I understand that Dartmouth Town Council considers It entirely within its powers and rights to conclude a transaction for the transfer of assets – and the acceptance of concomitant liabilities – from the South Hams District Council.

I am concerned that the transfer of such assets is not within the competence of the town council and the terms of any such contract should always first be made known to the council tax-paying public seeking their support.

I would therefore ask:

* Has due diligence been carried out and documented? It would be the norm for any such contract that the material assets and the assumption of such material liabilities are known and fully understood before it is concluded.

* If due diligence has been done, does such due diligence include a breakdown of all costs – annual and otherwise – incurred by South Hams District Council in maintaining the assets and has a forecast been made on the basis of the transfer being concluded?

Has this been done by assent and not broadly as a group?

Does the forecast include the cost of upkeep to a standard acceptable to the town council and the residents?

* Looking at just one asset, the Castle Estate, it is readily apparent that because of the lack of maintenance due to the current financial state, the area is going to require substantial and expensive work to be carried out, on the walls in particular.

Moreover, many of the trees have reached maturity and have not been maintained well enough to avoid future damage by tree fall.

* It does seem, from the little knowledge that the public is aware of, that anything that might actually be a net asset, ie not a net liability, such as the Lower Ferry and car parks is not and never has been part of the deal.

Why not? Are we just taking on liabilities and being paid on a reducing sum, which is only part of the true cost of upkeep each year?

* Finally, there are Acts of Parliament on Coronation Park and the Royal Avenue Gardens to protect them from commercial usage.

If this devolution is concluded, is the town council capable to take on full responsibilities for any legal challenges?

Due to the lack of finance, South Hams District Council may be in a ‘no win’ situation, but surely each town and village in the South Hams should shoulder their fair share of the burden of any future changes.

Richard Rendle

Ferndale

Dartmouth