A newly-created Cabinet position on Bath and North East Somerset Council has been made for Midsomer Norton Mayor, Cllr Paul Myers (Conservative, Redfield), which was announced recently. However, the £18,000, single year (at present) role has been criticised by Peasedown St John’s Independent Councillor, Sarah Bevan (see Letters), who has asked exactly what the role will involve when the Council is under

pressure to save money.

Cllr Myers is now the Cabinet Member for ‘Policy, Localism and Partnerships’, which will involve looking at ways in which the Council can work more effectively, addressing its challenge of finding £38 million of savings in the next four years.

The role will also see him working alongside external partners to work more

collaboratively. Such an approach will also be essential should the devolution deal go through, which would see B&NES having to co-operate with Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

Cllr Tim Warren, Leader of B&NES Council, said: “In the years ahead the Council will need to work ever more closely with parish councils, community groups, health providers and other local authorities in order to increase efficiency and deliver the high quality services residents deserve.

“This new role will therefore be dedicated to building these partnerships and helping to find the additional savings needed over the coming years through more collaborative and shared service arrangements with other authorities and public bodies, as well as reforming the way we deliver services within the Council.

“With his extensive experience in working with Town and Parish Councils, as well as community groups and local businesses, I believe that Councillor Myers will do an excellent job in helping to build these relationships and deliver the service reform and cost savings that will be needed in the months and years ahead.”

Cllr Paul Myers added: “Overall, we face a situation where we need to make unprecedented savings, and it is a question of exploring new avenues and opportunities for collaboration with partners across all sectors. In addition to this, there is a huge amount of additional work associated with the devolution agenda, which

offers an opportunity of over £30 million a year in funding. All this work requires the attention of a full-time role, across all the existing portfolios of Cabinet members.”

Cllr Myers has over thirty years of experience in industry, including working as a Project Manager for BT, buying and selling satellite time around the globe,

negotiating partnerships across Europe for satellite transmissions and was a Marketing Manager for NTL, working on the digital switchover project nationally. Projects in Midsomer Norton he is currently involved with include the Town Park and regeneration plans for the High Street.