – area to cover and no economic centre to fund it.

But what an absolute unnecessary shambles this whole episode is.

The government announced nearly two years ago that it would merge county and district councils into new and bigger unitaries. Since then, local authorities have put delivery of many projects on hold, found it challenging to recruit staff to positions that may not exist in a couple of years’ time, and put countless hours of existing staff time into working out how things will transition. This work has been accelerated since July, when the detailed plans were announced.

And now it’s not going to happen after all, or at least not for the foreseeable future.

To give just one example of the concrete cost of this umming and ahhing, one of the causes of Teignbridge’s recent failure to collect the bins on time is that a review of routes and schedules to accommodate new housing developments was put on hold because LGR was going to mean that new authorities covering a different overall territory were soon going to come in and be in charge of different parts of what is now Teignbridge (indeed, Teignbridge was to be split into 3 parts according to the detailed plans from July).

And now that’s not going to happen.

We could have reviewed the routes before now and maybe everyone’s bins would not be sitting out for days.

And now services that are running threadbare due to lack of staff have to get back up and running, to recruit the staff they need, while now they can’t say to prospective employees how long the district council will continue to exist.

Labour’s 2024 election manifesto was summed up in one word: Change. And that’s what they do: change their minds constantly, because they have no idea what they want to do in office beyond Not Being The Tories.

It is we district councillors who will pick up the pieces.

Review launched into plans to streamline local government, to ensure it is robust and aligns with new government priorities.

01/08/2026

It was another busy agenda at Teignbridge’s latest full council meeting on Tuesday. While the national political scene remains as volatile as ever and Local Government Reorganisation continues apace – though with challenges pending to the decision made by the government – district councillors for now have to continue to play the hand that we are dealt and ensure that we hand over a council and set of services in as robust a shape as possible to the authorities that succeed us.

As the Conservatives’ spokesperson on Teignbridge’s finances, I highlighted in particular the ongoing structural deficit in the revenue budget – the one that funds day-to-day services – and the need to speed up the delivery or commitment of infrastructure and other capital projects before Teignbridge ceases to exist in April 2028.

One example of a capital project that has taken a long time to come to fruition, will deliver value for residents, and will likely make Teignbridge’s budget healthier, is the redevelopment of Dawlish Leisure Centre, which will now go ahead following council’s decision.

The Conservatives first put it on the capital programme in 2018 just before handing over control of Teignbridge to the Lib Dems; it has taken until now for a proposal to come to council to approve. The improvements will bring an ageing facility up to date and likely result in increased memberships, reducing the deficit that the centre posts and that council taxpayers subsidise every year.

Aside from substantive decisions on actions for residents, Teignbridge also adopted the principles of the Debate Not Hate campaign, which encourages us to debate issues with respect and never resort to personal abuse or incitement.

08/06/2026

Brilliant event at Bovey Tracey Cricket Club and Bovey Tracey Lawn Tennis Club on Thursday celebrating the opening of the new court (complete with netball markings) and nets with Mel Stride MP and the Chairs of the two clubs alongside Mayor of Bovey Tracey Sheila Brooke.

We district councillors suggested, encouraged, nudged, and eventually shoved Teignbridge to rummage down the back of the sofa to locate its Section 106 money tied to sports and recreation infrastructure in Bovey and brought in from developments built in Bovey many years ago.

This helped put the funding over the top alongside all the sources that the clubs' Chairs had worked so hard to find.

Congratulations to both of these thriving well-run clubs in our growing town.

10/05/2026

Great to see Bovey Tracey Swimming Pool thriving with a newly refurbished pool now open for the summer season following an upgrade partially facilitated by Levelling Up funding for which we district councillors lobbied from Teignbridge.

Even the regional media can see how great the pool is! The pool draws visitors from nearby and from across the district and the county. I look forward to a swim in the sunshine in the near future.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2vrx3kv3go?at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_link_id=55368E26-4221-11F1-8384-861FFB654273&at_link_origin=BBC_Devon&at_format=image&at_medium=social&at_link_type=web_link&at_campaign_type=owned&at_ptr_name=facebook_page&fbclid=IwY2xjawRtqZlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE0OThEMjB5Z3RDZUtpTjFsc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhVJ82pGS0dAs24NSGeWUAfS8XPscU85kcZrncdG5ieF5uVL5JaMLMd5Y4iZ_aem_fMMKebrDolhFfikJoyIP_A

The heated outdoor pool in Bovey Tracey reopens after works to make it more accessible.

10/05/2026

Congratulations to Bovey Tracey Football Club on its historic league and cup double!

That’s the one we really wanted!

Great end to a fantastic season, wrapped up with a league and cup double 🫶🏼

First time in our history winning this Trophy so it means a lot, and what a way to do it!

Thank you to everyone who’s followed along this season, itching for the next!

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15/04/2026

We all know that Dartmoor is stunning!

Here are some quick tips to prevent criminals detracting from your experience of it.

06/04/2026

I was very happy to see that the recent inaugural Bovey Book Fest, which I supported through my Councillor’s Community Fund, was a great success.

Organised by Bovey Tracey's independent bookshop First Draft Books, it was a day to celebrate the joy of stories with young readers.

Hundreds of families joined for interactive drawing and writing sessions, plus book signings, with award-winning authors and illustrators from across the country including Reeve & McIntyre, Mikey Please, Serena Patel, Zohra Nabi, and Neill Cameron.

Visitors enjoyed bookish crafts, writing games, local author story time, and delicious treats from Bovey Tracey Cricket Club.

The date is set for the next one on Saturday, 13 May 2027!