A public consultation on Somerset Council’s budget has 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 today (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.

Press and publicity
A press release will be issued later, with associated social media messaging.
The PR quotes Leader of Somerset Council, Cllr Bill Revans.
“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.
“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.”

Lobbying for fairer funding for Local Government
Cllr Revans says: “We are continuing to lobby Government to address the financial crisis facing local councils. 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.
“The letter highlighted the growing concern nationally with 7 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.”

Go to: https://somersetcouncil.citizenspace.com/comms/budget-consultation-2024-2025/

And please share with your communities and networks, as appropriate – thanks all.
Ally

Ally Laing
Communications Lead – Members and Stakeholders
Somerset Council
+447989 078188
ally.laing@somerset.gov.uk
Somerset Council

The following press release was notified to the WsM Parish Council…

 

Somerset Council is promoting the following three items via Parish Councils:

a) Cardboard waste: https://www.somerset.gov.uk/news/think-outside-the-box-and-cut-the-cardboard-at-christmas/

b) Willow Man:https://somersetcouncil.citizenspace.com/communities/willow-man-feasibility-study/

c) Severe Weather Emergency Provision (SWEP) in some areas of Somerset

http://www.somerset.gov.uk/swep

 

 

 

 

Good afternoon,

I am writing to let you know that we will be starting work Stockhill Wood tomorrow, where we will be removing diseased larch trees. Although these operations may not directly affect parish residents, I wanted to let you know that they may have a visual impact on the landscape.

We are legally required to carry out this work because areas of the forest are suffering from Phytophthora ramorum, a destructive tree disease which is affecting many of the nation’s larch trees. Phytophthora ramorum is harmless to people and animals, but highly infectious and harmful to trees and some other plant species.

I have attached a map to explain where we will be working. In areas highlighted red, there is a high density of infected trees and they will all be removed. Altogether, these areas total around 29 hectares. We are obliged to remove these trees as soon as possible to help manage the spread of Phytophthora ramorum.

Our climate is changing, bringing new threats to our trees, and we need to build resilience within our forests. With this in mind, we are already planning how we will restock these felled areas with a diverse range of tree species that will thrive in the climate conditions we expect in 2050 and beyond.

I would be grateful if you would be able to share this information through your news channels. We understand that communities may be upset at the change in their countryside and we are keen to explain why this felling is essential for the health of the nation’s forests.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Best wishes, Siân Brewer

Community Ranger, Bristol and Savernake, Forestry England

Stockhill_Wood_worksmap

 

 

On Wednesday 1st Nov the Parish Council meeting received advice from the County Council regarding Fire Safety, Flood Risk and Storm Ciaran.

Fire safety advice for people experiencing power cuts (dsfire.gov.uk)

Flood Warden Autumn Newsletter 2023 (mailchi.mp)

Storm Ciaran: Prepare for potential disruption (somerset.gov.uk)

The Parish Council requested that this information should be made available via the village website.

Regards,

Mark Smith, Website Administrator