NOW is your chance to have your say on how Somerset can address its financial emergency.
Somerset Council has launched a consultation over possible changes to the budget in a bid to address a funding gap of around £100 million in the 2024/25 financial year.
Residents and businesses are being urged to put forward their views and ideas on how the council can save – and raise – money.
The results of the consultation will help influence Councillors as they look to set a balanced budget in February 2024, the council said.
Leader, Cllr Bill Revans (Lib Dem, North Petherton), said: “I urge everyone to take part in our consultation, read through the information, understand our challenges, and have your say.
“We are facing very difficult decisions – this is not where we want to be. But we must face the reality of what is, fundamentally, a broken system of local government funding nationally.
Cllr Bill Revans, leader of Somerset Council
“The cost of delivering our services, particularly social care, is increasing at a much faster rate than our income.
“This means we have to consider every available option to plug our budget gap, including increasing fees, reducing operating costs and finding savings across all areas.
“Before we make any decisions, it’s important we listen to our residents, especially when those decisions will affect people across Somerset.”
To close the gap and balance the budget next year, a series of service reductions, efficiency savings, and increases to fees and charges, including council tax, will need to be considered, the council said.
But councillors say this alone will not close the budget gap and plans to fundamentally change the council’s systems and processes to streamline its operations will need to speed up.
The consultation highlights several discretionary services which could be redesigned, reduced or even stopped – and the public can have their say and put forward their suggestions.
Meanwhile, Cllr Revans said the council was continuing to lobby central government for increased funding for local authorities across the country who are facing financial pressures.
“We are continuing to lobby Government to address the financial crisis facing local councils,” he said. “Just last week the County Councils Network published a letter sent to Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove and signed by myself and 32 other council leaders from all over the country.
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“The letter highlighted the growing concern nationally with seven out of 10 councils no longer confident they can balance their budget next year.
“We are asking Somerset’s MPs to join our call for fairer funding and I would encourage anyone who cares about local council services to write to your local MP to ask them to raise this at the highest level.”
The budget consultation will close on January 22.
For more information – and to take part – visit the Somerset Council Budget Consultation 2024/2025 page, or surveys can be completed at libraries and council offices across the county.
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