In the wake of the Coronavirus, coming to terms with the
‘new norm’ and rebuilding our communities, the topic gripping Somerset
residents is the Future of Local Government. Whilst everyone agrees that things
must change, recent press indicates that the battle lines are drawn, each side
mustering support. Somerset County Council is plugging its business case for a
‘Unitary’ authority, whilst the four district councils are firmly against the
proposal, keen to get their oar in first. The joint statement issued by the
district councils makes their position crystal clear; they do not support the
‘One Somerset’ proposal.
Work that was commissioned concluded that a single council
for Somerset is the wrong solution, but I remain unclear about what the
rationale for this is, or how much taxpayers’ money was spent on the work
undertaken.
In making up our own minds we must question the views and
opinions aired, teasing out any hidden agendas.
The districts maintain that their focus has been on
supporting communities, with SCC relentlessly pushing ahead with the Unitary
agenda. As both a district and councillor, I believe that to suggest that SCC’s
focus has been diverted from handling the Coronavirus is disingenuous.
For some time, central government funding for local
authorities has declined significantly, whilst demand for services has
increased, not helped by the reluctance of all parties to increase taxes to pay
for appropriate service levels. We cannot have it both ways.
Both SCC and the district councils have undergone
‘transformation’ in recent years, maintaining that whilst achieving financial
stability, services have been protected; many local communities would disagree.
Moving forward, everyone broadly agrees on the challenges
Somerset faces: poverty, poor social mobility, older people in poor health,
climate change, homelessness, lack of affordable housing, economic
productivity, skills and wage levels.
South Somerset’s preferred option is ‘collaboration and
integration’, but what has there been to prevent this happening anyway?
A Unitary will mean fewer elected members; perhaps there is
a protectionist element from those opposing it.
There is little hard evidence of anything coming forward
from the districts’ alternative proposal for a ‘better future’ for Somerset. I
look forward to seeing details of why this will be the best option, focusing on
what local communities want and need.
Both sides highlight that their preferred option is not
about cost saving. We would be naïve to buy into this notion; the first point
on the district slide headed what ‘the alternative looks like’ is ‘reduce
cost’.
There is also significant use of buzz words, ‘improvement’,
‘quality of life’, ‘positive change’; easy to state, but we need evidence to
back up these assertions.
SCC are due to present their business case this month.
Whatever is decided, we must robustly challenge to obtain the best outcome for
Somerset, where other Unitaries have succeeded, and failed.
Meanwhile, the jury remains out, as we juggle this political
hot potato.
Interesting and fair points, Linda. Do you have a view on the stance taken by Ian Liddell-Grainger? I would love to read them. Many thanks. Bill McKay.
ReplyDeleteI never thought I would see the day that I would be in favour of a unitary authority but in recent months I have changed my view, now believing that it is the best way forward for the people of Somerset. Bringing everything under one roof will do much to settle the confusion that currently exists, but we must be vigilant in ensuring that local people have a voice. It is tax-payers who after all who foot the bill.
ReplyDeleteMy gut feeling is that those against the formation of a unitary authority are really only trying to protect their own position, which is understandable. If we do go down the unitary route it will certainly mean that my own roles as both a district and county councillor will change. Basically, we are putting our current jobs on the line. Personally, I always work on the basis that if I have represented my local communities well, then I have nothing to fear.
In speaking out against the initial One Somerset proposal, Bridgwater and West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger cites SCC’s financial record, and draws comparison with the previous attempt to form a unitary authority in 2007. This shows just how out of touch he is. Firstly, given that the previous Lib. Dem. administration at SCC left it with huge amounts of debt, largely due to high levels of borrowing, SCC has made great inroads into clearing this debt. Besides which, the formation of a new authority, that will bear little resemblance to the existing silo mentality across the county, is unconnected to what has gone on before. This will be a fresh start, albeit it one that will initially carry with it the baggage that our local authorities will bring with them.
Secondly, Mr. Liddell-Grainger mentions the previous push for a unitary, 13 years ago, which was rejected by local residents at the time. A lot has happened since then, across the world. Whilst we must learn from past mistakes, we must also look forward. This is a different environment in which we now live, and we need to move with it. We cannot keep looking over our shoulder.
It is interesting that while at local level there is currently much debate, mud-slinging and propaganda being disseminated by both sides of the unitary debate, our MPs have for the most part been strangely silent. Time we got them to nail their colours to the mast maybe?
Cllr. Linda Vijeh