Somerset’s two main political parties are embroiled in a fierce dispute following a scathing independent report on the financial management of Somerset Council.
The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) conducted a thorough review of the council’s finances, releasing its findings just before a critical audit committee meeting. The report highlighted serious concerns about the council’s leadership and organisational culture, rating its financial management as “weak” and awarding just one star out of a possible five.
The Conservatives, who serve as the official opposition, criticized the council for its slow progress in implementing its transformation programme. They vowed to tackle what they called the “financial mess” left by the Liberal Democrats if they regain control in next year’s local elections.
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In response, the ruling Liberal Democrats defended their record, emphasizing their efforts to control spending. They blamed the Conservative-led administration prior to the creation of the new unitary authority for the council’s financial difficulties, arguing that alternative courses of action would have resulted in effective bankruptcy.
Key findings from the CIPFA review include:
- Weak financial management and controls
- Insufficient pace in implementing changes
- Lack of accountability
- Failure to embed necessary cultural reforms
Councillor Dawn Denton, Shadow Finance Portfolio Holder, described the report as “one of the most serious independent assessments” that Somerset Council could receive. She stated, “After four years of Lib Dem control and three years running the new authority, the council has been rated just one star by CIPFA, the UK’s leading public finance body.”
Councillor Diogo Rodrigues, Opposition Leader, said the report should serve as a clear warning ahead of the 2027 local elections. “Somerset taxpayers have seen over £19 million spent on consultants and transformation support in just three years," he noted. “Yet CIPFA still finds financial management weak and transformation too slow. Council tax has risen sharply, services are struggling, and the council depends on emergency financial support and asset sales to balance the books.”
Council Leader Bill Revans countered these claims, attributing much of the council’s difficult financial position to decisions made by the previous Conservative administration. He pointed to the controversial approval of the MS Dynamics financial system despite warnings as an example. Revans added, “We have worked hard to reduce the deficit from an enormous £123 million when the financial emergency was declared, and we are on track to recover with a balanced budget by 2027/28.”
He warned that without the current measures, the council would face effective bankruptcy, steep council tax hikes, costly commissioners, and severe service cuts.