More than five million pounds will be spent on council redundancies as numerous senior officers leave the new unitary authority.

Somerset Council was officially formed on April 1, replacing Somerset County Council and the four district councils – Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West & Taunton and South Somerset.

As part of the transition process, numerous senior officers are leaving the new council since their roles are no longer required – including a number of former chief executives.

The full council voted on May 24 to approve redundancy payments of around £5.2m – with the promise that the savings generated from a reduction in posts would be repaid within two years.

The 29 individuals leaving the council have a combined 630 years of service under their belt – and include the former chief executives of all four district councils.

Under the terms of local government redundancy, the affected individuals must be paid for their notice paid, for any holiday to which they were entitled, and will receive a redundancy payment in line with their statutory entitlements.

Those over the age of 55 are also eligible to begin receiving their local government pension.

Duncan Sharkey

Chief executive Duncan Sharkey said: "The opportunities presented by local government reorganisation are huge, as are the challenges that the new organisation will face.

"Bringing together five organisations will help the new council to realise positive change, putting the people of Somerset at the heart of the new authority.

"It will creating new local opportunities for residents to have a real say about their own communities, cutting red-tape and freeing up money that can be spent on real local issues and challenges.

"These include caring for our most vulnerable residents, delivering life chances for our children and young people, reducing rural isolation and loneliness, delivering the housing each community needs, investing in climate change, and boosting economic growth, jobs and apprenticeships."

The cost of the redundancy package was built into the new council's business case and a funded from a separation budget for implementing the new council – meaning that none of the money is being diverted away from front-line services.

The reduction in posts is expected to save around £2.6m a year – meaning the move will have paid for itself by April 2025.

The individuals concerned will leave their posts by the end of August. Further phases of redundancies, concerning less senior positions within the council's leadership structure, are expected to come forward over the next 18 months.