The UK government invited proposals for reform of arrangements in Somerset by 2023.
There are two rival proposals: a single unitary council, or two unitary councils (east and west).[14]
Changes in Somerset have been under consideration since at least 2018.[15] In 2020,
Somerset County Council submitted a proposal known as "
One Somerset" to the Government.
Under this plan, the county council and the four non-metropolitan districts of Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West and Taunton and South Somerset
would be replaced by a single unitary authority. The proposal awaits approval by Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick and by Parliament.[16][17]
The four district councils have created a rival proposal, known as "
Stronger Somerset", where the county and district councils would be replaced by two unitary authorities.
Mendip and South Somerset would be merged to create
Eastern Somerset,
while Sedgemoor and Somerset West and Taunton would be merged to create
Western Somerset.
The district councils argue that a single authority would be too far removed from the citizens, and say that forming two instead of one would help save ￡204 million.
District councillors agreed to this plan in August 2020, but it too awaits approval by the Communities Secretary and by Parliament.[18][19][20][21]
The existing unitary authorities of Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset would not be affected under either plan;
depending on whether the One Somerset or Stronger Somerset plan is implemented,
the ceremonial county of Somerset would be composed of either three or four unitary authorities.
[ 此帖被轨道部在2020-12-28 01:03重新编辑 ]
