Council seeks control of roads

The Exeter Agency has looked after the city's roads for 29 years

An independent consultant has recommended Devon County Council takes over the management of Exeter's roads.

The city's highways are currently the responsibility of Exeter City Council.

The Exeter Agency has looked after the roads for the past 29 years.

But the county council wants this historical arrangement to end to bring it into line with the rest of Devon.

It says that, with the large increase in Devon's council tax, the public needs to see that money is being well spent.

If we brought it all together, we might get a good deal right the way through

David Morrish, Devon county councillor

The county council will consider the independent report on Monday.

Councillors believe bringing Exeter's highways under their control would be more cost effective and less confusing.

County councillor David Morrish said he believed Exeter residents would get better roads as a result.

"We have Exeter attracting tenders on the one hand, and the county attracting tenders on the other.

"If we brought it all together, we might get a good deal right the way through.

"There are definite savings of scale - by having the staff as part of a bigger team and one consolidated bid for outside contractors."

But the city council has mounted a strong defence, saying that the review of the situation has glossed over the Agency's strong points.