Minister rejects unitary local government bid for Somerset

A LIBERAL Democrat bid to abolish West Somerset Council and seize control of all local government services throughout Somerset has been thrown out by the Government.
The emphatic rejection of Somerset County Council’s plans for a single unitary authority in the county follows a county-wide referendum which saw 82 per cent of respondents vote against the idea.
The Department for Communities and Local Government had set five criterion which it said any unitary bid would need to meet in order to be successful, one of which was that there should be a broad cross section of support for the proposal.
Another criterion was to be affordable – but an independent assessment of the plan showed it would have cost ratepayers £7 million rather than saving them money as claimed by the Lib Dems.
The unitary bid was opposed in a joint campaign by all five of Somerset’s district councils and all five MPs who represent the county in Parliament.
West Somerset Council leader, Councillor Keith Ross, warmly welcomed the Government decision.
Councillor Ross said: “I am pleased that the voices of local people have been heard, and their wishes respected.
“I appreciate that the Government wants us to improve the current two-tier system and look forward to working with our partners in the district councils and at the county council to achieve this.”
In the recent referendum on unitary status, 200,000 people voted, almost half of the county’s population and more than took part in local government elections in May. Just18 per cent of those who voted were in favour.
West Somerset and the other district councils argued the county authority’s proposals would involve the creation of a mammoth council, a giant new bureaucracy, more red tape, and the abolition of local councils, leading to less democracy and more remote councillors.
Lib Dem county councillors ignored the county-wide referendum and tried to defy the result right up to the end by refusing to withdraw their unitary bid.
The present leader of the county council, Councillor Jill Shortland, who recently took on the role after Councillor Cathy Bakewell stepped down just months after she had launched the bid, said: “The news that our bid to create one council for Somerset is not being taken forward by the DCLG is very disappointing.
“However, the business of providing excellent services to residents will continue with full pace.
“I truly hope that we can re-engage with our district council partners to look for new ways of working closer together through local area working, where many opportunities exist to empower Somerset’s communities.”

Lib Dem unitary power grab is massively rejected by West Somerset voters

RESIDENTS of West Somerset and the rest of the county have overwhelmingly rejected the idea of creating a super-size council to run all local government services.
The massive rejection of the Liberal Democrat-inspired plan comes in a postal ballot of everybody in Somerset who is on the electoral register.
Across the county, almost one-half of the entire population voted, answering ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the question ‘do you support the idea of a unitary authority for Somerset?’.
The result was a four-to-one rejection of the idea with 82 per cent of voters saying ‘no’ and just 18 per cent being in favour.
The ballot was organised and paid for by the five district councils in Somerset, which were united in their opposition to Somerset County Council’s plan to abolish them.
West Somerset Council leader, Councillor Keith Ross, said: “The tremendously high turnout is something of a surprise, but the overall result is not.
“This vindicates our decision to hold the vote in the first place. The people of Somerset have spoken loud and clear.
"The county council ran a biased campaign seeking to spin its own plans and spread disinformation about the district councils’ alternative.
“But Somerset residents saw through this, and as for the county council’s claim that nobody was interested in this issue - well, the results speak for themselves.”
Councillor Ross together with chief executives and leaders of the other Somerset districts, were travelling to London today (Tuesday, June 19) for urgent talks with Local Government Minister Phil Woolas.
Sedgemoor District Council leader, Councillor Duncan McGinty, said: “Our message to him will be very simple.
“We are not against unitary authorities as a matter of principle, but we are against them where the proposers have failed to put together any kind of case for change, and where local residents are so clearly opposed.
“We will be urging the Minister to end any remaining uncertainty or speculation by announcing swiftly that the county council’s plans are off-the-table.
“It is now absolutely impossible for the county council to proceed with its plans. They are as dead as a dodo.
“The Government has made it crystal clear that unitary authorities can only proceed if they have broad public support. The plans for a unitary authority in Somerset could hardly be less popular.”
Almost 200,000 people voted in the postal ballot, with 158.754 against the Lib Dem unitary council scheme and 34,851 in favour of it.
In West Somerset, the turnout was 53.9 per cent (15,068) with 79.7 per cent (11,933) of valid votes being against, and 20.3 per cent (3,048) against. There were 87 invalid ballot papers.

• Our photograph shows some of the leaders and chief executives of the five district councils emphasising the postal ballot result at the announcement held in the Castle Hotel, Taunton, this morning (Tuesday, June 19). West Somerset's chief executive, Tim Howes, is second from right. Photo submitted.
  

Conservatives ousted by Independents at district elections

THE Conservative administration on West Somerset Council has been spectacularly dumped by voters who went to the polls on Thursday, May 3.
The elections saw a grouping of candidates under an Independent banner emphatically sweep to overall power on the district council.
Independents took 16 of the 31 seats, against 13 for the Conservatives, one Labour, and one Liberal Democrat.
It was a similar story on Minehead Town Council, where the Tories were reduced to just five of the 15 seats.
Dulverton Councillor Keith Ross, who, alongside Minehead shopkeeper Graham Sizer, coached and organised the Independent candidates in the run-up to the district elections, said: “I am very pleased with how it has gone tonight, because this has broken the party stranglehold, which is what I have looked for over seven-and-a-half years since we went political, which was probably the worst night in West Somerset politics.
“What I want is 31 councillors to work together for the benefit of West Somerset because it has not happened, and it has not happened because of party politics.
“It does not matter wherever you go in the country, where there are adversarial politics it does not work.”
Councillor Ross said he did not yet know who would become leader of the council nor who would receive portfolios.
“I do not know how it will work out,” he said. “We will have to have a meeting of those in the leading group to select a leader.
“The council will be looking seriously at the way forward.
“Of course, we have a big struggle on our hands for the people of West Somerset with the unitary council bid by the county council over which we have little control.”
The declaration of election results started badly for the Conservatives with former council chairman Barbara Child losing her seat in Quantock Vale to Independent Councillor Mitch Wicking, who has previously campaigned to have the council’s chief executive sacked.
It was followed by defeat in Alcombe East for Tory Jamie Anderson, who lost out to Independent Councillor Ian Melhuish, who is a close friend of Mr Sizer.
Disgraced Independent Councillor Hugh Davies - who was previously suspended by the Standards Board after a vendetta against the council’s chief executive - then topped the poll in Williton.
Former deputy council leader Councillor Bryan Leaker held his seat in Dunster for the Conservatives, and there was a brief turnaround in fortunes when popular Watchet Town Council chairman, Councillor Dave Westcott, topped the poll in Watchet to gain a seat for the Conservatives.
But it was short-lived as housing, health, and welfare portfolio holder Mary Crowley lost her Conservative seat in Quantock Vale ward, and then current council chairman Pam Driver was defeated in Old Cleeve by Queens Hall, Minehead, owner Councillor Kate Kravis for the Independents.
In the key battleground of Minehead and Alcombe, Independent candidates took five of the 10 available seats, to the Conservative’s four, and one for Labour.
Other Conservative setbacks included the loss of Mike Padgett in Porlock, where a conversation secretly recorded in News of the World-style by opponent Jon Freeman and Watchet councillor David Banks for publication in the West Somerset Free Press appeared to have swayed voters.
Meanwhile, first-time candidates Dudley Seale and Tony Berry (Minehead South), Jeremy White (Minehead North), Brian Jenkinson (Carhampton and Withycombe), Loretta Whetlor (Quantock Vale), and Paul Chamberlain (Dulverton) all failed to win.
Council leader Councillor Christine Lawrence held her Minehead North seat for the Conservatives and increased her vote, but fell from first to second place behind the Labour Party’s Doug Ross standing under the Independent flag.
Economic development portfolio holder Councillor Nick Messarra (Alcombe East), deputy leader and finance portfolio holder Councillor Roger Webber (Aville Vale), and internal resources portfolio holder Councillor Angela Palmer (Porlock) also held their seats for the Conservatives.
It could have been even worse for the Tories, as Councillor Norman Hercock gained a seat for them in Alcombe West by just seven votes and only after a recount.
The Independents lost David Gliddon, in Brompton Ralph and Haddon, where parish council chairman Councillor Keith Turner made another rare Conservative gain.
And in Watchet, long-serving councillor David Banks, who turned Independent after quitting Labour some years ago, also lost when he trailed fourth in the three-seat ward.
They also failed to win the vacant Crowcombe and Stogumber seat, where newcomer Councillor Tim Taylor retained the Conservative’s hold.
In Quarme ward, the Conservative’s Councillor Christopher White, another newcomer, also beat off an Independent challenge.
Councillor Leaker, who is the West Somerset constituency Conservative Association chairman, said: “If you do not get your voters out, you do not get elected.
“I think there are some stark lessons to be learned for the Conservatives in West Somerset tonight.
“It is a night they should not forget - and I will not forget it - in a hurry.
“It tells the town and district councils that we need to work together to get success, and, quite frankly, I do not think we have worked together and we have quite plainly not got the success.”
Councillor Lawrence said she was disappointed and slightly surprised at the scale of the electoral defeat.
She said: We had some very good candidates, and while I am very grateful to everybody who voted for me, I am disappointed for the other candidates and grateful for all the hard work they put in.”
Councillor Lawrence feared the council could find it difficult to achieve anything in the short-term because so many new and inexperienced councillors had been elected.
Mrs Driver said she had enjoyed her eight years on the council and was philosophical about her defeat.
She said: “I am sad in as much as we are not able to finish what we have started, and we are being superseded by a group who have no experience, but I hope all goes well for them for the sake of the people of West Somerset.”
Councillor Westcott attributed his success to the people of Watchet recognising his positive ‘can-do’ attitude over many years of service to the town.
He said: “I think over the years people have recognised that I always do my best for them, and I will continue to do that. Watchet comes first for me every time.
“I always believe in being positive and not negative and I think that has come through.”
Councillor Westcott said he was slightly disappointed that Mr Banks had lost his seat as he had been a good councillor for the town.
He said: “I was surprised. I do not think it was an East Quay issue, it was just unfortunate for him that I came in and made that difference to the vote.”
Councillor Freeman said: “I am gobsmacked. Porlock is a strange place, a small place where everybody knows everybody – and there is me, 12 miles away.
“The party machine was working so well with little Conservative ladies scurrying around everywhere, I thought there was no way I was going to do this.”
Councillor Walker said he was delighted to be back on the council at the age of 82 and after an eight-year absence.
He said: “Things have changed since I was in there, so I will have to play myself in gently.”
West Somerset Council Election Results as they were declared by Ward:
West Quantoxhead – Barbara Child (Con) 216, Mitch Wicking (Ind) 301 elected.
Alcombe East – Jamie Anderson (Con) 157, Ian Melhuish (Ind) 323 elected, Nick Messarra (Con) 201 elected.
Williton – Ian Aldridge (Ind) 269, Hugh Davies (Ind) 616 elected, William Gulliford (Ind) 31, John Holden (Ind) 214, Eddie May (Ind) 298 elected, Rose Woods (Con) 246.
Carhampton and Withycombe – Peter Humber (lib Dem) 417 elected, Brian Jenkinson (Con) 164.
Dunster – Julie Harvey Smith (Ind) 125, Bryan Leaker (Con) 186 elected.
Watchet – David Banks (Ind) 425, Tony Bowden (Lib Dem) 359, Jenni Hill (Ind) 441 elected, Tony Knight 505 elected, Peter Murphy (Lab) 323, Ann Snelling (Con) 300, Dave Westcott (Con) 768 elected.
Alcombe West – Norman Hercock (Con) 255 elected, Marcus Kravis (Lab) 248, Simon Stokes (Lab) 479 elected.
Quantock Vale – Mary Crowley (Ind) 335, Chris Morgan (Ind) 424 elected, Paul Tipney (Ind) 420 elected, Loretta Whetlor (Con) 243.
Quarme – John Bray (Ind) 142, Christopher White (Con) 347 elected.
Old Cleeve – Pam Driver (Con) 302, Kate Kravis (Ind) 532 elected, Neil Parbrook (Ind) 479 elected.
Crowcombe and Stogumber – Roy Harbour (Ind) 228, Tim Taylor (Con) 315 elected.
Aville Vale – Aaron Cody-Boutcher (Ind) 252, Roger Webber (Con) 313 elected.
Porlock and Oare – Jon Freeman (Ind) 427 elected, Mike Padgett (Con) 273, Angela Palmer (Con) 656 elected.
Dulverton – Paul Chamberlain (Con) 341, Mike Gammon (Ind) 451 elected, Keith Ross (Ind) 684 elected.
Brompton Ralph and Haddon – David Gliddon (Ind) 149, Keith Turner (Con) 255 elected.
Minehead North – Christine Lawrence (Con) 580 elected, Doug Ross (Ind) 822 elected, David Sanders (Con) 453 elected, Jeremy White (Con) 415.
Minehead South – Tony Berry (Con) 571, Michael Downes (Ind) 706 elected, Dudley Seale (Con) 442, Stan Taylor (Con) 331, Terry Venner (Ind) 822 elected, John Walker (Ind) 631 elected.
Exmoor – Steven Pugsley (Con) returned unopposed.

Independent election ‘scam’ is probed

NEXT month’s elections for West Somerset District Council could be declared invalid and ‘Independent’ candidates and their supporters investigated for ‘electoral fraud’, The Crier can reveal.
It follows the backing of ‘Independent’ candidates by the Liberal Democrat-sponsored residents’ organisation Direct.
The chairman of Direct, Arthur Philips, has published posters and other literature urging local residents to vote for the ‘Independent’ candidates.
But Mr Philips is not an ‘election agent’ for any of the candidates and spending money on such campaigns could therefore be in breach of the Representation of the People Act 1983, which states only the candidate, election agent, and those authorised in writing by the election agent can incur election expenses, while anybody who ‘incurs, or aids, abets, counsels, or procures any other person to incur any expenses in contravention of this section ... shall be guilty of a corrupt practice ...’.
The issue has already been raised with the Electoral Commission and with the West Somerset Returning Officer Tim Howes.
The correspondence, which The Crier has seen, expresses concern that “there is an ‘electoral deceit’ being perpetrated on local voters by those Independents who are a part of this, as they are not Independent but are actually part of a collective political movement and are hiding this fact from the electorate.”
The move follows recent revelations by The Crier that ‘Independent’ candidates could be seen to be a party in themselves as they were being coached and guided centrally and were inherently linked with the Liberal Democrat movement.
This view was reinforced when the candidates were announced and it was seen that the Liberal Democrats were apparently not fielding any candidates except their two most well-known characters in Carhampton and Watchet.
The ‘Independents’ had “by coincidence” all declared themselves in such a way that none were fighting each other for seats.
In single seat wards, there was only one ‘Independent’, in two seat wards there were two ‘Independents’, and so on.
It has prompted claims by opponents that an electoral ‘scam’ was being tried out on voters by any ‘Independent’ involved in the collective decision-making and campaign.

County council axes seafront market

THE long-running Minehead seafront outdoor market has been axed by Somerset County Council.
The authority has decided not to grant the market operators a licence this year.
County council spokeswoman Jan Hookings said it was ‘because of the planned redevelopment of the station site’.
The Liberal Democrat-run county council is due to press ahead with an industrial and leisure development of the site beside Minehead’s railway station which will use the land on which the twice-weekly outdoor market has been held.
There was controversy previously when West Somerset District Council proposed a similar scheme for the site and local residents demanded the market should be kept.
The controversy partly gave rise to the creation by the Liberal Democrats of the residents’ group Direct, which organised a protest march against the scheme.
Direct, which is now actively supporting ‘Independent’ candidates in next month’s local council elections, has not similarly fought the county council’s plans.
A Continental market held in Minehead recently proved a big success with shoppers flooding into the town centre.
Photo submitted.

Lib Dem council power bid 'to be dropped by public demand'

WEST Somerset Council leader, Councillor Christine Lawrence, has expressed her confidence that Liberal Democrat plans to create a super-size council to run all local government services in the county would soon be dropped.
It follows a decision by the Department for Communities and Local Government to put the plans by Somerset County Council leader Councillor Cathy Bakewell out to consultation during the next three months to test how popular they were.
A recent public opinion poll conducted in Somerset by the national YouGov polling organisation showed opposition to the Lib Dem-run county council’s take-over bid at more than three-to-one against, with opposition particularly strong among women and older people.
Councillor Lawrence said: “It is not surprising that the Government decided to consult with the people about the county council’s plans, indeed I welcome consultation provided it is fair, impartial, and involves all sections of the community.
“The Government has made it clear that a mammoth, unitary authority can only proceed if it has popular support.
“Plainly, these proposals do not have public support.
“In addition to the opinion poll conducted by YouGov there have been no fewer than nine surveys of public opinion, including several run by local newspapers and a number involving parish councillors.
“Not one of them has indicated support for the county council’s plans.
“I am confident the Government will realise the county council’s plans for a vast bureaucracy centred on Taunton are not appropriate for West Somerset.”
All five district councils in Somerset would be abolished by the Lib Dems if the plan for a unitary authority was to go ahead.
An independent assessment of the plan has shown it would cost council taxpayers about £7 million, rather than saving money as claimed by Councillor Bakewell and her Lib Dems.
In April, the five district councils will begin a county-wide programme of events to ensure the public voice is properly heard during the consultation period and will begin the process of enhancing two-tier working to ensure the districts and the county authority work together effectively once the unitary scheme has been dropped.
Among parish councils in West Somerset opposed to the county unitary bid is Bicknoller, which is writing to the Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly to express its feelings and to show support instead for an enhanced two-tier option in which West Somerset would work more closely with neighbouring Taunton Deane and Sedgemoor districts.

Lib Dem power grab bid 'shockingly unpopular'

PLANS by Somerset County Council leader, Councillor Cathy Bakewell (pictured), to abolish West Somerset Council and for all local government services to be taken over by her Liberal Democrat group have been given a massive vote of no confidence by the public.
Across Somerset, people opposed Councillor Bakewell’s plans for a new super-size council by more than three-to-one, according to a public opinion poll conducted by the YouGov polling company.
The survey showed that for every person who thought the scheme wouldl lead to lower Council Tax bills, a staggering 10 people believed it would actually lead to higher council taxes.
The result compares with one of Councillor Bakewell’s main arguments in favour of the super-size council, which she says would save money.
Key findings from the YouGov poll included:

• 67 per cent of respondents thought it was a bad idea to create a large, single unitary authority for the whole of Somerset
• 61 per cent thought local services (such as street cleaning, road maintenance and refuse collection) would be worse under the county council’s plans
• 63 per cent thought the county council’s plans would weaken democracy in Somerset
• 74 per cent thought council tax would go up if there was a unitary council

The poll findings dealt a serious blow to Councillor Bakewell’s power grab ambitions as the recent Government White Paper on local government reform said any proposals for change had to carry popular support.
Given the likelihood Councillor Bakewell’s proposals would lead to a migration of jobs away from smaller towns in Somerset towards the regional centre of Taunton, respondents were also asked if they thought the plans would be good or bad for the economy of Somerset outside of Taunton.
Seventy-one per cent of respondents 4thought the plans would be bad.
West Somerset Council leader, Councillor Christine Lawrence, who is opposed to the unitary bid, said: “This poll is the most comprehensive and independent test of public opinion that has been held in Somerset.
“It shows quite clearly that the county council’s plans are shockingly unpopular.
“You really would have to try quite hard to come up with proposals that were more unpopular than this.
“Against this background, I simply cannot see how the Government could allow the county council to proceed with these reorganisation plans.” Photo submitted.