WEST Somerset Council is standing by its decision to form a new authority with Taunton Deane after “revisiting” the move at its meeting on Wednesday.

But it did decide to put forward a number of proposals from Minehead’s mayor Cllr Jean Parbrook which it hopes will be incorporated in the new council’s structure.

These include having an economic plan for rural and coastal areas and market towns, ensuring that West Somerset is properly staffed, holding at least some council meetings in the area, and sharing information on Taunton Deane’s financial commitments.

Conservative councillor Rosemary Woods had tabled a motion for the meeting to revisit the merger decision in the light of West Somerset’s “current financial position and the outstanding issues”.

As reported in last week’s Free Press, local MP Ian Liddell-Grainger had urged that a referendum be held on whether West Somerset council should go it alone, claiming that the authority was now in good enough financial shape to resist being amalgamated with Taunton Deane.

This followed a government announcement that it was “minded” to approve the new council, subject to a period of further representation which would end on January 19.

Proposing her motion, Cllr Woods said it was time to re-examine the issue and she wanted local communities to be involved and have input into the process: “We must be open and transparent,” she said.