CUTS to council tax support schemes, reducing grounds maintenance and shutting libraries are among proposals to address a multi-million funding gap in North Somerset.

The plans are among dozens listed in a report to North Somerset Council’s Executive, which will be discussed at a meeting next week (December 4).

It comes as the council looks to save £45.8 million between 2025 and 2028 to balance the books after warning of “tough decisions” amid an “unprecedented financial challenge due to increasing demand, particularly in adult and children’s services”.

In October, the executive was warned of a potential budget blackhole of some £53m between 2025 and 2028 – and issued a ‘bankruptcy warning’ as it warned of moves to address the financial crisis.

Following that meeting, the cost-cutting plans have been drawn up, with the shortfall now projected at £7.4m.

Around £2.5m of this would still need to be found by February ahead of the 2025/26 financial year, the council said.

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Leader of the council, Cllr Mike Bell, said: “No decisions have yet been made and no stone has been left unturned as we’ve looked to bridge our funding gap.

“Although the additional funding announced by government was welcome, it wasn’t the financial lifeline we needed.”

He said cost-cutting decisions were necessary – even if councillors did not want to make them.

“Like many other councils, we still face having to make tough savings decisions which will affect the lives of residents,” Cllr Bell went on.

“No one comes into Local Government to make these kind of decisions and we wouldn’t be making these proposals if we didn’t have to.

“We are urgently asking central government for a ‘fair deal’ for North Somerset when they come to issue their Local Government Settlement in December and know they are listening.

“We are urging the government to break away from years of cuts to council budgets and instead find solutions that will help us rise to the challenge of our current financial emergency.”

NSC has been running a consultation with residents, in a bid to garner cost-cutting suggestions and priorities.

A second phase will get underway soon, running into the new year, with a further update in February before final decisions are made.

Cost-cutting proposals outlined in the North Somerset Council report include:

• Review of the council tax support scheme to reduce costs and support to working-age adults to save £1.5m
• A review of libraries – including “reducing the number of library sites” – to save ££433,000
• To introduce new parking charges as well as Residential Parking Zone areas (£400,000)
• Remove decorative lighting to save £44,000
• Reduce costs of CCTV by £100,000
• Introduce three-weekly bin collections to save £900,000
• Reduce street cleaning to save £70,000
• Review all home to school transport service costs to save £1m

Cllr Bell added: “As in previous years, the savings list includes some incredibly difficult choices and many of these will be very challenging to deliver as residents will see noticeable reductions to the service we currently provide.

“However, as the council still has a budget gap of over £2.5m to find for next year with more to find in the future, the council must consider all of these proposals as we try to balance the budget.”

Click HERE to read the full report – and the full list of cost-cutting proposals – being put to the Executive on December 4 (opens in new window).

For more information on NSC’s financial challenges and fair deal campaign, visit n-somerset.gov.uk/fairdeal – and for more on the council petition for an improved financial settlement, see northsomerset-gov.welcomesyourfeedback.net/s/rux4v.