Town councillors are urging voters to attend next week’s “consultation roadshow” and protest against the planned merger of Taunton Deane and West Somerset councils.
“It’s a dreadful idea that will swallow millions of pounds that could have been spent on infrastructure,” commented Cllr Andy Govier. “West Somerset is too small to be viable and Taunton has decided to rescue it. It’s road to disaster for Wellington and Taunton.”
Official figures show that the merger will cost almost £7m, with only £1.1m coming from West Somerset and £5.7m coming from Taunton Deane.
Other councillors made the point that the consultation event on January 17th is in a small venue – Wellington Library – and at a time 10.00 – 3.00pm when many people will be at work and not able to attend. “The library is not a very big venue for a meeting of this importance,” complained Cllr John Thorne.
Another opponent of the merger proposal, Cllr Ross Henley, urged the public to visit the consultation website at http://www.yournewcouncil.org/your-views/ and put forward objections that may still persuade the Secretary of State to block the plan. “There will be a massive dilution of Wellington’s voice on the new council if this scheme goes ahead,” said Cllr Henley.
“The Secretary of State has not signed off on this, so it’s not a done deal even though TDBC wants it to happen. People should go out and make their views known,” said Cllr Gary James.
The council voted 6-4 to write to Taunton Deane council with a formal note of opposition to the merger, as part of the consultation process.
As a previous Group Leader on Sedgemoor actively involved in discussions, a few further facts drawn from over the past few years may help. West Somerset, is, and has been effectively bankrupt in business terms for at least the last four years.
Central government was unwilling to bale it out and so West Somerset sought a larger partner – it could have been either the Deane or Sedgemoor.
Both the larger Districts no doubt had their eyes on rateable income from the new Nuclear power Station at Hinkley C (just 2 miles over the Sedgemoor/West Somerset border). This may eventually become available to Taunton Deane but the agreements previously entered into apportion a great deal of the initial investment income over the build period to Somerset County and Sedgemoor – NOT to the Deane. I still think this was a fair distribution particularly as 90% of Hinkley traffic, supplying 95% of Hinkley workers’ accommodation and suffering by far the greatest disruption and congestion was being undergone by the Bridgwater area.
Over the long haul this scheme may just about break even, but in the short term Deane voters hove been ‘sold a pup’ of very doubtful parentage.
As a District Councillor at TDBC I attended numerous briefings from very competent Officers at Deane House to under the business case for the merger between Taunton Deane and West Somerset. I note the comments of councillors at Wellington Town Council and find it difficult to understand how they are making their judgment. I do NOT recall any of those against being at any of the important briefings so how can they possible judge. Frequently it does seem whatever the leading group (Conservative) come up with the opposition party vote differently on principle.Much cleverer people than any councillor have found the merger the best way forward to make savings, can any of those against give definitive proof that this is wrong.
Do readers of this online news realise what the Judicial Review (instigated by disgruntled councillors) has cost the taxpayer? I doubt it! £37,000 plus is the figure. Just imagine how than money could haven helped many organisations that need grant funding. This is what happens when amateurs think they know better than experts
In reply to Cllr Reed and her reliance on ‘experts’ – perhaps she would like to divide the number of council taxpayers in the Deane into the £37,000 cost she quotes and then do the same calculation for taking on the accumulated and future losses which West Somerset bring with them.
In addition the £37,000 would be a one-off charge, whereas meeting West Somerset’s obligations will not only be cumulative – it would also give a higher figure on which future council tax rises would be based.
I would be grateful if she would talk further with the financial geniuses that have advised her group.
You are missing the point Chris. The Officers at TDBC are far more qualified to make a judgment than you or I or any other councillor. Maybe you can see the level of intelligence of some councillors by what has now happened with the evil videos online. I shall reply no more there is no convincing some!!