It would cost £31m to establish the Cheshire West and Chester new unitary council. A report by the director of resources, Julie Gill, estimated £15.7m would be spent on transformational costs, and £15.5m severance costs of the council's voluntary redundancy programme involving 200 staff members. But executive members of the new authority – which takes control on 1 April – have been told savings of £29m in the first year and every year for three years thereafter will more than cover the cost. Ms Gill said she thought the transitional costs would repay themselves in six months. She said: ‘Even assuming some slippage, the figures represent an attractive annual payback offering considerable value for money for taxpayers.' Council leader, Mike Jones, said: ‘There has been concern expressed by some over the cost involved in establishing the new authorities. ‘However, we have managed to cover the costs of creating the new council and transforming it in a way which will benefit the people of West Cheshire in the years to come.'