Category Council Tax
Lowest income households to pay no Council Tax under new Somerset Council scheme. Fifty percent discount for foster carers.
A new, unified Council Tax Reduction Scheme targeting help at people on low incomes, care leavers, and foster carers has been agreed for Somerset from 1 April 2023 when the new Somerset Council comes into being. The Scheme was approved by Somerset County Council on November 23. The scheme will be simpler and fairer and […]
Consultation on council tax support scheme launched
A consultation on council tax support for the new unitary Somerset Council is launched today (25 July 2022). This is the first major policy consultation for the new council and it proposes that the lowest income households across Somerset get 100% council tax relief. Somerset’s four district councils currently offer varying levels of council tax […]
New Somerset Council: Budget faces combination of challenges as inflation hits all councils
Papers published today (1 July 2022) show the challenge that inflation is presenting to council budgets. The team putting together the budget for the new Somerset Council will be bringing together the budgets of the five current councils and delivering the planned £18.5 million in savings from the move to a single unitary council. However, […]
The last ever Somerset County Council budget is a “Budget for the future” says Council Leader
Councillor David Fothergill, Leader of Somerset County Council, has praised the team responsible for producing “the most positive budget in my time as Leader”. Speaking at Full Council as the 2022/23 Council budget was approved today (23 February), Cllr Fothergill said: “While other councils are dipping into reserves to fund day to day spending – […]
County Council publishes proposed 2022/2023 budget
Balanced budget with major investment in Adult Social Care and Children’s Services. Boost for climate change action. Somerset County Council has published its last draft proposed budget ahead of the creation of a new unitary Somerset Council in April 2023. The council is proposing major increases in investment in care services, with an increase for […]
Sound financial management enables balanced budget says Council Leader as consultation starts
As consultation into Somerset County Council’s last ever budget opens, Council Leader Cllr David Fothergill has highlighted how several years of prudent financial management has meant the Council should be able to set a balanced budget for 2022/23. Councillor David Fothergill said: “Careful financial management over the last few years has left us in a sound financial position and the County […]
Climate Change and school speeding drivers targeted in big Council initiatives
Somerset County Council today signalled a new approach to help combat climate change, a major investment in 20mph zones outside schools and innovation in social care as it approved its key budget for next year. In the Leader’s speech, Cllr David Fothergill set out ambitious plans that would see over £1m made available next year […]
Budget plans set out thriving and ambitious future for Council
New schools, investment in roads, a boost to local jobs and a dramatically improved financial outlook on a year ago were outlined by Somerset county councillors today. As well as the investment in services, there was a repeated commitment to no further frontline job cuts at the Council’s Cabinet meeting. Monday’s (10 February), Cabinet agreed […]
Sustainability a top priority as County Council agrees budget plans
Somerset County Council today approved a budget and financial plan that paves the way for medium-term financial sustainability. The plans see £780m spent on services in the county next year and a 2.99 percent increase in the County Council’s element of Council Tax. Along with a government approved additional one per cent increase ring-fenced for […]
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