Somerset
Give us your views
We want to hear from you.
The views of local people and organisations help shape our proposals and recommendations.
Just tell us what you think and why you think that.
Give us your views
We want to hear from you.
The views of local people and organisations help shape our proposals and recommendations.
Just tell us what you think and why you think that.
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Review History
This timeline shows the key stages of the review process:
We review the electoral and boundary arrangements of councils to make sure they are fair. Our reviews include at least two rounds of public consultation before we make recommendations for change.
Latest Information
Consultation on proposals
Consultation reopens
The Commission has reopened the consultation on Somerset’s draft recommendations.
This is because the Commission initially, and incorrectly, treated Somerset Council’s stated preference for mostly single-councillor divisions as a formal request for a wholly single-councillor pattern under the law that governs our work. The Council did not make such a formal request.
This may have led some people to think that proposals for multi-councillor divisions would not be properly considered, as a formal request for single-councillor divisions carries more weight than a general preference.
To ensure fairness and transparency, we are reopening the consultation so that all views – including those supporting multi-councillor divisions – can be fully taken into account.
You do not need to resubmit any comments you have already sent us. All previous submissions will still be considered as part of this review.
For further details, please see our press release and the letter to the Chief Executive of Somerset Council below. The draft recommendations report, with a correction note, can also be found below.
Draft recommendations published
We have proposed a new pattern of divisions. We want to hear the views of local people and organisations to help us produce our recommendations for change.
As a result of our proposals on new division patterns, we are propose changes to the electoral arrangements for the following parish and town councils:
Previous stages
Initial consultation
We ask local people and organisations to tell us about their communities.
Councillor numbers
We have decided that Somerset Council should have 96 councillors.
Effective date
The creation of Somerset Council Unitary Authority
In March 2022, Parliament authorised the creation of a new unitary authority called Somerset Council. The council replaced the authorities of Somerset County Council, Mendip District Council, Sedgemoor District Council, Somerset West and Taunton Council and South Somerset Council.
Previous Reviews
Most recent and previous reviews are held on the UK Government Web Archive.