WEST Somerset and Taunton Deane councils are set to merge.

Last night, West Somerset Council voted to merge with Taunton Deane Borough Council in a decision labelled 'the most important in the council's 42-year history' by one member.

A packed chamber heard from all sides of the debate before voting to back the merger with 21 in support, four against and one abstention.

Before the vote, West Somerset Council leader, Anthony Trollope-Bellew, told councillors he backed the merger, refuting claims WSC was being bullied into the decision.

"I have a good relationship with (TDBC leader) Cllr John Williams," he said.

"He believes we cannot afford to go for option 1 (to continue working with Taunton Deane but as two councils) and I agree with him."

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Instead, he urged councillors to back a second option, which would see the councils merge 

Labour Cllr Peter Murphy agreed to second the motion, which Anthony Trollope-Bellew has amended to include the words 'in principle'.

He said: "West Somerset is being asked to vote itself out of existence in the name of the greater good."

He also criticised West Somerset and Bridgwater MP Ian Liddell-Grainger, who has been an outspoken critic of the plan and had urged councillors to delay making a decision.

But Independent for Williton, Hugh Davies, backed the MP's call for a delay. 

"I consider Cllr Peter Murphy's comments to be misleading, this has not been a campaign by our local MP, he is trying to help and it is overdue," he said, urging members to defer the decision for two months. 

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Meanwhile, UKIP councillor Terry Venner criticised the leader's indication that a full consultation with the public would take place following the vote.

"Why are we consulting the public after the decision has been made? We should delay until our MP has met with the Prime Minister," Cllr Venner said, mentioning a planned meeting between Mr Liddell-Grainger and Theresa May set for next week. 

Cllr Ian Aldridge said many residents are confused about the merger - and he counts himself among them.

"What I don't understand is why Taunton Deane wants us? We are a financial liability, are we not?," Cllr Aldridge said.

"It saddens me that we no longer seem willing to fund the cost of democracy in this country."

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And Cllr Dave Westcott said: "When we first started talking about this I thought West Somerset Council would be able to muddle through - we always have before.

"But I attended a workshop where the council officers explained the figures and answered my questions and now I feel the merger is the only option.

"Let's be positive, this could be a new exciting council. My glass is half full."

And Cllr Mandy Chilcott, for Minehead, said: "I hope our residents will not see this as a rushed decision, this is a journey we have been taking for the last five years.

"It frustrates me no end that there is no way to bridge the gap, and we have tried everything believe me. 

"We must do this to make sure we can best deliver services to our residents." 

Council chairman, Bruce Heywood, who at the beginning of the meeting said the decision was the 'most important' in the council's history,  summed up his thoughts by quoting George Bernard Shaw.

"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything," he said.