Somerset’s MPs have united in a bold demand for additional central government funding to avert a proposed 11 percent council tax increase. The Somerset Council, grappling with a £73 million budget shortfall largely caused by escalating demand for local services, will set its budget on February 25, a process expected to result in significantly higher council tax bills.
On January 7, the council’s executive committee revealed they had submitted “illustrative figures” to the government indicating potential council tax rises up to 10.99 percent for the 2026/27 fiscal year—putting Somerset on par with other West Country counties.
In response, six of Somerset’s seven MPs met with local government minister Alison McGovern on January 13 to urge the government to provide extra core funding aimed at mitigating the need for such a substantial tax hike. Five Liberal Democrat MPs—Gideon Amos (Taunton and Wellington), Adam Dance (Yeovil), Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton), Rachel Gilmour (Tiverton and Minehead), and Anna Sabine (Frome and East Somerset)—alongside Conservative Sir Ashley Fox (Bridgwater) attended the Westminster meeting. Wells and Mendip Hills MP Tessa Munt was unable to participate.
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The Lib Dem MPs had previously expressed their dissatisfaction with the December 2025 local government funding settlement, describing it as “profoundly disappointing.” Following the meeting, the five MPs issued a joint statement highlighting the severity of the council’s upcoming financial challenges.
They condemned the provisional funding settlement as a “Labour government bombshell,” warning it would impose an unbearable 11 percent tax increase on residents already struggling amid a cost-of-living crisis. The MPs also criticized what auditors have identified as “poor decisions” and financial mismanagement by the previous Conservative-led administration.
If allowed, this increase would mark the second consecutive year Somerset surpasses the 4.99 percent referendum limit, following a 7.49 percent rise last year.
The MPs emphasized their firm stance against burdening residents with excessive increases and called on the government to revise its fair funding formula to better reflect the needs of rural areas. They noted that Somerset, as the fifth largest council by land area in England, suffers significantly from the removal of the “remoteness uplift,” a funding adjustment that acknowledged the extra costs of delivering services across sparsely populated regions.
The MPs also pressed for reimbursement of £11 million lost due to business rates reforms and highlighted cuts to public health budgets that have intensified pressures on care services. In the constructive meeting, Minister McGovern listened carefully and invited further submissions on health and care costs, though MPs remain concerned about the government’s understanding of rural community challenges.
They urged the government to recognize the profound impact of its funding decisions on Somerset’s ability to provide essential front-line services in a predominantly rural area. The MPs committed to pursuing additional discussions with government officials and pressing for increased annual funding to ease the county’s financial strain.
Highlighting the council’s spending priorities, the MPs noted that around two-thirds of Somerset’s budget supports care for vulnerable children and adults, leaving less funding available for crucial services such as highway maintenance, planning, and waste collection.
The government has tasked Baroness Casey with developing a plan for adult social care funding reform, with findings expected later this year and full implementation not projected until 2028.
The MPs criticized the government for failing to cover the additional care costs local authorities bear and warned that Somerset Council cannot continue to balance its budget through further job cuts or ongoing transformation initiatives. Already, over 700 jobs have been cut this year.
They concluded by reaffirming their commitment to advocating for Somerset residents, stating that council taxpayers should not be forced to compensate for systemic government care funding failures.
Somerset Council’s detailed budget proposals are due for publication by the end of January, with a full council meeting scheduled for February 25 in Bridgwater to vote on the plans.
Conservative MP Sir Ashley Fox expressed willingness to challenge the government on behalf of constituents but criticized the council’s financial management. He attributed recent difficulties to poor administration under Liberal Democrat leadership and called for improved fiscal responsibility.
Fox said, “It’s my job to secure the best possible financial settlement for my constituents and I argued with Lib Dem colleagues for a better deal from the government. However, Somerset does not manage its money well.”
His remarks follow a recent critical report on the Life Factory project in Glastonbury, which was backed by central government grants, and ongoing auditor concerns about the pace of service delivery reforms within the council.
Fox reiterated, “While I’ll continue to seek better funding, I’ll also hold councillors accountable: they must stop wasting money and improve their performance.”