A NEW unitary authority in Somerset could deliver “eye-watering” savings of “tens of millions of pounds”, the county council leader has claimed.

Cllr David Fothergill has been working with Somerset’s four district councils to see whether local government in the county should be reorganised to ensure a better and more cost-effective delivery of key services.

If a new authority were to come into being before the 2021 election, it would mean the newly formed Somerset West and Taunton Council (SWAT) would cease to exist after just two years, making it one of the shortest-lived local authorities in history.

Cllr Fothergill first announced his intention to explore the options in May 2018, with a view to a new structure being in place before the next county council elections in May 2021.

He reiterated his desire for a new authority at last week’s full council meeting and said he would be looking to progress such proposals over the coming months.

“The recent district elections have brought significant change,” he said. “We can achieve a lot more by working together.

“I am still convinced that unitary is absolutely the right way to go.

“I will seek to meet new and existing council leaders over the coming days and weeks to see if this can be progressed.

“The potential savings are in the tens of millions of pounds – they are eye-watering.

“We owe it to the people of Somerset to investigate these possibilities.”