“Because sometimes you have to do something bad to do something good.” Oscar Wilde

Yesterday, Somerset Council held a Full Council meeting, which I attended as the Unitary Councillor representing the Mendip South division. This meeting is a critical step in the budget-setting process scheduled for March. In an urgent effort to balance the books, we voted to transform the Council’s workforce, which will involve a reduction of around 11% in staffing levels to save approximately £34 million.

Regrettably, the leadership of both the Conservative and Labour Parties seems more focused on assigning blame than confronting the realities we face. It is crucial that we collaborate across party lines for the benefit of our residents here in Somerset.

Local government is currently navigating very challenging times, impacting many essential services we rely on, from waste collection and road maintenance to education and social care—approximately 300 services in total. The scale of transformation at Somerset Council means we will need to prioritise statutory services and the most urgent issues moving forward, with non-essential services facing cuts. The repercussions of this decision will sadly be felt in our communities.  

Voting for staff transformation today was disheartening. Behind these figures are real people who will be affected. If we do not set a balanced budget next month, the government may intervene, sending in Commissioners to take over the Council. This could lead to substantial increases in Council Tax—potentially by over 20%—and severe cuts to services.

Recent analysis from the Local Government Association (LGA) reveals that service spending in 2022/23 was 42.1% lower than it would have been if it had kept pace with cost and demand pressures since 2010/11. This significant shortfall indicates that councils have implemented a staggering £24.5 billion in service cuts and efficiencies over this period.

This situation leaves us all wondering why the government hasn’t addressed this issue more urgently. Answers on a postcard!

I wish I had better news to share, but as a responsible Councillor, I believe it is my duty to be transparent with my residents. If anyone has questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to comment below or reach out to me here.