Councillors at Torridge DC have rejected plans to contribute £400,000 towards paying for local government reorganisation in protest of the government’s decision. Plans to put this money aside to pay for professional support and transition costs ahead of LGR were voted down at full council with a narrow margin of 15 votes to 14. The £400,000 contribution was a portion of the district’s £2,599,000 underspend for 2025-26. Chief executive Steve Hearse said the £400,000 was an “indicative” figure and the costs are likely to be much higher. He added that the district “will have to pay the costs towards local government reorganisation” and it is only an “estimate”.