Somerset MPs have joined forces in a bid to secure additional central government funding to prevent an 11 per cent increase in council tax, aimed at addressing a daunting £73 million budget shortfall faced by Somerset Council.
Set to finalize its annual budget on February 25, Somerset Council anticipates proposing a significant rise in council tax to bridge the funding gap caused by increasing demand for local services. The council’s executive committee revealed on January 7 that it had submitted preliminary figures indicating a potential council tax increase of up to 10.99 per cent for 2026/27—bringing Somerset’s rates in line with neighboring West Country areas.
Six of Somerset’s seven Members of Parliament recently met with local government minister Alison McGovern at Westminster to press the government for increased financial support to avoid such a steep tax rise. The attendees included 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)—along with Conservative MP Sir Ashley Fox (Bridgwater). Wells and Mendip Hills MP Tessa Munt was unable to attend.
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Previously, all six Lib Dem MPs had expressed strong dissatisfaction with the local government funding settlement announced in December 2025, describing it as “profoundly disappointing.”
Following the meeting, the Liberal Democrat MPs jointly stated that the proposed financial settlement threatens to impose an unaffordable 11 per cent council tax increase on Somerset residents amid an ongoing cost-of-living crisis. They emphasized that council taxpayers should not bear the brunt of financial mismanagement attributed to prior Conservative-led administrations.
Allowing this rise would mark the second consecutive year Somerset Council could exceed the 4.99 per cent referendum threshold, following last year’s 7.49 per cent hike.
The MPs stressed that such a substantial increase would be excessive for residents and urged the government to revise its funding formula to better reflect the unique challenges of rural areas. Notably, Somerset—ranking as the fifth largest council by land area—has suffered financially from the removal of the “remoteness uplift,” which accounted for extra costs tied to sparsely populated regions.
They also called for reimbursement of £11 million lost due to business rates reform and raised concerns regarding reductions in the public health budget, which place further pressure on care services.
Describing the meeting as constructive, the MPs noted Minister McGovern listened attentively and invited further submissions related to health and care costs. Yet, they remain apprehensive that the Labour government may not fully grasp the difficulties rural communities like Somerset face.
The representatives pledged to pursue additional meetings with government officials to advocate for increased year-on-year funding. They argued it should not fall to Somerset’s taxpayers to compensate for systemic underfunding of care services.
Currently, Somerset Council allocates nearly two-thirds of its budget to care for vulnerable children and adults, leaving limited resources for essential services like road maintenance, planning, and waste collection.
While the government commissioned Baroness Casey to develop future adult social care funding plans, the first phase of her report is not expected until later this year, with full implementation projected for 2028.
The MPs criticized the government for failing to adequately fund rising care costs borne by local authorities, warning that Somerset cannot sustain further job cuts or rely solely on its ongoing transformation efforts. The council has already made significant reductions, cutting over 700 jobs this year alone.
As Somerset Council navigates a challenging funding environment, the MPs vowed to continue fighting for central government support, emphasizing their role in protecting local taxpayers and ensuring the delivery of crucial services.
Meanwhile, Conservative MP Sir Ashley Fox offered a somewhat different perspective, acknowledging his willingness to advocate for Somerset’s funding needs but refraining from defending the council’s past financial decisions. He criticized the council’s financial management, citing recent audit reports and controversies like the Life Factory project in Glastonbury.
Fox stated, “It’s my duty to secure the best financial settlement for my constituents, but I must also hold the council accountable for its mismanagement. I will continue to lobby the government for a better deal while urging council leaders to improve their stewardship of public funds.”
The council is expected to publish detailed budget proposals by the end of January, with the full council slated to approve final plans in a meeting in Bridgwater on February 25.