Somerset County Council moved a step closer to abolishing Sedgemoor District Council when it passed a motion on Wednesday (November 22nd) instructing officers to work on a bid and submission to create a unitary council.
The motion, which was submitted by the Leader of Somerset County Council Cathy Bakewell, was passed by a majority of nine after 33 councillors voted in favour and 24 voted against.
The bid is to be prepared by January 2007 and will then be submitted to the government. If it gives the go-ahead, five local councils – including Sedgemoor District Council which currently oversees Burnham-On-Sea – will be abolished with the new unitary authority running all services in the area.
Reacting to the news on Wednesday evening, Sedgemoor District Council said it was “extremely disappointed” with the news.
Councillor Duncan McGinty, Leader of Sedgemoor District Council (pictured), said: “Sedgemoor District Council is appalled that the County Council has pressed ahead with their nonsensical bid.”
“When we are finally offered the opportunity to comment on this matter, we shall be making several points. Firstly, the option of a single Unitary Authority in Somerset was rejected in the last consideration of this matter in the mid 1990s and we feel that there are no major reasons why this would be different now.”
“One authority which stretches from Frome to Minehead and from Burnham-On-Sea to Chard would be too large and remote from local communities, which is diametrically opposite to the spirit and principles of the White Paper.”
“Also, the estimated cost would be £20 million to set up the authority. Furthermore, the unwillingness of Somerset County Council to work up any other option, preferring a ‘hostile take-over’ bid, is against the majority wishes of those organisations and the communities that would be affected.”
But Cllr Bakewell of the County Council (pictured right) hit back, saying: “A Unitary Authority in Somerset will deliver for the people of Somerset a less bureaucratic, more efficient and cost effective form of Government. I am confident that a Unitary system will empower decision making at the local level and allow for us to maximize funding of local services to respond to the demands of local people.”
“An authority with a similar two tier structure to that in Somerset (Shropshire) has already published its anticipated costs and savings and these indicate that, over a four year period, a move to a Unitary model based on that county area will delivery efficiency gains estimated at £36.6 million – money that can be reinvested in frontline services and communities without increased costs falling upon local residents.”
“We will not shrink from making difficult decisions as an Authority when something as important as the renewal of local decision making, very significant efficiency gains and a streamlined system of government is within our sights. We have a duty to make decisions that will result in the best outcomes for the people of Somerset and in preparing this bid I believe that this is what we shall achieve.”
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