Local election latest in Somerset
Follow all the goings on across the county here
Last updated 6th May 2022
Counting is underway in what is an historic election for Somerset - whatever the outcome.
The Government confirmed that Somerset’s five councils will be replaced by a single council delivering all council services to communities in the county.
Here's the latest from our rolling blog:
5:30pm
Lib Dem Leader - Sir Ed Davey has been in Taunton!
4pm
The final results are in!
The Lib Dems assume control with 61 seats.
2:45pm
The Liberal Democrats assume overall control of the council with 56 seats.
2:10pm
2pm
1:30pm
1:25pm
1pm
12:50pm
Watch our Senior Reporter Andrew Kay chat to Gill Slocombe.
12:28pm
12:23pm
12:20pm
12:10pm
11.50am
11.20am
Seven of the first eight seats declared have been won by the Lib Dems.
11am
1030am
Mendip, Sedgemoor, South Somerset, Somerset County Council and Somerset West and Taunton are all being dissolved and are being dissolved and will be replaced by a new unitary authority.
It'll be known as Somerset Council and will officially come into force on 1st April 2023.
The councillors elected today will spend the coming months preparing for the new authority, including where it'll be based.
The leaders of those five dissolved councils put out a statement about the decision:
"We are agreed on the need for change. At the start of this process, we put forward and debated differing visions for the way forward. The resulting government decision is that we adopt a single unitary authority for the whole of Somerset. This new council will be shaped by the debate with a firm focus on being accountable and responsive to needs of people and communities across Somerset."
"We are committed to working together for a new Somerset Council that: frees up resources to invest in our communities and high-quality services; grows Somerset’s voice nationally, helping to deliver the investment in business and infrastructure that our county deserves; and drives action to tackle climate change."