Taunton Town Council December Update

It’s been just over six months now since the new Taunton Town Council came into being, and there’s no doubt it can be a force for good. My concern is with the financial chaos unfolding at Somerset Council. Town Council residents are now going to foot the bill as negations take place to see what services need to transfer to the Town Council to be maintained as the Unitary Council looks to drastically cut costs. This wasn’t what was promised by the Lib Dems when they removed Maidenbrook Ward from Cheddon Fitzpaine.

Next week, (12th Dec) Taunton Town Council meets for Full Council to discuss budget setting for the 2024/25 financial year. This is a standard occurrence in any council’s annual calendar. However, there is a big issue! A few weeks ago the Leader of Somerset Council wrote to Town and Parish Council effectively begging them to raise their Council Tax Precept as much as they like in order to take on and fund services his council currently provides because there is no cap for the lower level of local government. Whereas his Unitary Council are limited to 4.99% without requiring a referendum. He provided a large list of services that may be of interest to us as a council and described them as an “opportunity” but failed to provide any costings and as I write this they still haven’t arrived. Is it any wonder Somerset Council is on the verge of bankruptcy if they expect fellow councils to set budgets not knowing what the budgetary burdens will be?

Last week (27 Nov), I chaired the Finance & Governance Committee and under Agenda Item 11, a draft budget was presented and these are the proposed options for a precept rise:

Current Budget is £2,114,000 at a cost of £109.67 per annum. (Band D)

TOP Draft budget will cost £233.31 per annum on Band D, this is an additional £123.64pa

MIDDLE draft budget will cost £196.32 per annum on Band D, this is an additional £86.65pa

BOTTOM Draft budget will cost £161.03 per annum on Band D, this is an additional £51.36pa

These are staggering rises, and I note that this is not the final budget (that happens in February) and this could rise further once service costs from Somerset Council become available and once a decision is made on which services will transfer. Bear in mind that under Cheddon Fitzpaine Parish Council, a Band D property in Maidenbrook Ward was paying £40.97pa until March this year. If the Top Draft Budget is voted through, this would represent a whopping 470% precept increase in just 12 months!

Somerset Council’s Financial Position looks very bleak. Latest budget papers, published ahead of the Council’s Executive on 6 December, show the in-year overspend for 2023/24 has reduced from £27m to £19m, while the budget gap for 2024/25 has reduced from £100m to £87m. However, in order to close the gap and balance the budget next year a series of service reductions, efficiency savings, and increases to fees and charges, including Council Tax are being considered. Proposals include:

• Increases to parking, planning fees, harbour fees, registration ceremonies and green waste collections
• Reduction in library services, leisure provision, theatres, visitor centres and heritage services
• Reduction or cessation of CCTV provision
• Reduction in maintenance of ditches, grips, drains, gullies, grass and hedge cutting, weed treatment, road markings, signs and paths.
• Reduction in funding for active travel, bus services and highways safety schemes including school crossing patrols
• Reduction in the number of Household Waste Recycling centres

There is also a warning that even that may not be enough to fully close the gap, and a planned transformation programme will need to be accelerated and broadened to reduce the size of the council in future.

Finally, residents who need to talk to Somerset Council staff face to face about enquiries that cannot be dealt with online or by phone will need to visit Deane House from this month. The reception desk at A Block, County Hall, closed on 30 November as the building will be closed off in response to the financial emergency to reduce costs.

I’ve tried to keep this as brief as I can and I encourage any resident to speak at future meetings. Dates can be found here

If I can be of any help, please do get in touch.

Best Wishes

Cllr Giuseppe Fraschini
Maidenbrook Ward
Taunton Town Council