United for Residents: Budget Agreed, Now Let’s Collaborate

Somerset Council says it is shifting from financial emergency to recovery after councillors approved a balanced 2026/27 budget. Lib Dem leader of the council, Cllr Bill Revans, told Full Council that independent reports show the authority has “grasped the challenges” and is on the right track after difficult decisions that have protected frontline services and vulnerable residents.

Crucially, the funding gap has been reduced from £101m in March 2025 to £25m in February 2026, despite the Government’s Fair Funding Review disadvantaging rural counties. Councillors agreed a 4.99% council tax rise, taking the average Band D bill to £1,950.30 a year (about £1.78 extra per week) — still below many neighbouring unitary councils. The plan also includes one more year of Exceptional Financial Support while the council pursues transformation savings.

That progress makes the opposition parties’ decision to vote against a legally approved budget deeply concerning. To vote to tear down an approved budget risks throwing the council into financial uncertainty, undoing hard-won gains and limiting councillors’ ability to influence decisions that affect residents.

Now is the time for councillors of all parties to come together in Somerset’s interest.

Children’s services are a clear priority for cross-party cooperation. Demand has surged — contacts are up roughly 30% and child protection plans about 50% since 2022 — producing a projected £6.4m overspend. A critical shortage of foster carers forces costly residential placements and worsens outcomes for vulnerable children.

Lib Dem-run Somerset Council’s Homes and Horizons partnership illustrates the power of collaboration: a 10‑year plan delivering 10 residential homes, specialist foster care and therapeutic education for vulnerable young people. Early success — eight homes open supporting 16 children and a therapeutic school operational — shows what coordinated effort can achieve, improving outcomes for children while helping contain costs.

If councillors unite to protect and strengthen the budget, especially by easing pressure on children’s services, Somerset can safeguard vulnerable children and complete its recovery. Tearing down a legal budget would do the opposite.