I ATTENDED the merger roadshow at the library last week. I wish to make the following points:

1. The merger between West Somerset and Taunton Deane was presented as the inevitable consequence of the current arrangement of shared services.

2. The savings identified by the merger were £3.1 million.

I would like to deal with the second point first.

Closer questioning revealed that £2.6 million were identified as the benefits of the transformation agenda and upgrading/conversion to IT-based systems. Only £0.5 million saving has been identified as directly due to the merger.

In my view the transformation (read modernisation and efficiency savings) should necessarily take place. There is a separate debate as to whether the transformation agenda is correct as it may of itself lead to a decrease in services. This has not been explored or shared with the public.

So in summary to point 1 we are asked to merge the two councils on the basis of presumed saving of £0.5 million.

This has to be set against any “one-off” costs incurred by the merger these were not identified and may significantly exceed the savings.

These “one-off “costs would also need to amortised over a given period to identify the true savings. We may have no savings at all.
My greater concern is the logic behind the proposed merger.

I am sympathetic to the possibility that West Somerset is not a viable entity.

If a reorganisation is proposed then a proper option appraisal for the future configuration should be carried out set against clear and transparent criteria.

The option should include a) do nothing b) merge the two councils c) establish a merged council plus a town council for Taunton d) consider a single unitary authority, consider two unitary authorities e) merge West Somerset with Sedgemoor.

The criteria could include financial efficiency, local accountability, risk to current services, ability to withstand anticipated future change, ability to co-ordinate future services with other organisations e.g. the NHS, voluntary groups criminal justice agencies.

There will be other criteria.

The fact that there has been no option appraisal other than do nothing, share services or merge shows a total lack of vision by the councils concerned and a lack of concern for the constituents they represent.

MICHAEL OWEN
Creech St Michael