WHEN Taunton Deane Borough Council and West Somerset Council merge the council will be named Somerset West and Taunton Council - but not everyone is happy about it. 

The decision was made after the two councils voted to merge at a Special Full Council meeting at Oake Manor Golf Course yesterday (March 19). 

RELATED LINK: Taunton Deane and West Somerset vote in favour of council merger 

Councillors from Taunton Deane's executive and West Somerset’s Cabinet met simultaneously last night to consider more detail that would be necessary for the legislation to be laid before both Houses of Parliament.

Both sets of members agreed:

  • The name of the new council should be Somerset West and Taunton
  • The preferred number of councillors for the new authority should be 58, subject to review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE)
  • The Cabinet model should be adopted with an executive of up to 10 members
  • A shadow authority should be set up, comprising all members of both existing councils plus an shadow executive
  • The LGBCE be asked to undertake a full electoral review of the new council area and determine the ward structure

Taunton Deane councillor Richard Lees hit out at the council's new name at the meeting and said it 'demeans' Taunton. 

"What is wrong with the name, Taunton Deane and West Somerset Council?" Mr Lees said.

A spokesman for TDBC confirmed the council is expecting a decision from secretary of state Sajid Javid 'imminently' and the merger will not be put in place formally until then.