Exeter Unitary

let me start this letter by saying that it gives me no great pleasure to know that Exeter is not going to be a unitary authority based on its existing boundaries, it was never going to work despite what a majority may have thought. However, now all the people of Devon, and I mean all, must involve themselves in attempting to come up with a solution to the problem and I have my suggestions that might start the debate.Devon, including Plymouth and Torbay must become a unitary authority with the abolition of the various districts.Health and social services must be formally merged and must be needs driven rather than wants.With regard to education then all the schools must be given their own budgets based on pupil numbers and with regard to school transport then if the school takes a pupil who lives more than three miles away then the school themselves must pay for school transport.With regard to planning then there must be a more strategic view taken because councillors depend too much on being against a local development based on their wanting to be elected at their next election.There must be a drastic reduction in the number of councillors and there must be a committee to ensure that all those standing for election have the right qualities and qualifications for the task ahead of them.Furthermore, in respect of councillors then they must be remunerated at a wage that enables them to be full time because they will have an increased overview and scrutiny role, and they must also be permitted to claim a pension.Finally, for the election to the council the first past the post method must be abolished and a fairer and more representative system must be offered.