Council Proposes Maximum 4.99% Council Tax Increase to Support Social Care Monday, February 16, 2026 counciltax budget socialcare funding prevention bath council localgovernment taxrise budgetcuts Bath and North East Somerset councillors are set to consider a proposed 4.99% increase in council tax as part of the 2026/27 budget plan. The proposal, supported by the council’s cabinet on February 12, now awaits approval … Read More
Somerset Council Withdraws £150m Borrowing Commitment for £4bn Gigafactory Project Monday, February 16, 2026 somerset agratas gigafactory funding infrastructure businessrates enterprisezone construction jobs economicgrowth Somerset Council has announced the withdrawal of a £150 million borrowing commitment previously earmarked to support infrastructure for Somerset’s ambitious £4 billion gigafactory project. Despite this shift in funding, … Read More
Somerset Council Pulls £150m Funding from £4bn Gigafactory Project Monday, February 16, 2026 somerset gigafactory agratas infrastructure funding businessrates economy construction enterprisezone jobs Somerset Council has withdrawn £150 million of previously allocated funds from its capital programme that were intended to support the development of Somerset’s new £4 billion gigafactory. Despite this change, … Read More
Rural North East Somerset Faces Losing Bus Services Yet Again Amid Funding Cuts Wednesday, February 11, 2026 buses rural transport chewvalley weca publictransport funding westlink westlocal liberaldemocrats sport The Chew Valley in North East Somerset is once again at risk of losing all its regular bus services following government cuts to regional transport funding. After losing all bus services in 2023, the local community rallied … Read More
West of England’s Free Birthday Bus Travel Scheme Discontinued Tuesday, February 10, 2026 weca bus publictransport bristol fares youth rural transport funding schemes sport The West of England’s free bus travel scheme, which allowed residents to travel free on buses throughout their birthday month, has been discontinued quietly by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA). Introduced in … Read More
Somerset Council ‘Not Facing Bankruptcy Within 12 Months,’ But Financial Challenges Persist Tuesday, February 10, 2026 somerset council budget bankruptcy finance localgovernment counciltax socialcare austerity funding Somerset Council’s interim chief financial officer, Clive Heaphy, has confirmed that the council is “not in the territory” of declaring effective bankruptcy within the next 12 months. However, balancing the budget … Read More