{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/779416.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":779416,"attributes":{"action":"Make Devon County Council a Single Unitary Authority","background":"The current proposals to divide Devon into four new unitary authorities should be dropped. Instead Exeter City Council should be abolished and Devon County Council turned into the unitary authority.","additional_details":"The government plans to scrap two-tier authorities (multiple councils for one area) and create new unitary authorities (one council in charge of all local services in the area.)\r\n\r\nThe current proposals to divide Devon into multiple unitary authorities will create artificial borders and leave deprived rural areas responsible for all their services without any major economic drivers to help pay for them.\r\n\r\nThe government should instead make Devon County Council a unitary authority.","committee_note":null,"state":"rejected","signature_count":9,"created_at":"2026-08-11T20:34:57.620Z","updated_at":"2026-09-01T10:44:27.783Z","rejected_at":"2026-09-01T10:44:25.673Z","opened_at":null,"closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-08-11T22:04:20.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":null,"rejection":{"code":"local","details":"We can’t accept petitions that call for action at a local level, even if it is something that is the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.\r\n\r\nYou could ask your MP to take action on your concerns about this issue, including by asking them to present a public (paper) petition about this.\r\n\r\nYou can find contact details for your local MP here: https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP\r\n\r\nAnd you can find out how to ask your MP to present a public (paper) petition here: https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/sign-a-petition/paper-petitions/\r\n\r\nYou could also raise your issue with a local councillor who represents you. You can use this page to find out who your local councillors are, and how to contact them: https://www.gov.uk/find-your-local-councillors"},"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[],"topics":[]}}}