Government invites responses to consultation
A consultation on locally-led proposals for unitary local government submitted by councils in Somerset has been launched by Government.
Following a formal invitation from Government last October to councils in Somerset to submit proposals for reorganisation, the Local Government Secretary has received two proposals for consideration.
The consultation published on 22 February seeks views on these locally-led proposals. One is from Somerset County Council and the other is a joint proposal from Mendip District Council, Sedgemoor District Council, Somerset West & Taunton Council, and South Somerset District Council.
As a result of this consultation launch, the district and county council elections due to be held in May this year in Somerset will be rescheduled to May 2022.
Rescheduling local elections avoids the possibility of the electorate being asked to vote for councils while at the same time they are being given the opportunity to express their views on the possible abolition of those councils. It also avoids members potentially being elected to serve short terms.
The elections for local Police and Crime Commissioners, as well as elections to any town or parish councils, will continue to take place in May 2021.
Local Government Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said, “I have always been clear that any restructuring of local government must be locally-led and will not involve top-down solutions from Government.
“Moving to unitary structures can improve an area’s local government, streamline decision making, providing greater value for money and savings which can be invested in services, enabling better and more integrated service delivery, and establishing more sustainable and accountable local institutions.
“I am pleased that residents, businesses and service providers in Somerset will have the opportunity to have their say on which proposal, if any, will be most suitable for their area.”
The proposals outline how the councils who have responded to the invitation want to restructure local government in their area to establish unitary local government. This means moving from a two-tier system of county and district councils, to a system where there is a single tier for any given area.
For example, in April last year the county council and four district councils in Buckinghamshire were abolished and the new Buckinghamshire Council took on full local government functions and powers. This April, eight councils in Northamptonshire will be abolished and replaced with two new unitary councils, North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire. The new unitary councils will take on full local government functions and powers.
As well as Somerset, councils in Cumbria and North Yorkshire have also submitted proposals for unitarisation, which the government is also consulting on.
Residents, councils, Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), public service providers, businesses and voluntary organisations in Somerset will now have the opportunity to have their say on which proposal, if any, is the best fit for their area.
The Local Government Secretary will consider all proposals following the consultation before making a decision about which option, if any, to implement in each of the three areas. If any proposals are to be implemented, Parliamentary approval is needed before the legislation can be made.
The consultation asks a number of questions about each proposal to help inform the Local Government Secretary’s decision, including:
· Whether the proposal will provide greater value for money
· Views on the proposed geography of the council
· Whether the proposal will impact local police, fire and rescue, and health services.
Subject to Parliamentary approval, it is expected that any new unitary council will be fully operational from April 2023 with transitional arrangements expected to be in place from 2022 including elections in May 2022 to the shadow or continuing councils.
‘Once-in-a-generation chance to transform lives’
Somerset’s district councils have welcomed the launch of a public consultation on the Stronger Somerset plan to deliver better jobs, affordable homes, stronger communities and a carbon zero county.
Local Government Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP launched the consultation on 22nd February. The consultation period will run for 8 weeks until Monday 19 April.
District council leaders are now encouraging residents to have their say and to take advantage of this ‘once-in-a-generation chance to transform lives across our county’.
Stronger Somerset proposes two unitary authorities, covering western and eastern Somerset, to replace the five current councils. The campaign says this arrangement reflects and serves the geographic, social and economic differences across the county.
They add, “Every Somerset resident will have one council responsible for their services, one set of councillors, and one council tax bill. These new councils would work closely with each other to coordinate policy and share back-office services where it makes sense.”
Leader of Mendip District Council, cllr Ros Wyke said, “Stronger Somerset is the fresh start our county needs. We have a plan for the county’s needs now and into the future that will deliver better jobs, affordable homes, stronger communities and a carbon zero county.
“This is not about simply creating a bigger, cheaper version of what we have now. Stronger Somerset proposes deep, fundamental reform that will transform the places and quality of life in Somerset and give residents excellent, value-for-money services.”
Leader of Sedgemoor District Council, cllr Duncan McGinty said, “We need reform – without it, the county will go broke. Savings from reorganisation would soon be eaten up by spiralling costs of adults’ and children’s services, if they continue to be run as they are.
“Only the Stronger Somerset business case sets out the ideas, fresh thinking and evidence to show how reform can be achieved and sustain excellent services right across our communities.”
Leader of Somerset West and Taunton Council, cllr Federica Smith-Roberts said, “Creating two councils from five is the opportunity to cut duplication in administration and support services and use the savings for targeted investment where resources are most needed, early intervention to prevent dependency on crisis services, new approaches in adults’ and children’s services and locally-led solutions to reduce demand on services.
“This is not about simply creating a bigger, cheaper version of what we have now. Moving the deckchairs around and changing the name plate won’t cut it.”
Leader of South Somerset District Council, cllr Val Keitch said, “The two new councils we propose will each cover distinct areas based on established local economies, as well as aligning with existing boundaries used by emergency services and the health service. This is the right solution for a county of Somerset’s size, recognising the important differences of our diverse communities.
“These new councils will be small enough, so they know you and you know them, but big enough to be effective and economic. They will meet the needs of their local communities and work together for the benefit of the whole county.”
For more information on the Stronger Somerset proposal go to www.strongersomerset.co.uk.
To respond to the Government’s consultation, go to https://consult.communities.gov.uk/governance-reform-and-democracy/somerset/. You can also respond by email or post.
The Government is also consulting on Somerset County Council’s alternative proposal, One Somerset.One Somerset – one big opportunity to improve public services for all.
One Somerset – one big opportunity to improve public services for all
Somerset County Council is calling on residents and businesses to get behind its ambitious plans for a new model of local government which, the council says offers improved public services for all.
Somerset County Council reports, “Today the government has begun a public consultation into changing the way local councils work in Somerset. It gives everyone the chance to have their say on setting up a unitary council approach – scrapping all five councils in the county and creating a new and better way of working. The Government has also deferred the council county elections that were due to be held in May.
“One Somerset is the county council’s ambition to replace the county’s five existing councils with a simple, single unitary model. This would end confusion for residents, remove waste and duplication, and free up funding to invest in vital public services. It would offer more powers for local communities and give Somerset one strong voice to lobby for funding and support the county’s recovery from coronavirus.
“This proposal already has widespread support from Somerset MPs, health organisations and the Police and Crime Commissioner, along with residents and business leaders.
“Now cllr David Fothergill, leader of Somerset County Council, is calling for everyone to support the plans and help shape the future for Somerset.”
He says, “This is a fantastic, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to improve public services for everyone in Somerset. No more waste and duplication, no more confusion over who does what, just one strong, modern council, listening to the needs of Somerset’s residents and delivering what matters most for them.
“It is now clear that staying the same is not an option. This means a simple choice between our ambitious vision or the Stronger Somerset idea, which would see the county split in half with two rival halves competing for the same resources. They want to add additional layers of bureaucracy and keep the waste and confusion.
“I strongly encourage all residents, organisations and businesses to get behind One Somerset and make sure the Government hears your voice.”
Somerset County Council says, “One Somerset offers:
• Annual savings of £18.5m to be reinvested into front line services.
• Single point of contact (telephone, website, councillor) for all local government services.
• Genuine powers given to town and parish councils and the creation of Local Community Networks to shape and lead local services across Somerset.
• Making it easier to work with the NHS, police and others by getting rid of administrative boundaries.
• Integrating services currently delivered by different councils, like housing, planning and care.
• One strong voice to secure government funding to support the pandemic recovery and attract new investment.
“Somerset County Council has made a series of commitments to deliver what matters most to the public. These are the One Somerset pledges:
1. No disruption to local services as we change, and a promise to keep you fully informed.
2. We will protect those front-line staff working with vulnerable people across the county.
3. Council tax will not increase because of moving to a single unitary council.
4. Physical, face-to-face council contact points across the county.
5. One telephone number and one website to access all council services.
6. Improved services for our vulnerable residents including housing, adults’ & children’s services.
7. Improved services for our children and young people, including education, training, jobs and transport.
8. More local decision making by our town and parish councils and new local community networks.
9. Closer relationships with partners including the NHS, police, education, and the voluntary sector to deliver better services.
10. And finally, we will not split Somerset in half, divide communities, lose our proud identity, or weaken our standing on a local, regional and national level.”
Support from David Warburton MP
David Warburton, MP for Somerton and Frome said, “Having spent a great deal of time over the last few months examining the differing proposals, engaging with local elected officials, talking to colleagues in Government and hearing the views of countless constituents, I’m delighted to give the One Somerset vision my support.
“A single unitary authority will ensure that local people can engage directly with those making decisions on their behalf and hold them accountable. Precedents from elsewhere (including neighbouring Wiltshire) show that engagement with individual communities will remain an indispensable part of the new unitary authority, and I’ll continue to work with Somerset County Council and Ministers to ensure these proposals reflect the best interests of all my constituents.”
A final decision on which proposal will go forward to implementation is expected to be taken by Government in summer 2021, with any new authority starting in 2023.
Consultation period
The consultation period runs until Monday 19 April. Those responding may do so on the department’s online platform ‘Citizen Space’ or by email or post.
To take part in the Government’s consultation and have your say, please visit https://consult.communities.gov.uk/governance-reform-and-democracy/somerset/. For more information about One Somerset, to sign up for e-newsletters or to pledge your support, please visit www.onesomerset. org.uk. You can stay up to date with progress on Twitter @One1Somerset and on Facebook @OneSomerset.
