A WOULD-be barrister is heading a group of fellow councillors hoping to convince a court to quash their authority's decision to merge with a neighbouring council.

Cllr Ian Morrell and 14 colleagues have lodged papers at the High Court in the hope a judicial review will block Taunton Deane Borough Council's intention to swallow up its West Somerset counterpart.

They believe the decision is unlawful, claiming there was insufficient consultation with people living in the district and other local authorities in the area.

Deane leader Cllr John Williams replied that the merger is necessary for financial reasons and to safeguard frontline services and he will respond when he gets official confirmation of the court application.

Independent councillor Mr Morrell, who is training to become a lawyer, said the group has a war chest of £1,000 to fund any legal action on the grounds the council failed to "consult on all options at a formative stage".

He added: "We're waiting for a decision from the High Court to see if there's merit in the claim and we can progress to a substantive hearing.

"Hopefully we've ticked all the boxes and will hear by the end of November, with any hearing likely in the first part of next year."

Mr Morrell said the Deane should have consulted on three possible options - a merger, maintaining the status quo of joint management and services or two totally distinct councils.

He claimed a recent commitment to consult was invalid because it was made after the merger was agreed by council members, while there were no meaningful talks with neighbours such as Sedgemoor District Council.

He added: "The merger currently offers no benefits to the residents of Taunton Deane and is going to be costing council taxpayers more, while there will be staff cuts - a number of those staff are close to retirement and will get considerable additional pay offs."

Referring to a lack of public consultation until now, LibDem leader Cllr Simon Coles said: "Sense has prevailed at last.

"Until now the leader of the council has flatly refused to go to consultation until after the merger has been agreed by central government.

“We believe that it is not a good use of Taunton Deane resources to persevere with this forced merger, and that continuing joint working until a proper solution has been found, is the best way forward.

"We will be doing our best to ensure that the consultation is carried out in a fair manner to establish what it is our electorate want."

He added: "The council has deceived the public with its so-called transformation case for the merger and it should be stopped in its tracks now.

"It is guilty of coercion of its councillors and the public and is perpetrating a miscarriage of justice.”

Cllr Jefferson Horsley, the LibDems' shadow portfolio holder for economic development, said the merger will lead to redundancies and a "drastic reduction in services for the public".

He added: "It is downward spiral and all for the purpose of bailing out a failing council West Somerset with the threat of blackmail from central government behind it.

"It is a recipe for disaster for all Taunton Deane taxpayers and residents.”

Mr Williams, leader of the Conservative-run council, said it is difficult to comment as the authority has not been officially notified of the application for a judicial review.

"We believe we've followed due process and once we get the notification we'll respond accordingly," added Mr Williams.

"We haven't made any decision yet - it's going out for consultation shortly and the Secretary of State will make the final decision.

"The newly formed council would provide £3.1 million savings per annum - nobody is suggesting where that would come from without the merger.

"If we're to continue delivering the services that we and the community respect, want and use, then we have to make savings.

"It's all about people, not politics.

"We've lost over 40 per cent of our income from grant funding in the last five years and those cuts are probably going to continue for the rest of this parliament."