WEST Somerset Council leader Cllr Tim Taylor joined other Conservative district council leaders from across the country for a reception with the Prime Minister in Downing Street last week.

As previously reported, Cllr Taylor (pictured left) took the opportunity to raise concerns about both the council's financial standing and the implications of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point.

He also managed to speak to Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, about the need for the district council to be treated as a special case due to its sparse rural population, low Council Tax base and high cost of service provision.

Cllr Taylor said a formal letter was sent to Mr Pickles on behalf of the council last week but a copy was also forwarded to MP Stephen Hammond, the Private Secretary to Mr Pickles.

"I was able to talk in some depth to Stephen Hammond and he was extremely interested in our case and personally asked for a copy of the letter to be sent directly to him," Cllr Taylor said.

He said he had been able to alert Mr Pickles to the background of the letter and the problems facing the district.

Council leaders have already met junior Government officials, the finance chief of the Local Government Association and senior civil servants in their fight for more funding for the struggling district authority.

Cllr Taylor said it was vital the council fought for its future viability and he remained hopeful the Government would press ahead with a proposal to allow local councils to keep some of the business rates collected in their areas.

If that was the case, some of the millions of pounds amassed from local businesses, including Hinkley Point and Butlins, would be kept in West Somerset and not sent directly to central Government.

"If things run in our favour, we are certainly viable. If we get a percentage back from Hinkley Point that would have a huge impact on this small council," Cllr Taylor said.

The council is currently looking to save up to £1.14 million in the next five years as a direct result of funding cuts from central Government.

The authority has already found £352,700 in savings in the current financial year, plus an additional £85,000 by cutting grants, a recruitment freeze, increasing charges and delaying a number of capital projects.

It is now in the process of looking to potentially save a further £414,000 by cutting jobs, increasing charges and reducing grant aid.