A COUNCIL leader and an opponent trying to get rid of him held face-to-face talks this week.

Independent Cllr Ian Morrell said he would cancel his petition threatening a no confidence vote if Cllr John Williams (Conservative) agreed to two conditions.

Mr Williams declined the offer, adding that he was confident fellow Tories on Taunton Deane Borough Council would support him.

During the meeting, Mr Morrell said he would halt the petition if Mr Williams resigned as leader of the West Somerset and Taunton Shadow Council preparing for the merger of the Deane and West Somerset Council next year and agreed not to stand as leader of the new council.

Mr Morrell said: "Cllr Williams stated that him being leader of West Somerset and Taunton Council will be decided by his (Conservative) group and the electorate.

"It is apparent therefore that Cllr Williams seeks to remain as leader of the council after the 2019 elections - and the next quadrennium."

Mr Williams said: "I met with Cllr Morrell at his request. I made my position clear and I am confident of support from my group. I have no further comment."

Mr Morrell is canvassing all Deane House councillors to sign his petition. He needs at least half of the 56 members for a vote of no confidence in the leader to be held in October - 33 are Conservatives, 15 LibDem and eight Independent, Labour, UKIP or Green members..

He says the Deane has "steadily deteriorated" due to "lack of considered leadership" under Mr Williams, who has been in post for 12 of the last 15 years.

He outlined the lack of progress in regenerating Firepool more than ten years after the market left, millions spent on consultants, little job creation, massive staff redundancies and huge borrowing.

Mr Williams says he stands by his record in building a "resilient economy with significant investment", improvements to parks and excellent leisure facilities, investment in growth and development, the delivery of affordable homes and huge savings.

A number of Tories have said they are prepared to sign the petition calling for the vote of no confidence.

But the LibDem opposition have been told it is up to each individual councillor to decide whether they sign.

LibDem leader Cllr Simon Coles said: "It doesn't make any difference to us whether it's John Williams or another Tory leading the Conservatives, we'd like to defeat that administration.

"They have let the people of Taunton Deane down badly."