THE transformation of West Somerset Council into a forthcoming new authority with Taunton Deane “has resulted in a lot of worried people fighting for their jobs”, it was revealed this week.

The council’s regeneration and economic growth portfolio-holder Cllr Andrew Hadley, giving an update to Minehead Town Council, told members: “It’s not a happy ship over there at the moment, I dare to say, but we are trying to keep services going the best we can.”

Under the first phase of recruitment, West Somerset Council workers are having to apply for jobs with the new authority and are being interviewed for a range of newly-created posts.

Recruitment for new roles in the slimmed-down Somerset West and Taunton Council is due to be completed by the end of August.

The new authority will have 59 councillors – 27 less than the current two councils – and 35 wards

It is claimed that a smaller staff and changing working methods will mean that the new council will deliver annual savings of £3.1 million a year.

Cllr Hadley said West Somerset Council was undergoing a very major transformation process.

Four out of the new council’s six new top management posts had now been filled, two by internal appointments and two from outside.

Cllr Hadley added: “Hopefully, people on the ground won’t be noticing too much difference at the moment. There may be blips but we are doing what we can.

“We have to give them the benefit because there are a lot of worried people over there all fighting for their jobs. We are hoping to get this whole process finished by next April when the new council takes over.”

A West Somerset Council spokesman said that change in the way the authority worked would make it more flexible and better able to respond to customers’ needs.