Stronger together? County split

DISTRICT councils and some MPs continue to resist controversial proposals to form a ‘super-council’ in Somerset.

Somerset County Council wants to create a new unitary authority to replace itself and the smaller district councils in the county.

Dorset has recently gone through a similar process, and Wiltshire was the first rural county in the West to do so, in 2009.

Conservative-controlled Somerset County Council has published a business case for the proposed new authority.

It predicts the move will deliver £18.5 million in savings a year and envisages 100 councillors being elected from across the county.

The business case says one member per ward will help establish ‘clarity’ for the public about who to contact.

Somerset County Council leader David Fothergill said: “The concept of district council services and county council services is confusing, cumbersome and costly. That is why so many other counties, including most of our neighbours, have switched to a single council model. We must not get left behind.

“But don’t take my word for it. Please take some time to look at the comprehensive business case which sets out exactly what we stand to gain from starting afresh with one single council.”

Transforming local government in Somerset is not a new idea.

The Taunton-based county council and the districts have been working together since May 2018 to find a way to fund public services most effectively in the future.

However, they’re split over which is the best way to do it.

The district councils – Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West and Taunton and South Somerset – all favour maintaining the current twotier system, but working much more closely together, sharing staff and resources.

The county council is keen to move forward with its plans for a single unitary authority to govern the whole of the county.

Cllr Val Keitch, Liberal Democrat leader of South Somerset District Council, said she’s working on an ‘alternative proposal’ with the other district councils to reform local government in Somerset.

She said: “The county council’s business case provides some interesting data and does contain a few ideas worth discussing further.

“It is, however, a missed opportunity. It proposes a very traditional and old-fashioned reorganisation, focused on saving money.

“At a time when the impact of coronavirus is being felt by residents across Somerset, we need a credible plan developed with our communities that will help us recover and address the real issues which are causing such a strain on public services.

“The districts have shown that they are the authorities capable of reform to drive change, not simply making cuts that can have such a big