A public consultation on the Council’s budget has been launched. It will offer a chance for people to have their say in light of the financial emergency, which was called in November. It’s open to all, and we are encouraging our Somerset communities, residents, businesses, stakeholders, and partners to take part.
The consultation highlights several discretionary services which could be redesigned, reduced, or even stopped.
It goes live from 11 December and will close on 22 January.
The link can be found at: https://somersetcouncil.citizenspace.com/comms/budget-consultation-2024-2025/
It can also be completed in libraries and council offices across Somerset.
Financial Emergency
The in-year overspend for 2023/24 is £27m. The projected budget gap for 2024/25 is £100m.
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. It is clear that this alone will not close the budget gap. Plans to fundamentally change the council’s systems and processes to streamline its operations will need to speed up to reduce the size of the council in future.
Communications Lead – Members and Stakeholders
Ally Laing , Somerset Council
+447989 078188
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Response from Katy Attwater, Chair of Timberscombe Parish Council
Part of the strategy of Somerset Council to make up their £100m budget shortfall for 2024 is for the Parish Councils to take on provision of some of the services that the Council currently provide. To pay for taking on these services we would need to raise the Timberscombe precept for this coming financial year. This will be reflected in a rise in your Council Tax.
Timberscombe PC’s initial response when this was announced at the last Exmoor LCN meeting in November 2023 was; “We do not have the resources (people and time), or the skills to manage the contracts and services the Council are proposing we could take on. We also do not want to raise our precept or use our reserves for this purpose”.
You may want to comment on this in the Consultation.
I would encourage you to participate in the Consultation which closes on 22nd January.
Katy Attwater
Timberscombe 