The vast majority of about £200m of debt owed by Devon County Council will be written off, the government has confirmed.
Councils across the country built up massive debts – under what became known as Safety Valve agreements, external – to pay for services for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) but Devon had one of the largest deficits in the country, external.
Julian Brazil, the leader of the county council, said it was a relief but added that councils needed more money to deal with ongoing costs in providing services.
The government, which is due to publish its plans shortly for a reform of SEND services, said the deficits had “threatened [the] council’s sustainability”.