Somerset Council: Year one achievements

A message from Councillor Bill Revans, Leader of Somerset Council

The first anniversary of Somerset Council was on 1 April 2024. We knew knew that the process of bringing together five councils into one new council council would would be tricky. We didn’t know we would be doing it in the the context of one of the most challenging times that local government has ever known.

When I speak to my councillor colleagues, those elected to represent the 571,000 residents of our county, I hear about remarkable achievements that have been landed since April 2023.

Many of the achievements have been through working in partnership with our City, Town and Parish council colleagues, the voluntary sector and other parts of the public sector, especially the police and NHS.

Our staff, and those of our partners, are working so hard to achieve the best for Somerset during these financially challenging times, and I acknowledge that there is uncertainty for many of the Somerset Council team as we work through 2024.

Our four strategic priorities

Through publication of this document, I want to ensure that you, and all residents and businesses, have an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the first year of Somerset Council. Our Council Plan sets us four strategic priorities:

A greener, more sustainable Somerset
A fairer, ambitious Somerset
A flourishing and resilient Somerset
A healthy and caring Somerset

There is no specific order to these priorities, indeed many of the success stories of this first year of Somerset Council encompass more than one priority – and that’s exactly how we need to be working.

Looking back over what we have achieved shows us that we are still performing exceptionally well despite the wider challenging context.

We are making Somerset greener and more sustainable, with increased recycling rates, securing support and investment in our bus services, improving active travel routes, supporting our communities impacted by flooding, decarbonising our buildings, and building new schools to the highest standards.

We are making Somerset fairer and ambitious by working with our education partners to encourage higher expectations for our children and young people, ensuring that our most vulnerable looked after children are able to be cared for here in Somerset through the Homes and Horizons project, investing in social and affordable housing throughout the county, and making council tax fairer through our Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

We are making a flourishing and resilient Somerset by securing massive investments into our county, making it a centre for green energy production and high value manufacturing, securing government funding to invest in our communities through Town Deals, Future High Street Funds, UK Shared Prosperity and Levelling Up funds, and starting to mitigate for the phosphate and nitrate pollution on the Somerset levels to lift the moratorium on house building across Somerset.

We are making Somerset healthy and caring by working much more closely with the NHS and other partners through the Somerset Board, working to re-able more residents so they can live independently at home, renewing our commitment to unpaid carers, encouraging more people to become foster carers, and supporting initiatives in communities like our food pantries.

Please be aware that our officers spend huge amounts of time applying for for for Government funds for regeneration and other priorities. Funds such as Levelling Up are competitive, yet the criteria are never clear. We must continue to to to work in this way while hoping that the next Government realises that local authorities are very well placed to understand where investment is most needed.

There is so much more… please take time to read on for more detail on our achievements, under our four priority headings, and a summary of how we are addressing the financial challenges.

Please know that we will continue to work hard to navigate the best possible route through the financial challenges for local government, ensuring that we maximise all opportunities while we take care of those most in need of support.

Thank you.

Councillor Bill Revans
Leader of Somerset Council

Our priorities: key points

The financial challenge

We have set a legal, balanced budget for 2024/25 but only by using one-off resources including reserves from the predecessor councils, and use of capital receipts from the sale of land, property and investments.

We agreed approximately £35million of savings, on top of £40million last financial year.

The scale of savings is now starting to be painful and, in places, heartbreaking. It will get worse yet unless circumstances change.

Even with the 5 per cent increase this year, Somerset’s Council Tax is still lower than other councils in the south west, and much lower than the national average.

Our costs have increased considerably above inflation, for instance placements for residential care in Somerset have increased by 47 per cent since 2021/22.

The Government grants listed in our income have increased but are still inadequate to cover the increased costs of social care for adults’ and children’s services.

The £5million extra agreed by the Government early in 2024 is enough to cover the additional cost of the national living wage in adult social care – but no more.

We have embarked on a much wider, deeper, and faster transformation of the new Council, which will reduce the size of the workforce by at least 1,000 full time equivalents (current size is near 5,000 FTE).

We have speeded up the process of devolution of assets and services to City, Town and Parish Councils and many have increased their local precept to allow for the additional costs. That was always part of the One Somerset business case we inherited for Vesting Day.

Voluntary redundancies are being considered first, then compulsory redundancies. We understand the pressure this puts on our valued team of officers, while we are expecting them to continue with business as usual.

Changes in inflation and interest rates will be very important as we plan for the future.

Our Chief Finance Officer (the Section 151 officer) will monitor and report on whether we are making progress or whether a Section 114 notice remains possible or probable.

We will do everything we can to avoid that situation, as we do not wish to pay expensive Government Commissioners to take decisions for Somerset.

Reform of funding for local authorities, especially those with responsibility for adult social care, children’s services, housing and homelessness, is essential.

Please help us by asking all Parliamentary candidates at hustings whether they understand the national situation and acknowledge that local government is ‘in financial distress’, as recognised by a Cross Party Select Committee. The Government’s responses to the Select Committee’s report mostly refer to the next Parliament.

A greener, more sustainable Somerset

Somerset Council scores A- for Climate Work: In November 2023, Somerset Council was recognised for its work in response to the climate emergency. We achieved a score of A- from CDP, a charity that is considered the ‘gold standard’ of environmental reporting. This rating compares with a regional average of B and follows high scores for predecessor councils in Somerset. This work is, and always will be, a top priority for us as a Liberal Democrat administration.

A new Local Nature Recovery Strategy has been launched with full funding from Defra. This will map the locations of our most precious habitats and wildlife and identify places most suitable for nature restoration work. The survey is open until the end of April 2024.
We launched our ten-year Somerset Tree Strategy, again funded by Defra, aiming to increase our tree cover from current 8 per cent to at least the national average of 13 per cent.
We are also implementing the new Biodiversity Net Gain rules so that planning applications for new developments must leave nature better off than before and create new habitats and green spaces.
On public transport we have a new contractor for the Park & Ride in Taunton, we have saved many bus routes across Somerset using the BSIP funds, we have run a successful ‘Bus It’ campaign and we have recently seen a massive investment in Somerset by First bus company to bring the first electric buses to the county.
On recycling Somerset was ranked 28 out of 228 local authorities in the latest available figures, 2021/22. 97.2 per cent was recycled in the UK into new products and packaging, and of the 5,771 tonnes of plastic collected, 99.4 per cent was processed in the UK. Somerset’s collection crews make more than 350,000 collections every week.
Our focus on repair and reuse as well as recycling has seen the Fixybus celebrate its first anniversary and Community Action Groups launched in Shepton Mallet
Somerset again saw many parts of the county impacted seriously by flooding. We have supported residents, successfully applied for Government grants, worked on a Council Tax exemption scheme for those who had to leave their home and delivered flood support and resilience engagement sessions across Somerset with our partners.
The Blue Anchor Coastal Defence work has been delivered under budget using rock armour to protect this part of the 60+ mile coastline. The B3191 remains closed to vehicles following a landslip near Watchet but has recently opened again for pedestrians and will open for cyclists.
Additional electric vehicle recharging points have been installed in Taunton and in Dunster to add to those installed by our predecessor councils.
More active travel routes have been opened for ‘walking and wheeling’ and a Government grant of £1.5million has been secured for additional routes in Somerset.
The work on the Strawberry Line has continued with paths built by local contractors joining communities, bringing health benefits and increased safety away from busy roads.
We’ve worked with the Environment Agency to introduce an extra 8,000 glass eels into Chard reservoir to boost the reducing numbers of European eels.
Many existing Council-owned buildings are being de-carbonised including Libraries and office buildings, helping us reduce energy consumption and therefore cost.
School building has moved into a new age of sustainability with the construction of our first net zero school, Orchard Grove near Taunton.

A fairer, ambitious Somerset

Decent homes, education and support for Somerset's people

We know that we need to be more ambitious for the people of Somerset, and our Education for Life strategy is hugely important to us. We also know that many individuals and families are still seriously affected by the cost of living, and we know that decent housing is one of the main determinants of health
and wellbeing.

Properly affordable housing is a very real ambition for the new Somerset Council, with both Somerset West and North retaining approx. 9,700 social homes for rent.
North Taunton Woolaway Project has delivered 47 new energy efficient and accessible homes, with another 53 homes now underway.
54 homes are being completed in Minehead, the first council homes in West Somerset for more than 30 years.
As the new Council has a Housing Revenue Account, there is greater opportunity for more homes for social rent, with greater security of tenure.
A successful competitive bid for funding an innovative project resulted in a £9.5million grant to deliver a range of nutrient mitigations. This will help unlock the paused developments, including social and affordable housing.
Homes and Horizons is a nationally recognised project to create homes for children in Somerset who are not able to live with their families. Working with the Shaw Trust and the NHS, we provide a safe living and learning environment which also saves on the extortionate costs of privately run placements elsewhere.
The Healthy Happy Holiday programme and the Household Support Fund have supported thousands of families including activities and school meal vouchers.
We have supported food pantries across Somerset, many of them now celebrating their first years of helping lower income households.
We agreed a new Council Tax Reduction Scheme, and a further Exceptional Hardship Scheme to help those on the lowest incomes. The reduction for state pension age is mandated by the Government, yet like reductions for working age residents, it is funded by Somerset Council.
New school building is being spearheaded by Orchard Grove Primary School, near Taunton, which will be Somerset’s first net zero school. Community Infrastructure Levy, from housing development, is a major part of the funding of the school.
Government grants have been received for leisure facilities including swimming pools and tennis courts that are operated for Somerset Council on contracts or are leased to leisure companies.
Devolution of assets and services was a major part of the One Somerset business case, and in the financially challenging times we are experiencing, has been brought forward so that Parish/Town/City Councils can take over running of open spaces, parks, playgrounds and facilities for local people.
18 Local Community Networks have been established, bringing together Somerset and Parish/Town/City councillors, the voluntary sector and partner organisations.
Somerset Council now has four separate Highways contracts giving greater flexibility, a commitment to reducing carbon and no minimum spend allowing for more local working.
Somerset’s road network covers 4,172 miles, excluding the M5 and A303 which are maintained by National Highways.
As the highway authority we are working with 15 villages and towns that have submitted valid requests for 20mph speed limit.
Utility companies working on the highways and pavements have been fined by Somerset Council for roadwork offences including not reinstating surfaces correctly, working without permit or failures of traffic management.
Somerset Council has been granted £3.5m to purchase properties to house refugees from Afghanistan and Ukraine. These properties will become part of the Council’s housing stock when no longer needed for the refugees.

A flourishing and resilient Somerset

We need to be well placed to maximise opportunities, including all the many schemes started under the predecessor Councils. We know that Somerset has an ageing demographic and that we are a ‘net exporter’ of young people. It is essential that we take every opportunity to change that through economic development and regeneration.

The Agratas plans to build a gigafactory at the Gravity Smart Campus near Puriton made the national news. The £4billion investment from Tata and Government will employ 4,000 people and is to be supported by infrastructure funded by Somerset Council. Roads for site access, connectivity, skills and more will be funded and the borrowing paid for by business rates until 2052 (an extension of 10 years on other Enterprise Zones).
Somerset Council successfully requested a non-repayable grant of £55million from Government to pay the cost of borrowing until income from business rates commences.
Town Deals in Bridgwater and Glastonbury are now making good progress with contracts signed and work underway. There are 10 projects in Bridgwater and 10 in Glastonbury.
Future High Streets funding in Yeovil is delivering greatly improved public realm projects throughout the town centre.
Future High Streets funding has also delivered access to the Firepool site in Taunton, and work will soon commence on the Boulevard that will link the railway station to the centre of town. The Centre for Digital Innovation is now complete and ready for business.
The architectural and public realm improvements in Chard High Street’s Heritage Action Zone are nearing completion and the Grade1 Listed Old Courthouse saved.
Levelling Up funds have been awarded to Tone Works and Tonedale Mill projects in Wellington.
Levelling Up funds have also been awarded to convert the old hospital in Bridgwater to a social care academy and we are working with the NHS on the project.
UK Prosperity Funding (post-EU funding) has been agreed by the Government and plans are well advanced to use the £7million+ to fund further investment and regeneration in Somerset. Somerset has also been successful in gaining £3.4million from the Rural England Prosperity Fund. More details on both funds will follow.
An options appraisal for the upgrading of Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre has been completed following huge, unforeseen increases in construction costs and interest rates. Funding from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport is essential to complete the project, and the theatre will then be devolved to Yeovil Town Council.
Enterprise Centre at Chard is now offering quality workspace on an ‘easy in, easy out’ basis for fledgling and growing companies.
Mentoring and grants are offered to the business community of Somerset, including many that are environmental in nature including ‘Go Green’ grants.
The Heart of the South West (Devon and Somerset) Local Enterprise Partnership ends in April 2024, as mandated by Government, and the responsibilities will be taken on by Somerset Council.

A healthy and caring Somerset

Closer working with the NHS and partners

We will play our part in closer working with the NHS through the Integrated Care Partnership. Ensuring that every resident can lead their best life, at home for as long as possible, together with public health initiatives that can improve our quality of life.

Somerset Council’s work with Newton Europe is a programme of reablement. The programme is aimed at facilitating and improving re-ablement and so allowing more residents to return from hospital to their own homes, where that is their preferred option and with appropriate support.
The Council appreciates the huge contribution of unpaid carers, and we have reaffirmed our commitment to carers with a refreshed strategy. We estimate that there are at least 50,000 unpaid carers and young carers in Somerset and we have a duty and determination to support them.
Foster carers play a vital role in changing a child’s story, whether it is a child from a Somerset family, or an unaccompanied asylum seeking child. Somerset Council supports foster carers in many ways and offers financial packages to make it possible to devote the time necessary to take care of a child or children.
Somerset Council has received a £5million grant over five years from the National Institute for Health and Care Research to improve health and reduce inequalities.
Micro providers are self employed carers in many parts of Somerset, enabling people to stay in their own homes. As a Council we support this approach and have seen initiatives such as Wiveliscombe’s ‘Wivey Cares’ grow into a remarkable local resource for the community in the west of Somerset.
Connect Somerset is a network of 12 Champions, all experienced leaders in their communities, working to join up public services with the voluntary sector.
Somerset Council receives an annual Public Health grant which funds specific work and focusses on such important themes as HIV testing, blood pressure monitoring, use of Naxolene to combat overdoses, reusable period products and the Purple Chair initiative in Libraries as safe spaces for women and girls.
Pride events in Somerset are an important day in the Council’s calendar, demonstrating inclusivity, and the LGBTQ+ flag flies proudly from our Council flagpoles.
Somerset Council reaffirmed its commitment by signing the Armed Forces Covenant, recognising our debt to our Armed Forces community.
We have also supported the Walk for a Life event in Taunton, to raise awareness of suicide prevention. Officers of the Council, and elected members, wear the ‘Orange Button’ to show they have completed quality assured training in mental health or suicide prevention.
The Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Nursing Service in Somerset has won the prestigious NHS Parliamentary Award in the NHS 75th anniversary year.
The Council has agreed multiple year funding agreements with both Citizens Advice and Spark Somerset, recognising the importance of the organisations in the health and wellbeing of Somerset’s people.
Libraries have provided space for ‘Donate a Coat’ in the winter months to support both children and adults to keep warm and dry.
The Council’s Environmental Health service has a responsibility on noise pollution and has brought successful prosecutions recently, seizing music equipment that was affecting neighbours’ quality of life.
The Public Health team has launched a new website to bring together resources for all ages.