THE top priorities for West Somerset over the next four years have been outlined by Conservative and former district authority leader Tim Taylor.

His party achieved a resounding victory in the local elections, with Conservatives taking 19 of the authority’s 28 seats.

Cllr Taylor, who is expected to be re-appointed as leader of the council next Wednesday, said he was pleased with the election result.

He said: “The Conservatives will work as a team and I believe we will reach out to the other nine members to make sure we include everyone in working for the benefit of West Somerset.”

He said the council’s finances and the proposed new nuclear build at Hinkley Point were the ‘burning challenges’ facing the authority.

In recent years, financial difficulties have plagued the council, which now faces £2 million in cuts over the next three years.

He said many Independent and Conservative councillors had been re-elected because they had done a good job protecting services in tough times.

He also anticipated decision making would be easier with the council no longer operating as a coalition with the Independents.

Cllr Taylor said: “There will be no grandstanding because there will be no question of another party taking over.”

Now the council will make sorting out its finances its main goal as it continues to talk to Government ministers about securing the authority’s future.

He said: “I think there is a question about our viability and we agreed to see what to do after the election.

“If we are deemed not to be viable we’ll have to look at the question of amalgamating with neighbouring councils.”

Tim Taylor on Hinkley Point

He said the government would get nearly £60 million in business rates each year if the new nuclear plant at Hinkley Point goes ahead and added: “West Somerset should get at least £10 million of this annually to go to the community.

“We could use the money for providing better services.”

He said EDF needed to go further in mitigating the impact Hinkley Point will have on the community, during the decade it is being built.

On whether extra jobs for the community will be created “it remains to be seen” he said but he also acknowledged EDF is trying to reach out to businesses to tender for contracts.