Council dips into reserves after accounting error

Bridgwater Town Council said services would not be disrupted as a result of the mistake

A town council has dipped into its reserves after discovering a budgeting software error just weeks after taking on additional services.

Bridgwater Town Council signed a devolution deal with Somerset Council in May, agreeing to run a long list of local services.

But the council found an error, revealing it was on course to overspend by £420,000 in the current financial year.

It said it would manage the overspend through a mixture of reserves, increased income generation and savings.

Blake Gardens is one of the spaces the town council has assumed responsibility for

Under the new deal, Bridgwater Town Council is responsible for a range of services, including public green spaces, street cleaning and playgrounds.

Other services, like social care and rubbish collections, remain the responsibility of Somerset Council.

People living in Bridgwater have had a council tax increase by 163% in February, adding to the pressure for services to be delivered.

Somerset Council, meanwhile, was forced to cut £35m from its own budget after declaring a financial emergency.

'No threat to services'

When the deal was finalised in May, council leader Brian Smedley said the town would enjoy a "brighter future" and it was taking "control of its own destiny".

The town council said the software error would not mean services would be disrupted.

A spokesman said the joint deal "will ensure much-valued facilities continue for residents".

They added the council would like to "reassure its residents that the current budget is sustainable and there is no threat to service delivery".