County funding sum 'is far short of what we need'

THE government's provisional funding settlement to Somerset Council for 2026-27 has come under fire from the county’s six Liberal Democrat MPs.

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The MPs - Adam Dance (Yeovil), Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton), Tessa Munt (Wells and Mendip Hills), Gideon Amos (Taunton and Wellington), Rachel Gilmour (Tiverton and Minehead) and Anna Sabine (Frome and East Somerset) - have written a joint letter to the Local Government Minister, Alison McGovern, asking for an urgent meeting.

The MPs describe the initial settlement as “profoundly disappointing” as it suggests Somerset would only receive a marginal increase in funding to £252 million, compared with £249 million in the current year.

A statement from the Liberal Democrats said that the announcement indicates nearly all the increase in the costs of care for adults and children - a duty prescribed by government - and of other services, should be met by local people from Council Tax increases. It also appears Somerset will lose out significantly on income received from business rate collection.