Have your say over council budget – amid £73 million shortfall

Paul JonesDecember 4, 20251 Comment0

PEOPLE can have their say over how their money is spent in Somerset during a budget consultation – as the county faces a £73 million financial blackhole.

Residents and businesses are being urged to take part in Somerset Council’s annual budget consultation.

It opened on December 3 and is due to close on January 14, running online, with paper copies available in libraries.

In previous years, the budget consultation has helped councillors understand people’s views and priorities as they have taken difficult decisions to save millions of pounds and avoid the threat of a Section 114 Notice – when a council effectively declares bankruptcy.

Budget proposals discussed at today’s Executive show the Council is facing a £73m budget gap for 2026/27, amid spiralling costs of social care, children’s services and homelessness.

Council leader, Cllr Bill Revans, said: “We have made savings of at least £50m since becoming a single council, but our finances remain fragile with costs and demand for essential services continuing to rise.

“We are taking action to reduce spending and have saved millions – including by reducing our pay bill by £33m last year. This was an area our residents asked us to look at in previous budget consultations.

“We have a clear long-term plan focused on tough decisions, innovation and partnerships, but we need to ensure we are listening to the views of our residents and businesses. Please take part in our budget consultation and let us know what matters to you.”

Budget proposals will be discussed at Scrutiny Committees through December and January, before final decisions are taken to Executive and Full Council in February 2026.

One Comment

A Hussey January 2, 2026 at 9:10 pm Reply

You cant keep expecting us to pay the shortfall !!!We get less for our money the roads are dreadful services are rubbish the councillors need to do their part by having less wages !!!!!!!!!