CORPORATE Scrutiny Committee of Taunton Deane Borough Council (TDBC) last Monday discussed the merger of West Somerset District Council with TDBC.

“This is the most important decision we are ever likely ever to make,” says John Williams, leader of TDBC in the joint statement with Anthony Trollope- Bellew, leader of West Somerset District Council (WSDC) made on 7 July, commenting on the “merger” as per the article in the Gazette.

We, the undersigned, totally agree.

We however disagree with almost everything else put out in that joint statement especially if Option 2 is chosen – which appears to be the favoured one - the merging of 2 councils into a new enlarged one. 

First of all, this is far more than business. It is about people, jobs and most of all the fundamental democratic rights of voters to choose how to spend and raise their taxes for the local community. WSDC already enjoys 50% more councillors per capita than TDBC which will only make democracy even more biased in favour of the rural areas.

Secondly, it will be the end of TDBC, and most likely the further subjugation of Taunton as the County Town and its influence in the South West. There is a danger that Taunton Deane will lose its mayoralty and its status. 

Thirdly, the methodology used to justify the 'business case' is badly flawed. 

We understand the leader of WSDC saying that it is “disadvantaged” because of the Hinkley B business rate review depriving them of £300,000 but he cannot then go on to argue that there is no cross subsidy from TDBC taxpayers when the business case clearly sets out that TDBC’s contribution to the merger will be £5.7m and WSDC’s only £1.1m.

The only hint of recognition of this subsidy effect in the 119 page report is 3 lines on Page 76 when it refers to “equalisation” across the two merged councils.

John Williams may say that “nothing is further from the truth” that TDBC is not taking over a bankrupt council but to all intent and purposes WSDC is on the way to insolvency in plain English. This means subsidy in the use of TDBC resources propping up West Somerset.

Fourthly, we deplore the action of central government and Whitehall in failing to help out West Somerset in its crisis. Both the Business Rate review of Hinkley Point B and the return of Business Rates to local authorities are of their own making.

We think it is deeply unfair to expect an adjacent council to have to pick up the pieces and use its reserves and borrowing powers to make the savings necessary.

Why can’t we choose a partner of our own making if this is necessary? 

Finally, why the indecent haste to rush this through?

Why hasn’t there been wider consultation with our partners in the delivery of services across Somerset as a whole and why not with local communities and parish councils?

In the event of the second option (i.e. full merger) being chosen by the Council we will seek to have this decision to merge taken by the taxpayers and electors of the district by way of a referendum.

Yours faithfully,
Simon Coles, Federica Smith, Francesca Smith, Richard Lees, Sue Lees, Simon Nicholls, Phil Stone, Habib Farbahi, Danny Wedderkopp, Jefferson Horsley, Chris Booth, Marcia Hill, Mollie Floyd and Hazel Prior-Sankey