SIR — I would like to respond to Henry Harington (Your Letters February 17) regarding the proposal for a single new council for Taunton Deane and West Somerset.

It is important to stress that the decision lies with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government who will consider all the evidence, including the current consultation.

In recommending the proposal to West Somerset Council, I said at the time this was probably the most difficult decision I had faced in my years as a councillor at both county and district levels. It was not entered into lightly.

As a council we are the smallest in population terms in the country. More than 70 per cent of the area is protected landscape so our capacity to generate income through growth is very limited.

We put our case to the Government but were told no more money would be made available and that we should consider a local solution. This is precisely what we are doing.

The proposal to create a new, streamlined council will result in annual savings of £3.1 million. This is significant and will allow us to protect the services that are important to people.

We simply cannot continue as we are. In the coming year, West Somerset Council will be able to set a balanced budget. But the predicted shortfall in 2018-19 is already standing at £800,000. This is from a total revenue budget of £3.7m.

Waste collection accounts for £1.2m while a further £1m needs to be found for our street cleaning and to fund the pension deficit. The figures say it all.

Hinkley Point C would only pay business rates when it starts generating power – and that is unlikely to happen before 2025.

Even then, there is no guarantee this income will be received in part or in full by West Somerset if it is considered part of the national infrastructure. We cannot afford to wait a further seven or eight years.

Like Mr Harington, I have the interests of West Somerset in heart and mind.

The proposal that we intend to put to the Government will create a bigger council – but it will still be smaller than South Somerset District Council in terms of electorate.

The proposal would see West Somerset, as a whole, move to a new council. Other options could see West Somerset broken up – then we would really be losing any control.

Council boundaries and names do not create identity – after all the current West Somerset is not even 50 years old. Its identity lies in its people, its landscape and its character. That will not change.

We want to make this work and, if the Secretary of State agrees, we will make it work. We owe it to future generations to do this – and to do it well.

Cllr Anthony Trollope-Bellew,

Leader,

West Somerset Council.