With an announcement about which unitary bids have been successful expected shortly, many councils are still campaigning at the 11th hour. South Somerset DC is maintaining its campaign against Somerset CC's bid for unitary status. ‘We are keeping up a constant lobbying of all individuals and departments associated with the reorganisation process, finding out all that we can to help us in our opposition to the unitary bid, including other districts elsewhere which are affected by unitary bids,' said South Somerset leader, Tim Carroll. Cheshire CC leader, Paul Findlow, has been accused by opposition groups of undermining his own authority by publicly opposing its unitary submission. Sir John Banham – former chairman of the Local Government Commission for England – has hailed the forthcoming unitary reorganisation as ‘a once-in-a-decade' opportunity. Sir John said unitary status would make councils ‘fit for purpose for the 21st century'. He added: ‘It is greatly hoped that the new Government will look through the political self-interest of district councillors and bogus polls that would shame a banana republic.'