Lib Dem county council told to consult on power bid

A LIBERAL Democrat bid to abolish West Somerset Council has passed its first hurdle with the Government putting the plan forward for public consultation.
The scheme by Somerset County Council leader Councillor Cathy Bakewell would see all five districts in the county axed and all local government services taken on by her council.
Although the Government wants to look at plans for unitary councils which would save money, Councillor Bakewell’s ambitions have been independently calculated to cost ratepayers £7 million.
The county council has so far refused to consult the public on its plans, but now the Government has said it has to undergo 12 weeks of consultation.
The Government will then take a final decision in July on whether to allow Somerset to be ruled by one super-size council, which would be formed by April, 2009.
Somerset was one of 16 areas shortlisted by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) for consideration for unitary local government.
West Somerset Council leader Councillor Christine Lawrence has campaigned against the unitary bid, although she is also a county councillor for the Dunster ward.
Councillor Bakewell said: “We will be working closely with DCLG in the forthcoming months to ensure that Somerset is one of the authorities selected for unitary status in July.
“We are confident that the wind is blowing in Government in favour of unitary status for Somerset and I hope that our colleagues in district councils will now work with us to play an equal part in helping to shape a system of government fit for the people that we all serve.”