Steep rise in council tax for Yeovil and Taunton to save services

Taunton Town Council will take on some services from Somerset Council, which could include locking the main gates at Vivary Park

People in Yeovil and Taunton will have to pay nearly two or three times as much council tax from April.

Both town councils approved their annual budget on Tuesday, which included setting their portion of the council tax bill paid by residents.

A Band D home in Taunton will pay an extra £192 a year. A similar household in Yeovil will pay an extra £130.

It comes as the councils prepare to take over some services from Somerset Council, which needs to make savings.

The higher town council bill for residents comes ahead of expected increases from Somerset Council, Avon and Somerset Police and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

Residents in Taunton reacted angrily to the town council's 179% increase, which raises the precept from £107 to £299 for a Band D home, while Yeovil Town Council voted through a 90% increase.

Town and parish councils are not limited in how much they can increase their council tax.

Somerset Council, as a top-tier authority, has its annual increase capped at 4.99%, unless it holds a referendum or gets special permission from the government.

It is asking the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for a 9.99% increase for 2024/25 which would be an extra £163 for a Band D home.

Somerset Council leader Bill Revans has called many of the money-saving options "unpalatable"

Somerset Council has asked town and parish councils to run some of the non-statutory services it says it can no longer afford, as it tries to tackle a projected £100m budget overspend next year.

Councillor Bill Revans, the council's Liberal Democrat leader, has blamed the rising cost of adult social care, inflation and a lack of adequate funding from central government.

Following an announcement last week aimed at helping struggling authorities, Somerset Council will get £5m extra from the government.

But it has said that it is not enough to stop the cuts.

Taunton Town Council leader Tom Deakin, said he did not want to see services fall away

Speaking after the council tax rise was voted through, councillor Tom Deakin, Liberal Democrat leader of Taunton Town Council said: "This puts us at a similar level to other town councils in Somerset and will enable us to protect and improve local services that people really care about.

"Since we were elected in May 2023, the poor standard of public conveniences in the town has been at the top of the list of complaints from our residents. This budget will enable us to tackle this important issue."

However, Conservative opposition town councillor Giuseppe Fraschini said raising council tax is "unjustifiable" and that the move showed "no regards for residents' pockets".

Sport and arts facilities

Yeovil Town Council said raising its share of council tax would allow it to take over at-risk facilities from Somerset Council.

It said these include sport facilities at Yeovil Rec as well as the management of Westlands Entertainment Venue, Yeovil Country Park and South Somerset Heritage Collection.

It is also in talks with Somerset Council about the Octagon Theatre, which is currently closed.

Meanwhile, North Petherton Town Council has also confirmed it is increasing its precept, adding an extra £62 a year to a Band D property from April.

It says this will pay for extra services including youth outreach workers to reduce anti-social behaviour.

A Somerset Council spokesperson said: "Many towns and parishes are engaging with us and stepping up to support, looking to take on discretionary services and numerous assets that may be at risk, and could potentially be devolved.

"Conversations continue to be constructive and positive as, together, we seek solutions to minimise impact on our residents."