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.
  

Residents urged 'Vote No' to unitary council plans

LOCAL residents are being urged to take part in a postal ballot to tell the Government what they think of plans by Somerset County Council to seize control of all local government services in the county.
Liberal Democrat county councillors want to abolish West Somerset and the other four district councils in Somerset and run everything from County Hall, a move which it has been independently calculated would cost ratepayers £7 million a year.
Now, West Somerset and the other councils fighting the ‘unitary bid’ by the county authority have together commissioned a ballot to give every voter a say in the issue.
But the county’s new leader, Councillor Jill Shortland, has already refused to recognise the result of the ballot, claiming it was a ‘waste of money’ to allow a democratic vote by the public.
The postal ballot is being run by the Electoral Reform Services, and votes, which are free to send by post, should be returned by Friday, June 15.
The leader of West Somerset Council, Cllr Keith Ross, said, "We urge all voters to grab this chance to vote no to Somerset County Council’s proposed new mammoth unitary authority.
“A unitary authority would see West Somerset’s local representation slashed by over 75 per cent from its current total of 35 councillors, made up of 31 district and four county councillors, to eight ‘all-purpose’ councillors.
“This will hit local people hard because they are used to having an adequate number of local councillors to represent their views on local issues.”
Councillor Ross said West Somerset Council was also concerned because it had not received any assurances that local amenities such as parks and open spaces would be maintained, nor whether the county had the same commitment to economic regeneration schemes such as the provision of workspace in Williton, nor leisure and community projects such as ArtLife.
He said: “The county council has criticised the district councils for organising this poll, but we feel that their proposed reorganisation of local government will cost an awful lot more than the £13,500 we have spent on giving our local people the vote.
“It is a small price to pay for democracy. This is the only chance people are going to get. We hope local people make their voices heard by voting ‘no’.”

Unitary protest MP sells 'Somerset County Council' for charity

WEST Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger (pictured) has sold off ‘Somerset County Council’ on eBay for charity.
A three-figure sum was raised by Mr Liddell-Grainger’s internet auction of the name
The stunt was organised to highlight opposition to the Liberal Democrat-run county council’s bid to become a unitary authority and take over all local government services in Somerset.
There was fierce bidding on eBay from across Britain and even abroad, with the reserve price exceeded in just two hours.
Mr Liddell-Grainger eventually accepted a private offer from a Bridgwater area man whose identity has not been revealed but whose initials were ‘DM’.
He said: “Every single penny will go to a local charity for the benefit of the people of Somerset.
“I do not own the name Somerset County Council, but now that the county council is determined to become a huge new unitary authority, this important piece of heritage could soon become redundant.
“So, I offered it on eBay on the strict condition that all the money raised would go to charity.”
Mr Liddell-Grainger said ‘DM’ shared his belief that the idea of scrapping Somerset County Council was ‘absolutely crazy’.
He said: “What will he get for his money? Just a name. But a name with a proud history that the current rulers of the county council seem quite happy to chuck on the scrapheap.”
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 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.”

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.

Modern-day 'pitchfork rebellion' goes to Westminster to save West Somerset

WEST Somerset Council was among a delegation of councillors, trades unionists, and chief executives who lobbied MPs in London on Wednesday, March 14, as a campaign was stepped up to defeat Somerset County Council’s unitary authority plans.
Liberal Democrats at County Hall, Taunton, want to abolish local district councils in Somerset and take over all local government services in a move which would see their ‘salaries’ jump enormously to match the extra responsibilities.
But the political move by Lib Dem county council leader Councillor Cathy Bakewell, who already earns more than £40,000 a year from her role, has attracted strong criticism from people who fear planning decisions in, say Porlock, would be made by councillors in Frome.
Councillor Bakewell, who has so far failed even to secure the support of all of her Lib Dem members, would head one of the largest unitary authorities in England if the Government approved the reorganisation.
Local Conservative MP Ian Liddell-Grainger and Euro MP Neil Parish are among those who oppose creating a super-size council.
Representatives from all five of Somerset’s district councils joined forces with members of the local government union UNISION for the delegation trip to Westminster.
They delivered a dossier of evidence against Councillor Bakewell’s proposals to Ruth Kelly, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.
The delegation was met by members of the Sealed Knot, light-heartedly invoking the spirit of the ‘Pitchfork Rebellion’ of 1685.
The rebellion, which was led by the Duke of Monmouth and supported by the county’s farmers and peasants, was, in some senses, the first battle for democratic rights in Somerset.
Councillor Bakewell’s proposals follow a decision by the Department for Communities and Local Government to explore the development of more unitary authorities around the country.
The government favours unitary authorities if they save money and have popular support.
In Somerset, however, Councillor Bakewell’s super-size council ambitions have been independently calculated to cost ratepayers £7 million.
West Somerset Council leader, Councillor Christine Lawrence, said: “The county’s plans are ill thought out and badly timed.
“A single unitary authority for Somerset would be bad for local democracy, bad for local services, and bad for the local economy.
“These plans really ought to be withdrawn immediately. Rural areas will not get the representation that they clearly want, need, and are used to.”
Nigel Osborne, from UNISON, said: “It is clear from the county council’s proposals that many jobs will be lost and many more will move from local towns into the regional centre at Taunton.
“My real fear is that a single, super-size council in Somerset would have no alternative but to cut council services as it fought to pay the huge costs of becoming a unitary authority.”
A Government announcement on which unitary proposals will be allowed to proceed to the next stage of the process is expected by the end of March.
Photos submitted.