Somerset Council leader wants residents' help on budget

Somerset Council declared a financial emergency and is facing an estimated budget gap of £100m in 2024/25

A council leader has written an open letter to residents calling for their support after the authority declared a financial emergency earlier this month.

Somerset Council leader Bill Revans urged people to write to their MPs to help the council "survive this".

The council faces a predicted £100m gap in its budget for the next financial year and is trying to avoid bankruptcy.

Mr Revans said: "Services will need to be stripped down if the government doesn't help us.

"We want to solve this financial situation and but it means we have to make some incredibly tough decisions on public services, taxes and selling off assets," he added in an interview with BBC Radio Somerset.

Liberal Democrat council leader Mr Revans said he had written to Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, to make him aware of the situation in Somerset and call for support.

The council is trying to avoid the threat of effectively going bust, as has happened to other authorities such as Birmingham City Council.

'Breaking point'

Mr Revans continued: "Adult social care is still breaking in local authorities and this is a national problem. We need a national solution.

"The previous Conservative administration [in Somerset] highlighted the adult social care crisis and we are starting to see those cracks in our finances as it's driving £70m of our £100m deficit.

"We can see a route out of this financial hole, but it's a incredibly painful route for all of us and we need support from the government."

Councillor Bill Revans was appointed as Somerset Council's leader in May 2022

A recent survey by the County Councils Network says one in 10 authorities in the UK are facing effective bankruptcy, putting vital services at risk.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: "Local authorities have seen an increase in core spending power of up to £5.1bn - or 9.4 per cent in cash terms on 2022-23.

"Councils are ultimately responsible for the management of their own finances, but we stand ready to talk to any council that is concerned about its financial position."