Conservative-controlled West Somerset Council will be setting a balanced budget in the coming year despite five years of cuts in central government financial support. The Council is facing a 14.1% reduction in its settlement funding next year and, when the previous cuts are taken into account, West Somerset has lost a quarter of its funding in just two years.
Despite the squeeze, the Council is preparing a balanced budget without having to raid its reserves. But Council Tax is likely to rise by 1.99% - which would mean a 5p a week increase for the average Band D property.
Substantial savings are being achieved through the Joint Management and Shared Services (JMASS) initiative with neighbouring Taunton Deane Borough Council with West Somerset realising an ongoing saving of £307,000 a year.
Despite these savings, the Council was facing a budget gap in excess of £300,000 but a combination of savings and increases in some fees and charges, means the gap has been bridged.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Tim Taylor, said: “Despite substantial cuts in Government funding, West Somerset Council is able to set a balanced budget in 2015-16. Our partnership with Taunton Deane is not only achieving significant savings but is providing extra capacity and a more specialised team of officers.
“Being able to set a balanced budget has meant some difficult decisions – raising Council Tax by 1.99% for example. But we are proposing to give some grants to organisations that help the most vulnerable within West Somerset, and we have avoided any significant impact on frontline services.”
West Somerset’s share of the total Council tax bill is about 9% with the balance for services provided by Somerset County Council, Police and Fire authorities, and Parish and Town councils.