A JOINT statement has been released by the leaders of Mendip District Council, Sedgemoor District Council, Somerset West & Taunton Council and South Somerset District Council in response to ‘One Somerset’ and the future of local government in Somerset.
“We want to make it clear that the district councils of Somerset do not support ‘One Somerset’ and the proposals for a single council for Somerset.
“The detailed work which the five councils of Somerset commissioned together clearly concluded that a single council was the wrong solution for the people and communities of Somerset.
“Somerset’s district councils have been focused in recent months on supporting our residents and businesses through the Coronavirus crisis. This remains our priority including focusing on how we help Somerset’s communities and economy recover. However, as Somerset County Council is determined to push the debate on the future forward during the pandemic, as four districts we will now be putting our collective efforts to developing an alternative proposal. We have always said would refocus on this when the time was right.
“We know we can offer a better future for the people of Somerset that reforms local government and is ambitious for our communities and their quality of life. Somerset does not deserve the cheapest local Government. Somerset deserves the best local government.
“We will develop the best plan for the future with the help and involvement of our communities.”
