During the summer of 2016, Taunton Deane Borough Council and West Somerset Council made decisions to invest in a significant programme of change in our staffing, processes and the technology to support new ways of working.
The Councils also made decisions to support a proposal to create a single, new, district council to replace the two existing district councils.
This was driven by a pressing need for West Somerset to retain its financial viability and for Taunton Deane to continue to be able to invest in its growth ambitions.
The councils intend, therefore, to ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to use his powers to decide whether or not the proposal to create the new council should be taken forward.
The views of local people and organisations on the single council proposal are now being sought to help the Secretary of State make a fully informed decision.
We are therefore holding a public consultation from 12 December 2016 to 28 February 2017 seeking your views about whether the proposal to create a single new council is acceptable in principle and to inform the decision of the Secretary of State.
Councillor Anthony Trollope-Bellew, leader of West Somerset Council:
“We owe it to our residents now – and to future generations – to show strong leadership and meet the challenges that lie ahead.”
Councillor John Williams, leader of Taunton Deane Borough Council:
“This is a huge and radical step – one that is being taken to make us fit for the future and stronger together.”