Taunton Deane vote narrowly in favour of exploring joint working with West Somerset

8:30am Tuesday 5th March 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Hannah Green

West Somerset Council offices in Williton. PHOTO: Steve Guscott West Somerset Council offices in Williton. PHOTO: Steve Guscott

AFTER a heated debate, Taunton Deane councillors voted in favour of preparing a business case on working with the potentially unviable West Somerset Council last night (March 4). 

Following a two-hour discussion at a special full council meeting, councillors voted 25 to 23 for exploring the options on sharing services and staff with their struggling neighbouring authority. 

The 'non-negotiables' are that Taunton Deane and West Somerset remain democratically independent and that taxpayers in both authority don't suffer as a result. 

Both councils are keen to apply for government funding for the project from the Transformation Challenge Award fund set up by local government minister Brandon Lewis for this purpose. 

Taunton Deane leader Cllr John Williams said: "Taunton Deane has a very good record of working in partnership with other organisations and this decision now enables us to explore the business case for working more closely with our neighbours in West Somerset.

"The hard work begins now but it is a challenge we must rise to as we have ever-increasing demands for services and a reducing income. 

"We have to examine shared management of services and clearly establish what it can deliver in savings or resilience of resources." 

Cllr Tim Taylor, leader of West Somerset Council, said: "I am delighted that both councils have now formally agreed to work together on this exciting project. 

"The hard work can now start to draft a business case for closer working and I know that my fellow members and officers here at West Somerset see this as a great opportunity to develop a sustainable template for providing affordable local government services that will be of mutual benefit to the communities of both areas." 

The business case is due to be prepared by October this year; if both councils consider it is suitable, the sharing of services and staff is expected to begin next April. 

 

 

Comments (12)

8:53am Tue 5 Mar 13

hudson 1 says...

so the tax payers of taunton dean, will be picking up the debts of west somerset council, as well as paying for the stupid ideas that taunton dean council come up with as well now then, time for a major shake up i think.
so the tax payers of taunton dean, will be picking up the debts of west somerset council, as well as paying for the stupid ideas that taunton dean council come up with as well now then, time for a major shake up i think. hudson 1

10:33am Tue 5 Mar 13

Samej1 says...

hudson 1 wrote:
so the tax payers of taunton dean, will be picking up the debts of west somerset council, as well as paying for the stupid ideas that taunton dean council come up with as well now then, time for a major shake up i think.
No, read the story.
[quote][p][bold]hudson 1[/bold] wrote: so the tax payers of taunton dean, will be picking up the debts of west somerset council, as well as paying for the stupid ideas that taunton dean council come up with as well now then, time for a major shake up i think.[/p][/quote]No, read the story. Samej1

4:41pm Tue 5 Mar 13

Tell_it_as_it_is says...

Taunton Deane is diverting significant budget and resources away from the community and economic priorities of Taunton Deane, towards a party politically-motivate
d rescue of West Somerset Council.

This council has already shared services with the County Council and the Police in the controversial joint venture Southwest One, which is majority-owned by IBM. That has been a dismal failure. A High Court case between the County Council and Southwest One is due in November.

Taunton has pressing needs to re-balance, support and stimulate our local economy:

- We are a market town without a market;
- Our Vision is a demolition site at Firepool;
- We seek to build on ‘protected’ green spaces;
- We are a capital town without a theatre;
- Our Town Centre has empty premises;
- Our young people have a jobless rate of 32%.

If West Somerset needs rescuing, then it is the job of Government to do so and that will require far greater funding than Taunton Deane taxpayers can afford.

This West Somerset Council rescue isn’t going to work.

Make the regeneration of the economy of Taunton Deane the No.1 priority for this Council.

This is a misguided proposal to rescue a bankrupt West Somerset Council and will in turn bankrupt Taunton Deane.
Taunton Deane is diverting significant budget and resources away from the community and economic priorities of Taunton Deane, towards a party politically-motivate d rescue of West Somerset Council. This council has already shared services with the County Council and the Police in the controversial joint venture Southwest One, which is majority-owned by IBM. That has been a dismal failure. A High Court case between the County Council and Southwest One is due in November. Taunton has pressing needs to re-balance, support and stimulate our local economy: - We are a market town without a market; - Our Vision is a demolition site at Firepool; - We seek to build on ‘protected’ green spaces; - We are a capital town without a theatre; - Our Town Centre has empty premises; - Our young people have a jobless rate of 32%. If West Somerset needs rescuing, then it is the job of Government to do so and that will require far greater funding than Taunton Deane taxpayers can afford. This West Somerset Council rescue isn’t going to work. Make the regeneration of the economy of Taunton Deane the No.1 priority for this Council. This is a misguided proposal to rescue a bankrupt West Somerset Council and will in turn bankrupt Taunton Deane. Tell_it_as_it_is

6:51pm Tue 5 Mar 13

Samej1 says...

Tell_it_as_it_is wrote:
Taunton Deane is diverting significant budget and resources away from the community and economic priorities of Taunton Deane, towards a party politically-motivate

d rescue of West Somerset Council.

This council has already shared services with the County Council and the Police in the controversial joint venture Southwest One, which is majority-owned by IBM. That has been a dismal failure. A High Court case between the County Council and Southwest One is due in November.

Taunton has pressing needs to re-balance, support and stimulate our local economy:

- We are a market town without a market;
- Our Vision is a demolition site at Firepool;
- We seek to build on ‘protected’ green spaces;
- We are a capital town without a theatre;
- Our Town Centre has empty premises;
- Our young people have a jobless rate of 32%.

If West Somerset needs rescuing, then it is the job of Government to do so and that will require far greater funding than Taunton Deane taxpayers can afford.

This West Somerset Council rescue isn’t going to work.

Make the regeneration of the economy of Taunton Deane the No.1 priority for this Council.

This is a misguided proposal to rescue a bankrupt West Somerset Council and will in turn bankrupt Taunton Deane.
No, there's no bailing out - WSDC will be contracting services from TDBC.

If anything MORE will go into TDBC coffers.
[quote][p][bold]Tell_it_as_it_is[/bold] wrote: Taunton Deane is diverting significant budget and resources away from the community and economic priorities of Taunton Deane, towards a party politically-motivate d rescue of West Somerset Council. This council has already shared services with the County Council and the Police in the controversial joint venture Southwest One, which is majority-owned by IBM. That has been a dismal failure. A High Court case between the County Council and Southwest One is due in November. Taunton has pressing needs to re-balance, support and stimulate our local economy: - We are a market town without a market; - Our Vision is a demolition site at Firepool; - We seek to build on ‘protected’ green spaces; - We are a capital town without a theatre; - Our Town Centre has empty premises; - Our young people have a jobless rate of 32%. If West Somerset needs rescuing, then it is the job of Government to do so and that will require far greater funding than Taunton Deane taxpayers can afford. This West Somerset Council rescue isn’t going to work. Make the regeneration of the economy of Taunton Deane the No.1 priority for this Council. This is a misguided proposal to rescue a bankrupt West Somerset Council and will in turn bankrupt Taunton Deane.[/p][/quote]No, there's no bailing out - WSDC will be contracting services from TDBC. If anything MORE will go into TDBC coffers. Samej1

9:02am Wed 6 Mar 13

awayswing says...

With one district council doing the work of another,something that is being encouraged all over the country,sounds to me like centralisation by the back door.
With one district council doing the work of another,something that is being encouraged all over the country,sounds to me like centralisation by the back door. awayswing

9:38am Wed 6 Mar 13

topcataj says...

The local authorities are being pushed to work together more and more for financial reasons anyway, a side effect might actually be some more joined up service delivery, but it's mainly about reducing costs so it brings other issues.

It does sound ironic consider the unitary bid a few years ago was turned down. It's slowly happening by necessity anyway...

At this rate you'll have one service covering the whole county but interests from 5 sets of District Councillors and 1 set of County Councillors.
The local authorities are being pushed to work together more and more for financial reasons anyway, a side effect might actually be some more joined up service delivery, but it's mainly about reducing costs so it brings other issues. It does sound ironic consider the unitary bid a few years ago was turned down. It's slowly happening by necessity anyway... At this rate you'll have one service covering the whole county but interests from 5 sets of District Councillors and 1 set of County Councillors. topcataj

11:23am Wed 6 Mar 13

Tell_it_as_it_is says...

There is one budget in Somerset Councils that remains totally untouched throughout all the austerity and cuts and this is the one that pays salaries (allowances) and expenses to no less than 298 councillors across six councils to administer Somerset.

By comparison, Wiltshire manages with 98 councillors and saves three-quarters of a million pounds every year on salaries (allowances) and expenses.
There is one budget in Somerset Councils that remains totally untouched throughout all the austerity and cuts and this is the one that pays salaries (allowances) and expenses to no less than 298 councillors across six councils to administer Somerset. By comparison, Wiltshire manages with 98 councillors and saves three-quarters of a million pounds every year on salaries (allowances) and expenses. Tell_it_as_it_is

11:35am Wed 6 Mar 13

Tell_it_as_it_is says...

Samej1 wrote:
Tell_it_as_it_is wrote:
Taunton Deane is diverting significant budget and resources away from the community and economic priorities of Taunton Deane, towards a party politically-motivate


d rescue of West Somerset Council.

This council has already shared services with the County Council and the Police in the controversial joint venture Southwest One, which is majority-owned by IBM. That has been a dismal failure. A High Court case between the County Council and Southwest One is due in November.

Taunton has pressing needs to re-balance, support and stimulate our local economy:

- We are a market town without a market;
- Our Vision is a demolition site at Firepool;
- We seek to build on ‘protected’ green spaces;
- We are a capital town without a theatre;
- Our Town Centre has empty premises;
- Our young people have a jobless rate of 32%.

If West Somerset needs rescuing, then it is the job of Government to do so and that will require far greater funding than Taunton Deane taxpayers can afford.

This West Somerset Council rescue isn’t going to work.

Make the regeneration of the economy of Taunton Deane the No.1 priority for this Council.

This is a misguided proposal to rescue a bankrupt West Somerset Council and will in turn bankrupt Taunton Deane.
No, there's no bailing out - WSDC will be contracting services from TDBC.

If anything MORE will go into TDBC coffers.
Since most of the shareable services in Taunton Deane (Finance, Payroll, IT, HR, Property/FM) are already in the controversial joint venture Southwest One (SW1), then the income from West Somerset services will go straight into the pockets of SW1 (75% owned by IBM).

A High Court case between the County Council and SW1 is due in November.

Back in 2009/10, IBM and SW1 went to West Somerset to quote for providing their services (alongside those they privided for Taunton Deane) and West Somerset couldn't afford their prices then and IBM/SW1 thought it wasn't viable business for them either.

Now in 2013/14 & after a further 30% of budget cuts, West Somerset can afford to pay for services in Taunton Deane (still mainly provided by SW1) that were unaffordable in 2009/10.

Something doesn't add up......hence motivation is party political & for the benefit of an ambitious Councillor.
[quote][p][bold]Samej1[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Tell_it_as_it_is[/bold] wrote: Taunton Deane is diverting significant budget and resources away from the community and economic priorities of Taunton Deane, towards a party politically-motivate d rescue of West Somerset Council. This council has already shared services with the County Council and the Police in the controversial joint venture Southwest One, which is majority-owned by IBM. That has been a dismal failure. A High Court case between the County Council and Southwest One is due in November. Taunton has pressing needs to re-balance, support and stimulate our local economy: - We are a market town without a market; - Our Vision is a demolition site at Firepool; - We seek to build on ‘protected’ green spaces; - We are a capital town without a theatre; - Our Town Centre has empty premises; - Our young people have a jobless rate of 32%. If West Somerset needs rescuing, then it is the job of Government to do so and that will require far greater funding than Taunton Deane taxpayers can afford. This West Somerset Council rescue isn’t going to work. Make the regeneration of the economy of Taunton Deane the No.1 priority for this Council. This is a misguided proposal to rescue a bankrupt West Somerset Council and will in turn bankrupt Taunton Deane.[/p][/quote]No, there's no bailing out - WSDC will be contracting services from TDBC. If anything MORE will go into TDBC coffers.[/p][/quote]Since most of the shareable services in Taunton Deane (Finance, Payroll, IT, HR, Property/FM) are already in the controversial joint venture Southwest One (SW1), then the income from West Somerset services will go straight into the pockets of SW1 (75% owned by IBM). A High Court case between the County Council and SW1 is due in November. Back in 2009/10, IBM and SW1 went to West Somerset to quote for providing their services (alongside those they privided for Taunton Deane) and West Somerset couldn't afford their prices then and IBM/SW1 thought it wasn't viable business for them either. Now in 2013/14 & after a further 30% of budget cuts, West Somerset can afford to pay for services in Taunton Deane (still mainly provided by SW1) that were unaffordable in 2009/10. Something doesn't add up......hence motivation is party political & for the benefit of an ambitious Councillor. Tell_it_as_it_is

12:34pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Armchairdetectives?! says...

Tell_it_as_it_is; You're certainly well informed and probably right. Although squabbling over made decisicions is counter productive, doing your best to avoid your prediction of a bankrupt T.D is the best you can hope for :) x
Tell_it_as_it_is; You're certainly well informed and probably right. Although squabbling over made decisicions is counter productive, doing your best to avoid your prediction of a bankrupt T.D is the best you can hope for :) x Armchairdetectives?!

7:27pm Wed 6 Mar 13

topcataj says...

Wiltshire was allowed to go unitary, an option turned down for Somerset, partly because the residents didn't want it apparently.

And in Wiltshire's case, that may have led to a smaller number of Councillors but as far as I am aware 4 years after the unitary was formed they are still struggling to merge various systems.

Apparently they were still running about 6 different GIS applications for example, a nightmare to manage and costing more money because of it.
Wiltshire was allowed to go unitary, an option turned down for Somerset, partly because the residents didn't want it apparently. And in Wiltshire's case, that may have led to a smaller number of Councillors but as far as I am aware 4 years after the unitary was formed they are still struggling to merge various systems. Apparently they were still running about 6 different GIS applications for example, a nightmare to manage and costing more money because of it. topcataj

9:11am Thu 7 Mar 13

Tell_it_as_it_is says...

topcataj wrote:
Wiltshire was allowed to go unitary, an option turned down for Somerset, partly because the residents didn't want it apparently.

And in Wiltshire's case, that may have led to a smaller number of Councillors but as far as I am aware 4 years after the unitary was formed they are still struggling to merge various systems.

Apparently they were still running about 6 different GIS applications for example, a nightmare to manage and costing more money because of it.
You are right to say that we voted against unitary back then, but post banking crisis with austerity & recession, the current expensive two-tier 6 council system is unaffordable.

West Somerset insolvent now, Taunton Deane's own prediction is that it too will be unviable in 3 years time.....

We have 6 councils in Somerset running 6 of everything including expensive Chief Execs, Directors etc.

Wilts can merge to one of everything simply by being a single organisation, whereas in Somerset there are 6 wrangles to be had over every issue.

My preferred option is to bring the two old Avon areas in Somerset's historic boundary, that is N Somerset & Bath & NE Somerset in scope and drop 8 councils down into just 2 unitary Councils.

Could be N & E Somerset and S & W Somerset or could divide either side of the M5.

Tick, tock......
[quote][p][bold]topcataj[/bold] wrote: Wiltshire was allowed to go unitary, an option turned down for Somerset, partly because the residents didn't want it apparently. And in Wiltshire's case, that may have led to a smaller number of Councillors but as far as I am aware 4 years after the unitary was formed they are still struggling to merge various systems. Apparently they were still running about 6 different GIS applications for example, a nightmare to manage and costing more money because of it.[/p][/quote]You are right to say that we voted against unitary back then, but post banking crisis with austerity & recession, the current expensive two-tier 6 council system is unaffordable. West Somerset insolvent now, Taunton Deane's own prediction is that it too will be unviable in 3 years time..... We have 6 councils in Somerset running 6 of everything including expensive Chief Execs, Directors etc. Wilts can merge to one of everything simply by being a single organisation, whereas in Somerset there are 6 wrangles to be had over every issue. My preferred option is to bring the two old Avon areas in Somerset's historic boundary, that is N Somerset & Bath & NE Somerset in scope and drop 8 councils down into just 2 unitary Councils. Could be N & E Somerset and S & W Somerset or could divide either side of the M5. Tick, tock...... Tell_it_as_it_is

2:41pm Thu 7 Mar 13

topcataj says...

If after 4 years of being a single organisation they still haven't agreed on a single software product, let alone merged systems in some cases, it doesn't sound simple :)

I don't necessarily have a problem with the principle of merging in the manner described though. Various public sector organisations in Somerset, not just the local councils, are looking at sharing property and hoping to combine some service delivery anyway.

There is certainly duplication of effort by the County Council and District Council's, trying to support the same people for the same reason, but each doing their own thing.

Going unitary would certainly stop some of the infighting among the 6 councils and some of the confusion and misunderstanding about who does what.
If after 4 years of being a single organisation they still haven't agreed on a single software product, let alone merged systems in some cases, it doesn't sound simple :) I don't necessarily have a problem with the principle of merging in the manner described though. Various public sector organisations in Somerset, not just the local councils, are looking at sharing property and hoping to combine some service delivery anyway. There is certainly duplication of effort by the County Council and District Council's, trying to support the same people for the same reason, but each doing their own thing. Going unitary would certainly stop some of the infighting among the 6 councils and some of the confusion and misunderstanding about who does what. topcataj

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