The people of Somerset voted in their tens of thousands. 82 % gave a resounding NO to the County Council's proposal to become a huge Unitary Authority. 

I think the Chief Executive of the County Council should take the rap.

Somerset County Council wanted more power. They submitted a plan to the Government to become a "Unitary" authority. You do not need to be a Professor of linguistics to understand what this involves. "Unitary" is derived from the word "unit" - meaning one council to control everything. Somerset wanted to gobble up all the powers currently held by five local councils. And then (Daleks that they are) they sought to exterminate the councils altogether.

But the councils fought back and the people voted overwhelmingly in a referendum to reject the idea. Bad news for the Daleks. Good news for Democracy!

Statistics can sometime be dressed up to look impressive. But these figures required no spin. More than 154,000 individuals decided that the County Council's plan was unwanted and - probably - completely unworkable too.

The architects of this Unitary nonsense should already be clearing their desks and shuffling out of Taunton with shame on their faces. Some have already gone

Mrs Bakewell (then leader of the Council) quit in the midst of the County's bid process to Government. The Deputy Leader of her Party, Paul Buchanan, also lost his portfolio amid allegations that have been reported to the Standards Board. It was all very strange and it still is. But there is a dangerous air of complacency at County Hall. The County Council prefers to regard this referendum as irrelevant. They have been suggesting that the people who voted didn't understand the question.  The people who voted in such very large numbers have every right to feel insulted.  It is an attitude the Government does not like either. But it is an attitude that seems to have been nurtured by the Chief Executive of the Council Mr Alan Jones.

The Unitary bid was, to a large extent, his baby. The Unitary bid is now history. Somerset doesn't want it. Ministers don't want it. Mr Jones baby has now gone down the plughole with the bathwater. He should do likewise. AND SOON.

 

 

 

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Read the full report of the independent body that conducted the referendum - all the figures are included

• http://www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/ SOMERSET COUNTY COUNCIL  
• http://www.sedgemoor.gov.uk/ SEDGEMOOR DISTRICT COUNCIL
• http://www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk/home.asp WEST SOMERSET DISTRICT COUNCIL 
• http://www.southsomerset.gov.uk/ SOUTH SOMERSET DISTRICT COUNCIL  
• http://www.mendip.gov.uk/ MENDIP DISTRICT COUNCIL
• http://www.tauntondeane.gov.uk/ TAUNTON DEANE BOROUGH COUNCIL  

And for committed fans of the Dalek here are some helpful links:

• http://www.wilson203.freeserve.co.uk/Dalek%20Plans.html Build your own Dalek!
• http://www.thesouthwestdalekcrew.org.uk/home.html Borrow a Dalek locally !
• http://www.timewasshop.co.uk/DrWhoToys.htm#REMOTE%20CONTROL%20DALEKS You can even buy a Dalek.....not that you will need to because County Hall in Taunton is absolutely packed with them!