'Radical action' as council faces financial 'emergency'

Leader of the council Mike Bell said the cost of social services was rising

Council leaders said they will have to introduce "radical measures" which will make people "angry" as the authority faces a financial emergency.

North Somerset Council has "unprecedented pressures" on its services and "without immediate radical action", the authority predicts an overspend of £23.5m by the end of March.

A further £11.6m needs to be found to balance the budget.

Leader of the council Mike Bell said: "Costs for social care and other key services mean that without further immediate measures we will face a significant overspend."

Councillors will meet on 17 September to discuss the growing pressures for the years ahead, as the number of vulnerable children and adults requiring support is increasing.

Mr Bell said: "Our challenge is set against a backdrop of 15 years of national funding cuts meaning that we have already had many successive years of identifying ever more difficult savings."

He added that the council will need to introduce "radical measures", including the withdrawal of "non-essential services".

"Some of our decisions will be unpopular. People will be angry.

"We will do our best to ensure our communities have all the information they need so they understand why we are having to take such action.

"We hope that in return our communities will support each other and work with us to continue to make North Somerset a great place to live, work and visit," Mr Bell added.

The council's executive will meet at 15:30 BST on 17 September at the Town Hall in Weston-super-Mare.