Business case for Stronger Somerset approved by councils

The four district councils have put forward plans which would see both them and Somerset County Council abolished in favour of two new unitary councils.

The proposals – known as Stronger Somerset – would see Mendip and South Somerset team up, and Sedgemoor merging with Somerset West & Taunton.

The business case for the new authorities has been approved by all four districts and will now be formally submitted to the government for further consideration.

But while all the councils voted the same way, there were a number of dissenting voices along the way.

Here’s everything you need to know about the districts’ decisions:

“I don’t give a f***”

All four full councils met this week to approve the Stronger Somerset business case.

However, when it came to South Somerset’s turn on Thursday evening (September 10), Councillor Linda Vijeh raised eyebrows with her curt dismissal of the proposals.

She said: “Much has been said in recent days about the potential for a democratic deficit if we were to go down the One Somerset route.

“But I would argue that democratic deficit is not about geography. It’s about the input of these elected members, who support the population of Somerset.

“The new authority can take whatever form we want. We have an opportunity to form a new authority which we all feel will better serve the people of Somerset.”

Ms Vijeh serves as the county councillor for Ilminster, and voted in favour of the One Somerset business case for a single unitary authority in late-July.

Deputy leader Peter Seib said he was “curious as to what facts had changed” since the previous push for a single unitary in 2007, which was rejected.

He said: “The business case for Stronger Somerset actually makes stronger savings than the One Somerset case. The savings are greater doing two unitaries.”

Ms Vijeh responded: “I don’t give a f***”.

She was subsequently reprimanded by being asked to mute her microphone.

What the leaders said

Each of the four district council leaders have made their case for why two unitary authorities (and a combined authority) would be better than a single unitary.

Mendip leader Ros Wyke said: “The Stronger Somerset proposal will ensure we are more responsive to local needs and more effective in delivering improved services where they are needed most.

“Our response to the government’s drive for unitarisation is innovative and ambitious. There will be better opportunities for all, everyone will have a voice, no -one will be left behind.”

Sedgemoor leader Duncan McGinty said: “A single unitary council will not deliver the change needed.

“In addition, simply reorganising in the traditional way proposed in the One Somerset case is not enough to drive improvements in the economy and quality of life in Somerset or secure sustainable services.”

Somerset West and Taunton leader Federica Smith-Roberts said: “I believe that our proposal for a ‘Stronger Somerset’ will better serve our diverse communities than the proposed single unitary authority.

“Two new councils really would mean a stronger Somerset, where we can be closer to our residents and more responsive to local needs focusing on sustainable services, a stronger economy and improved quality of life.”

Val Keitch, leader of South Somerset District Council, added: “This isn’t about politics. It’s not about power. It’s not about saving money.

“It’s about a genuine ambition to make a positive difference to the lives of everyone in Somerset. It’s also about ensuring the hard-working staff delivering services across the county can achieve even better outcomes.

“Stronger Somerset will help us build the county we deserve.”

How everyone voted

Each of the four district councils met this week to approve the Stronger Somerset business case, which will now be submitted to the government.

Here is a breakdown of how every district councillor in Somerset voted (note: councillors marked with a ‘*’ indicates they are also a county councillor):

Mendip District Council (full council held on September 10)

FOR

Rob Ayres (Lib Dem, Wells St Cuthberts)

Alison Barkshire (Green, Ammersdown)

Adam Boyden (Lib Dem, Frome College)

Josh Burr (Lib Dem, Ashwick, Chilcompton & Stratton)

Simon Carswell (Lib Dem, Street South)

John Clarke* (Green, Frome Market)

Shane Collins (Green, Frome Keyford)

Nick Cottle (Lib Dem, Glastonbury St Edmund’s)

Jon Cousins (Green, Glastonbury St John’s)

Michael Dunk (Green, Frome Market)

Drew Gardner (Lib Dem, Frome College)

Michael Gay (Green, Postlebury)

Peter Goater (Lib Dem, Street North)

Francis Hayden (Green, Cranmore, Doulting & Nunney)

Edric Hobbs (Lib Dem, Shepton West)

Damon Hooton (Lib Dem, Frome Park)

Chris Inchley (Independent, Shepton West)

Helen Kay (Green, Frome Keyford)

Garfield Kennedy (Lib Dem, Shepton East)

Liz Leyshon* (Lib Dem, Street South)

Barbara Lund (Green, Rode & Norton St Philip)

Lindsay MacDougall (Green, Glastonbury St Mary’s)

Matt Martin (Lib Dem, Moor)

Janine Nash (Lib Dem, Frome Berkley Down)

Barry O’Leary (Lib Dem, Creech)

Sam Phripp (Lib Dem, Ashwick, Chilcompton & Stratton)

Richard Pinnock (Lib Dem, Frome Park)

Lois Rogers (Lib Dem, Wells Central)

Tom Ronan (Lib Dem, Wells St Thomas)

Heather Shearer (Lib Dem, Street North)

Helen Sprawson-White (Independent, Frome Oakfield)

Lucie Taylor-Hood (Lib Dem, Wookey & St Cuthberts Out West)

Ros Wyke (Lib Dem, Rodney & Westbury)

AGAINST

Eve Berry (Conservative, Frome Berkley Down)

Shannon Brooke (Conservative, Beckington & Selwood)

John Greenhalgh (Conservative, The Pennards & Ditcheat)

Philip Ham* (Conservative, Coleford & Holcombe)

Tom Killen (Conservative, Chewton Mendip & Ston Easton)

Terry Napper* (Conservative, Street West)

Mike Pullin* (Conservative, St Cuthbert Out North)

Nigel Woollcombe-Adams (Conservative, Butleigh & Baltonsborough)

ABSENT FROM THE MEETING

Bente Height (Independent, Shepton East)

Steve Henderson (Independent, Glastonbury St Benedict’s)

Nigel Hewitt-Cooper* (Conservative, Croscombe & Pilton)

Caroline McKinnell (Lib Dem, Wells St Thomas)

Alan Townsend (Conservative, Coleford & Holcombe)

Laura Waters (Lib Dem, Wells St Cuthberts)

Sedgemoor District Council (full council held on September 9)

FOR

Alexia Bartlett (Labour, Bridgwater Dunwear)

Anthony Betty (Conservative, King’s Isle)

Brian Bolt (Conservative, Cannington & Wembdon)

Alan Bradford (Conservative, North Petherton)

Hilary Bruce (Labour, Bridgwater Fairfax)

Julie Cordiner (Labour, Bridgwater Victoria)

Polly Costello (Conservative, Wedmore & Mark)

Barrie Crow (Conservative, Puriton & Woolavington)

Lance Duddridge (Conservative, Bridgwater Victoria)

Ian Dyer (Conservative, Cannington & Wembdon)

Mike Facey (Conservative, Burnham North)

Paul Fineran (Independent, Cheddar & Shipham)

Li Gibson (Labour, Bridgwater Eastover)

Andrew Gilling (Conservative, Knoll)

Alex Glassford (Labour, Bridgwater Fairfax)

Graham Godwin-Pearson (Conservative, Axevale)

Phil Harvey (Lib Dem, Burnham Central)

Mark Healey* (Conservative, Puriton & Woolavington)

Alistair Hendry (Conservative, Burnham Central)

Will Human (Conservative, Wedmore & Mark)

Janet Keen (Conservative, Highbridge & Burnham Marine)

Stuart Kingham (Conservative, West Polden)

Liz Leavy (Labour, Bridgwater Hamp)

Rachael Lilley (Conservative, Bridgwater Wyndham)

Alan Matthews (Conservative, Highbridge & Burnham Marine)

Duncan McGinty (Conservative, East Polden)

Lisa Methley (Lib Dem, Cheddar & Shipham)

Mike Murphy (Lib Dem, Burnham North)

Julie Pay (Conservative, Quantocks)

Kathy Pearce (Labour, Bridgwater Westover)

Liz Perry (Conservative, King’s Isle)

Leigh Redman* (Labour, Bridgwater Hamp)

Bill Revans* (Lib Dem, North Petherton)

Charlie Riches (Lib Dem, Cheddar & Shipham)

Diogo Rodrigues (Conservative, Brigwater Dunwear)

Liz Scott (Conservative, Axevale)

Gill Slocombe (Conservative, Bridgwater Wyndham)

Brian Smedley (Labour, Bridgwater Westover)

Gary Wong (Lib Dem, North Petherton)

ABSTAINED

Mike Caswell* (Conservative, Quantocks)

Peter Clayton* (Conservative, Burnham North)

Bob Filmer* (Conservative, Knoll)

John Woodman* (Conservative, Huntspill & Pawlett)

ABSENT FROM THE MEETING/ UNABLE TO VOTE DUE TO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

Sue Barber (Conservative, Burnham Central)

Nick Bayliss (Lib Dem, Highbridge & Burnham Marine)

Graham Granter (Labour, Bridgwater Fairfax) 

Tony Grimes (Conservative, Berrow)

Tony Heywood (Labour, Bridgwater Eastover)

Somerset West and Taunton Council (full council held on September 10)

FOR

Ian Aldridge (Independent, Watchet & Williton)

Benet Allen (Lib Dem, Periton & Woodcombe)

Lee Baker (Lib Dem, Priorswood)

Mark Blaker (Independent, Wiveliscombe & District)

Paul Bolton (Independent, Alcombe)

Chris Booth (Lib Dem, Halcon & Lane)

Sue Buller (Lib Dem, North Curry & Ruishton)

Simon Coles* (Lib Dem, Victoria)

Dixie Darch (Lib Dem, Norton Fitzwarren & Staplegrove)

Dave Durdan (Independent, Creech St Michael)

Kelly Durdan (Independent, Creech St Michael)

Caroline Ellis (Lib Dem, North Town)

Habib Farbahi (Lib Dem, Comeytrowe & Bishop’s Hull)

Ed Firmin (Lib Dem, Norton Fitzwarren & Staplegrove)

Andrew Hadley (Conservative, Minehead Central)

John Hassall (Lib Dem, Cotford St Luke & Oake)

Ross Henley (Lib Dem, Hatch & Blackdown)

Marcia Hill (Lib Dem, Wellsprings & Rowbarton)

John Hunt* (Independent, Comeytrowe & Bishop’s Hull)

Marcus Kravis (Lib Dem, Old Cleeve & District)

Richard Lees (Lib Dem, Victoria)

Sue Lees (Lib Dem, Wellsprings & Rowbarton)

Libby Lisgo (Labour, Priorswood)

Janet Lloyd (Independent, Wellington East)

David Mansell (Green, Wiveliscombe & District)

Simon Nicholls (Lib Dem, Comeytrowe & Bishop’s Hull)

Craig Palmer (Independent, Minehead Central)

Derek Perry (Lib Dem, Vivary)

Martin Peters (Lib Dem, Manor & Tangier)

Hazel Prior-Sankey* (Lib Dem, Blackbrook & Holway)

Andy Pritchard (Green, West Monkton & Cheddon Fitzpaine)

Mike Rigby* (Lib Dem, South Quantock)

Fran Smith (Lib Dem, Blackbrook & Holway)

Federica Smith-Roberts (Lib Dem, Halcon & Lane)

Vivien Stock-Williams (Conservative, Wellington South)

Andrew Sully (Lib Dem, Norton Fitzwarren & Staplegrove)

Anthony Trollope-Bellew (Conservative, South Quantock)

Ray Tully (Lib Dem, West Monkton & Cheddon Fitzpaine)

Terry Venner (Independent, Minehead North)

Sarah Wakefield (Lib Dem, Trull, Pitminster & Corfe)

Alan Wedderkopp* (Lib Dem, Wilton & Sherford)

Danny Wedderkopp (Lib Dem, Vivary)

Brenda Weston (Labour, Priorswood)

Keith Wheatley (Lib Dem, Wellington East)

Loretta Whetlor (Independent, Watchet & Williton)

Gwilym Wren (Independent, Milverton & District)

AGAINST

Norman Cavill (Conservative, West Monkton & Cheddon Fitzpaine)

Andrew Govier* (Labour, Wellington North)

Roger Habgood (Conservative, Monument)

ABSTAIN

Philip Stone (Lib Dem, North Curry & Ruishton)

ABSENT FROM THE MEETING/ UNABLE TO VOTE DUE TO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

Marcus Barr (Independent, Rockwell Green)

Hugh Davies (Independent, Watchet & Williton)

Martin Hill (Lib Dem, Trull, Pitminster & Corfe)

Mark Lithgow (Lib Dem, Wellington North)

Andy Milne (Conservative, Porlock & District)

Chris Morgan (Conservative, Quantock Vale)

Peter Pilkington (Lib Dem, Old Cleeve & District)

Steve Pugsley (Conservative, Exmoor)

Nicholas Thwaites (Conservative, Dulverton & District)

South Somerset District Council (full council held on September 10)

FOR

Jason Baker (Lib Dem, Chard Holyrood)

Mike Best (Lib Dem, Crewkerne)

Dave Bulmer (Independent, Chard Jocelyn)

Tony Capozzoli (Independent, Northstone, Ivelchester & St Michael’s)

John Clark (Lib Dem, Yeovil Summerlands)

Nicola Clark (Lib Dem, Coker)

Louise Clarke (Lib Dem, Martock)

Adam Dance* (Lib Dem, South Petherton)

Sarak Dyke (Lib Dem, Milborne Port)

Karl Gill (Lib Dem, Yeovil Westland)

David Gubbins (Lib Dem, Yeovil Westland)

Peter Gubbins (Lib Dem, Yeovil College)

Brian Hamilton (Lib Dem, Ilminster)

Mike Hewitson (Lib Dem, Hamdon)

Ben Hodgson (Lib Dem, Crewkerne)

Charlie Hull (Green, Northstone, Ivelchester & St Michael’s)

Kaysar Hussain (Lib Dem, Yeovil College)

Val Keitch (Lib Dem, Ilminster)

Andy Kendall* (Lib Dem, Yeovil College)

Jenny Kenton (Lib Dem, Blackdown & Tatworth)

Tim Kerley (Lib Dem, Wessex)

Tony Lock* (Lib Dem, Yeovil Lyde)

Paul Maxwell (Lib Dem, Eggwood)

Kevin Messenger (Lib Dem, Cary)

Robin Pailthorpe (Lib Dem, Crewkerne)

Oliver Patrick (Lib Dem, Parrett)

Wes Read (Lib Dem, Yeovil Summerlands)

David Recardo (Lib Dem, Yeovil Lyde)

Paul Rowsell (Lib Dem, Northstone, Ivelchester & St Michael’s)

Dean Ruddle* (Lib Dem, Wessex)

Peter Seib (Lib Dem, Brympton)

Garry Shortland (Lib Dem, Chard Avishayes)

Jeny Snell (Lib Dem, Brympton)

Andy Soughton (Lib Dem, Yeovil Westland)

Mike Stanton (Lib Dem, Burrow Hill)

Rob Stickland (Lib Dem, Yeovil Without)

Gerard Tucker (Independent, Turn Hill)

AGAINST

Robin Bastable (Conservative, Tower)

Neil Bloomfield* (Independent, Martock)

Hayward Burt (Conservative, Blackmoor Vale)

Nick Colbert (Conservative, Wincanton)

Mike Lewis* (Conservative, Camelot)

Tricia O’Brien (Lib Dem, Chard Combe)

Sue Osborne (Conservative, Windwhistle)

Tiffany Osborne (Conservative, Curry Rivel, Huish & Langport)

Clare Paul* (Conservative, Curry Rivel, Huish & Langport)

Gina Seaton (Conservative, Coker)

Lucy Trimnell (Conservative, Bruton)

Linda Vijeh* (Conservative, Neroche)

Martin Wale (Conservative, Blackdown & Tatworth)

Colin Winder (Conservative, Wincanton)

ABSENT FROM THE MEETING

Martin Carnell (Lib Dem, Chard Crimchard)

Malcolm Cavill (Conservative, Islemoor)

Henry Hobhouse (Lib Dem, Cary)

Mike Lock (Independent, Yeovil Without)

Pauline Lock (Lib Dem, Yeovil Summerlands)

Graham Oakes (Lib Dem, Yeovil Without)

Crispin Raikes (Lib Dem, South Petherton)

Alan Smith (Lib Dem, Brympton)

William Wallace* (Conservative, Blackmoor Vale)

How have others reacted?

Somerset County Council approved the business case for its One Somerset plans back in late-July.

Since then, a report by the County Councils Network has suggested shifting to unitary authorities across the UK could save more than £2.9bn over a five-year period.

The county council has stated that these savings would be “reduced significantly” if council services were split across multiple unitaries.

Council leader David Fothergill said: “We’ve always been really clear and positive about the benefits of One Somerset – it ends confusion, removes duplication and provides a fantastic opportunity for people to get involved with the things which matter to them in their communities.

“I would encourage everyone to look closely at the business cases and consider all the evidence carefully before making up their own minds about the best way forward for Somerset’s communities, residents and businesses.”

The Somerset Independents pressure group – which could field candidates in the May 2021 local elections – has reiterated its call for a referendum on the issue.

Andrew Pope said: “Somerset residents need to be given the opportunity to express their opinion on any and all proposals – and especially so when neither the Stronger Somerset unitary proposal nor the One Somerset unitary proposal, was suggested by ordinary residents of our county.

“You shouldn’t be made to hold a referendum by Somerset residents; you should do it because it is the right thing to do.”

Ian Liddell-Grainger, the MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset, came out in favour of the Stronger Somerset plans when he addressed the House of Commons on Thursday (September 10).

He said: “Somerset County Council is trying to make a bid to become a single unitary council: it calls it, believe or not, ‘One Somerset’, but that does not add up.

“For a start, the county council covers only part of Somerset. Its plan should be called ‘One Chunk of Somerset’. I am afraid it is a joke.

“Let us restore Somerset to its old boundaries before we change everything, and let us look at some of the real alternatives like the excellent plan put forward by the district councils, which is not only intelligent but makes sense.”

What happens next?

The four district councils will submit the Stronger Somerset business case to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government after a formal invitation from communities secretary Robert Jenrick MP.

The government will ultimately decide whether to take forward the Stronger Somerset proposals, the One Somerset proposals, or to move in a completely different direction.

One way or another, Somerset residents should have an idea about the direction in which they are heading by the end of the year.