Exeter's move is supported by all political parties on the council

Devon County Council commissioned two surveys to gauge reaction in Exeter and Devon to the city's unitary bid.

Power Marketing's street survey found 54% of Exeter residents said they would be better off with a city-wide council, 26% did not and 26% had no view.

But 79% of residents said they did not care who provided local services, as long as they were delivered.

The city was one of 16 local authorities which made it on to a government shortlist for the status.

'Worse off'

Power Marketing questioned 1,068 Exeter residents and BMG Research conducted a telephone poll of 1,000 people across Devon, as part of Devon County Council's response to the Government about Exeter's bid.

The BMG poll found 45% of Devon residents questioned did not see the need for a separate unitary council in Exeter.

Half of their respondents said the rest of Devon would be worse off if Exeter separated from Devon authorities.

A majority of people in both surveys said forming a new city-wide council would not be good use of money or resources.

Final decision

The surveys cost a total of �19,655.

Devon County Council has spent �87,486 investigating the unitary bid, while Exeter City Council has spent a reported �166,464 in preparing its case.

Devon County Council has said it was very disappointed that the county could be further broken up, as Plymouth and Torbay were also unitary authorities.

Exeter said unitary status would avoid duplication that existed through sharing power with the county council.