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Published:
November 22, 2006
Sedgemoor
District Council 'extremely disappointed' by unitary vote
 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."
RELATED
LINK:
Burnham's
MP hits out at plans for unitary council in Somerset
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