It looks as thought Cornwall is forging ahead with local autonomy:
Futures Forum: "Cornwall is the first rural authority in the country to be given a devolution deal."
Meanwhile, other local authorities are looking to similar deals - which might well have an effect on where to put one's headquarters:
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: and the longer-term demise of district councils... revisted >>> the impact of devolution on the South-West
Of course, various authorities have various agreements with neighbouring authorities - to keep costs down - although there might be some limits to this trend:
Plans for Devon and Somerset's fire service to merge with Cornwall's are rejected | Western Morning News
Plans approved to merge Somerset and Devon's Trading Standards - BBC News
Devon and Cornwall unlikely to merge county cricket teams says Geoff Evans | Plymouth Herald
Devon and Somerset: Wireless To Bring Superfast Broadband To National Parks
Cross-council IT merger puts 170 Devon jobs at risk | Western Morning News
Looking at Devon and Somerset:
DEVON AND SOMERSET COUNTY MERGER “NOT RULED OUT” BY SOMERSET
August 5, 2015
According to a tweet by Martyn Oates, BBC Political Correspondent today:
“.@SomersetCouncil leader @JDOsman1 on single authority for Dev & Som: Everything’s a possibility – Govt want single point of accountability.
10:15 AM – 5 Aug 2015
3 RETWEETS”
That could lead to a merged Somerset and Devon having to deal with the consortium currently consisting of Exeter, East Devon and Teignbridge!
Whither EDDC HQ then one wonders … whither ANY district council’s HQ come further amalgamation and/or devolution!
What a potential mess – from the government which originally refused to allow Devon to become a unitary authority and the district council (East Devon) that spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on refusing to merge with ANYONE back in 2007!
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