From Austerity to Opportunity
The Conservatives, under the leadership of John Hart, have run Devon County Council since 2009. Over the past 8 years we have delivered our pledges to the people of Devon. An independent review recently judged that we’ve been “a resilient, stable and reliable presence throught a difficult time for local services.”
In the past four years we have transformed services such as libraries, with not a single closure, and the youth service.
We have delivered major infrastructure projects such as the South Devon Link Road, the Crediton By-Pass and two new railways stations at Newcourt and Cranbrook. We have developed popular Cycle Tracks around the County, including the Exe Estuary and Drake Trails and our improvements in Devon’s Children’s Services have been highlighted as an example of good practice for other authorities.
Our ambition over the next 4 years is to move from austerity to opportunity, which is why we have an ambitious list of pledges.
We will maintain our campaign for Devon’s children and their schools to get a fair funding deal.
We gained an extra £16 million for schools 2 years ago but every child is still funded at £290 below the national average.
John Hart has launched a petition urging the Government to ensure that Devon gets its fair share of funds for Education. Our children deserve it.
Our achievements
- A restructure of the County Council.
- Fewer Departments
- Fewer managers
- Fewer Staff
- Less property
- Less bureaucracy
- We have reduced expenditure by £267 million
- Invested over £1billion in capital projects.
John Hart, Leader of Devon County Council, says:
"Over the last 8 years we have had to reduce our expenditure by £267 million. We have streamlined the County Council, reduced bureaucracy, we have fewer departments, fewer managers and
fewer staff. We have sold over 100 properties and reduced the running costs of the County Council. We have, at the same time, invested £1billion in infrastructure – Roads, Schools & other projects. Over the next 4 years we have a very ambitious programme and we would ask for your support so we can continue this good work."