Honiton Senior Council has unsuccessfully fought a proposal for the Senior Council of Devon to become a charity.

The proposal was put forward at an extraordinary meeting, held in Exeter, which was attended by Honiton members.

The decision will have an effect on each of the 25 branches in Devon.

Tony Simpson, secretary of Honiton Senior Council, said: “Our committee decided not to support becoming a charity since we did not think it was in the interests of other charities in Honiton.

“There is only so much funding available.”

Honiton Senior Council chairman Tony Smith explained the decision to oppose the plans. He said: “Charities are closely monitored and it appears the Government will want them to undertake services in return for funding.

“We act as the voice of older people locally and want to be free to represent them on health, welfare, transport and other issues as we have in the past,

At the Exeter meeting, held at the Isca Centre, Tony Simpson called for the whole issue of becoming a charity to be referred back to individual branches on procedural grounds.

After the meeting he told the Herald: “It is a great shame this debate is about money rather than what we, as a senior group, should be doing.

“We respect the will of the Devon meeting but, locally, we must now fully consult with our branch members at our annual general meeting, after which we shall consider our position.”

Honiton Senior Council’s annual general meeting will take place at 10.30am, for an 11am start, on Monday, September 13, at the Royal British Legion, Honiton.