North Somerset Council has received government approval to raise council tax by 8.99% starting this April, a significant increase above the typical cap of 4.99%. The council had applied for permission to increase it by up to 10% amid severe financial challenges, and the government’s decision reflects the gravity of their situation.
For an average band D property, this hike will add approximately £13.44 to the monthly council tax bill. However, even with this increase, the council faces a budget shortfall for the 2026/27 fiscal year. To balance their books, an additional £2.4 million in cuts must be identified on top of the £18 million already included through savings, cuts, and income generation initiatives.
Council leader Mike Bell emphasized the difficult reality: “None of us wants to raise council tax beyond the usual limits, but our financial position has worsened and demand and cost pressures have increased every year since 2010.” He noted that North Somerset was one of only seven councils nationwide granted exceptional permission for a larger council tax rise following a rigorous independent review and government scrutiny.
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Mr. Bell stated that while no final decision to implement the 8.99% increase has been made, councillors will vote on the budget at a full council meeting scheduled for February 24. He criticized government funding policies, remarking that reliance on extra council tax amid a cost of living crisis is an inadequate substitute for fair funding. The recent “fair funding review” by the government is expected to reduce North Somerset’s funding by £18.6 million over three years, a loss Mr. Bell called “the straw that broke the camel’s back.”
The council must legally set a balanced budget each year to avoid issuing a section 114 notice, which is an emergency declaration akin to declaring bankruptcy. Since 2018, 11 such notices have been issued nationwide amid mounting financial pressures on local authorities.
In a letter approving the tax increase, local government minister Alison McGovern acknowledged the financial difficulties and the ongoing government reforms aimed at redistributing funding more fairly. She stressed that while reform is underway, continued challenges and instability in local government finances will persist, with support frameworks remaining in place for councils like North Somerset facing dire circumstances.
Social care costs—a legal obligation for the council—are a major driver of this financial squeeze. Recent budgets have required deep cuts: last year, the council withdrew £9.1 million from reserves to balance its books but still made cuts deep enough to threaten essential services. Proposed reductions include closing two local libraries, suspending the North Somerset Life magazine, and freezing councillors’ allowances.
Addressing public concerns during a December Facebook livestream, Mr. Bell was candid: “We can’t generate enough savings or draw on reserves anymore to balance next year’s budget. We must use all available tools, including asking local people to pay more.” He added, “The reality is, you will pay more and receive fewer services.”
North Somerset Council’s cabinet will meet on February 11 to discuss the budget further, with the full council set to vote on the final budget on February 24 at Weston-super-Mare Town Hall.