CONCERNS have been raised about the governance of an unelected, taxpayer-funded quango which apparently altered its own constitution to prevent a change in chairmanship.

Both Watchet resident Loretta Whetlor and former West Somerset police inspector Carol Pearce have been re-elected as chairman and vice-chairman of the West Somerset Strategic Partnership despite no longer being members of the group in their own right.

The partnership was set up a number of years ago and includes district and county councillors, police, primary care trust, housing providers and area panel representatives among its members.

The aim is to provide a central meeting point for organisations with a common interest in West Somerset.

Mrs Whetlor had been the Watchet, Williton and Quantocks Area Panel representative on the partnership, while Ms Pearce was a member as the Minehead police inspector.

However, Mrs Whetlor has been replaced as the panel's representative by West Somerset Council member Cllr Hugh Davies and Ms Pearce, who does not live in West Somerset, is no longer the local police inspector.

But at the partnership's last meeting, members voted to change the rules and regulations regarding the appointment of the chairman and vice-chairman by deleting a requirement for both post-holders to be members of the partnership.

"This effectively means any Tom, Dick or Harry can be in charge of the strategic partnership? That's ridiculous," West Somerset district councillor Ian Melhuish said at a meeting of the authority's scrutiny meeting on Monday.

Three months ago, scrutiny members had called for a full review of the partnership to ensure its policies were robust, its members were accountable and it was meeting performance targets.

Councillors had said that they were, on the whole, in the dark about the activities of the partnership even though the district council had traditionally been the group's major source of funding to the tune of more than £20,000 every year.

Scrutiny chairman Cllr Neil Parbrook said he could see how the partnership had managed to retain Mrs Whetlor and Ms Pearce at the helm, but said there appeared to be no reason for doing so.

Council leader Cllr Tim Taylor said it was not clear what role either woman now had, especially as Ms Pearce was no longer the local police representative.

Scrutiny committee vice-chairman Cllr Doug Ross added: "How can members of an organisation that was set up to represent local groups have two people who are no longer representatives of those groups sat on it?

"Somehow the rules have been changed so they can continue, although they are no longer members of the groups on the partnership.

"Scrutiny should ask for an explanation. I do think it is reasonable for this council as a partner member to ask for some explanation."

West Somerset Council executive director Adrian Dyer said the partnership was fully entitled to change its rules and Mrs Whetlor and Ms Pearce and been unanimously re-elected.

The committee called for council officers and leaders to hold informal talks with Mrs Whetlor and Ms Pearce before reporting back to the next meeting in July.

The council is also hoping to hold a 'workshop' session with members of the partnership in September to enlighten both sides about their roles and responsibilities.