Somerset West and Taunton
Somerset West and Taunton | |
|---|---|
 Existing districts of West Somerset and Taunton Deane within Somerset | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Constituent country | England |
| Region | South West England |
| Ceremonial county | Somerset |
| Government | |
| • Type | Non-metropolitan district |
| • MPs: | Rebecca Pow (Con) Ian Liddell-Grainger (Con) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 459.5 sq mi (1,190.1 km2) |
| Population (2022) | |
| • Total | 149,800 |
| Time zone | UTC0 (GMT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (BST) |
Somerset West and Taunton will be a local government district in Somerset, England. It was established by the Somerset West and Taunton (Local Government Changes) Order 2018.[1] It is presently managed by a shadow authority that will assume control of the newly established district from April 2019.[2][1] The council will replace the Taunton Deane and West Somerset councils, which governed the same area from 1974.
Background
In September 2016, West Somerset and Taunton Deane councils agreed in principle to merge the districts into one (with one council) subject to consultation.[3] The new district would not be a unitary authority, with Somerset County Council still performing its functions.[4] In March 2018 both councils voted in favour of the merger and it will come into effect on 1st April 2019, with the first elections to the new council in May 2019.[5][6][7]
The new council was approved by James Brokenshire the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on 30 May 2018.[2][8] The merger is expected to save £3.1 million each year.[9]
West Somerset is a local government district. The council covers a largely rural area, with a population of 35,300[10] in an area of 740 square kilometres (290 sq mi);[11] it is the least populous non-unitary district in England. According to figures released by the Office for National Statistics in 2009, the population of West Somerset has the oldest average age in the United Kingdom at 52.[12] The largest centres of population are the coastal towns of Minehead (population 10,000) and Watchet (4,400).
Taunton Deane is based in Taunton. The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, by a merger of the Municipal Borough of Taunton, Wellington Urban District, Taunton Rural District, and Wellington Rural District. Taunton Deane was granted borough status in 1975, perpetuating the mayoralty of Taunton.[13] Taunton Deane includes the town of Wellington and surrounding villages. Taunton Deane had an estimated population of 102,600 in 2001.[14]
References
- ^ a b "The Somerset West and Taunton (Local Government Changes) Order 2018". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
- ^ a b "Somerset councils merger approved by government". BBC. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
- ^ West Somerset Online
- ^ Your New Council
- ^ "Somerset councils merger approved despite criticism". BBC. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
- ^ Simmons, Alice (19 March 2018). "Taunton Deane and West Somerset vote in favour of council merger". Somerset County Gazette. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
- ^ Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (24 May 2018). "The Somerset West and Taunton (Local Government Changes) Order 2018". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^ "Government Decision on New Council". Your New Council. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
- ^ "Councils 'delighted' with Somerset merger government approval". Public Sector Executive. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
- ^ "Statistics & Census Information". West Somerset Council. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
- ^ "West Somerset (Local Authority): Key Figures for Physical Environment". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
- ^ "Maps chart UK's ageing population". BBC News. 1 October 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
- ^ "About the Mayor". Taunton Deane Borough Council. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
- ^ "Population Summary" (PDF). Somerset County Council. Retrieved 17 February 2009.
See also
External links
