Somerset residents will get a vote on the future of their local government – though it will not be legally binding.

Two rivalling proposals for the future of local government in Somerset are currently being assessed by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), with a decision due in the summer.

Somerset's four district councils have now voted that a poll of residents should be staged between now and early-June, with the results being sent to secretary of stage Robert Jenrick MP for him to take into consideration.

Somerset County Council has derided the poll as a "sham" and said it would not be taking part.

Here's everything you need to know…

What are the two proposals on the table?

Somerset's politicians have put forward two competing visions for how the county should be run from 2023 onwards.

On the one hand, there is One Somerset – backed by the county council – which involves the five existing councils being abolished and replaced with a single unitary council, with more power being devolved to local community networks and parish councils.

On the other hand, there is Stronger Somerset – backed by the four district councils – which will see the five existing councils replaced with two unitary councils (one for the east, one for the west).

The government's formal public consultation ended on April 19, with Mr Jenrick now considering all evidence submitted to him.

There is a very slim possibility that he will decide that neither proposal is good enough – but given that other recent reorganisations in Dorset and Buckinghamshire have moved forward unabated, this is very unlikely.

What have the four district councils decided?

The four district councils – Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West & Taunton and South Somerset – all voted on Friday (April 30) that a poll of residents should be staged in the absence of a formal referendum on either proposal.

The councils were due to pursue this course of action in mid-April, but postponed a decision in order to obtain legal advice following an angry letter from Mr Jenrick.

The poll will not be legally binding – just like the poll on the previous unitary proposals back in 2007 – but the councils hope the result will influence the government's decision.

In a joint statement issued on Tuesday (May 4), the four councils confirmed that every registered voter would be able to vote either by post or online.

A spokesman said: "The poll, which will be independently run and verified by Civica Electoral Services, will take place from May 18 to June 4.

"The report considered at the full council meetings held on April 30 said holding a poll would 'give residents a voice in the debate and help the secretary of state in understanding and determining the level of support among residents for each of the options'.

"Somerset County Council has informed the four district leaders that it will not be participating in or endorsing the poll.

"We have written to the secretary of state to inform him of the poll and its dates, and to ask that the result of the poll be properly considered as part of the decision-making process on the future of local government in Somerset."

How much will the poll cost?

The four districts estimate that the poll will cost around £310,000 to stage – though it may be slightly higher or lower depending on which voting method people use.

Councillor Oliver Patrick, who represents the Parrett ward on South Somerset District Council, tweeted: "The cost of the contract with Civica is approx. £310,000.

"The final cost depends on how people vote, though. Online voting will be cheaper, but if everyone votes by post it could be a little higher."

The county council had previously claimed that running such a poll would cost around £1 million to hold.

However, this is based on the cost of holding a poll using a mixture of postal voting and traditional polling stations, with Mr Patrick saying the county council's claim was "not grounded in any evidence".

How has the county council reacted?

David Fothergill was re-elected county council leader at a virtual full council meeting on Wednesday morning (May 5).

In his first statement since being re-elected, he branded the districts' poll as "a sham" and confirmed the council would not be taking any part in it.

He said: "I'm not too sure why I'm being fair and balanced towards the four district councils, since fairness and balance has been in pretty short supply from that side.

"We have been forced to report their poor behaviour on a weekly basis to the ministry.

"It's been tough to resist copying their tactics, but it is the right thing to do. When the secretary of state makes his announcement, we will need to come together.

"After a scrambled series of meetings, we have a sham of a one-sided poll called. I can confirm that this council will not take part in the political games being played here, and I hope I can say the same for the secretary of state."

What about Somerset's MPs?

While all of Somerset's five MPs are Conservatives, they are divided as to whether One Somerset or Stronger Somerset is the best option.

Three of the five MP have come out in support of the One Somerset option – David Warburton (Somerton and Frome), Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) and Marcus Fysh (Yeovil).

The latter expressed his frustrations in a recent letter to Alex Parmley, South Somerset's outgoing chief executive, arguing it would "confuse" his constituents.

He said: "Regeneration and support for our town centres has to be an overriding priority, and I know from speaking to you that you are concerned that Yeovil's regeneration project will be too short of funds to proceed – despite the £9.5 million central government has extended to make it happen.

"At this time to divert available funding elsewhere is simply wrong."

Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater and West Somerset) has been a vocal supporter of the Stronger Somerset option, and has made numerous statements to that effect in the House of Commons over the last few months.

Speaking in the House on April 19, he said: "The district councils do not squander public money. They save it and have shown that they do so year after year.

"What does Somerset County Council bring to the party? They bring nothing but trouble and, I am afraid, waste."

Wells MP James Heappey has yet to publicly declare his support for either of the proposals.

What happens next?

Somerset residents will receive letters about the poll in the coming weeks, inviting them to either reply by post or visit a website to cast their vote.

The final results will be calculated after June 4 and will be submitted to the government.

Mr Fothergill indicated that the government will make a final decision before the summer recess of parliament, which is due to begin on July 22.

By Daniel Mumby, Local Democracy Reporter