Parishes, Districts, Boroughs and County Levels
Three tiers of local Government serve residents in the county of Somerset.
The County Council is the last tier before national government. Somerset County Council employs over 14,000 people in its various departments and establishments and is the county's largest employer. It has a total spending of £347 million. Most employees are engaged in front line services to the public.
Its responsibilities include:
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Education including adult education, the youth service and under fives;
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Social services who work with other agencies to provide integrated care in the community (including fostering, adoption, care of those with special needs and the vulnerable including the elderly, the Drug Action Team and Youth Offending Team);
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Emergency planning;
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Highways and Road Safety;
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Rights of way;
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The environment and waste disposal together with planning applications for waste and mineral sites.;
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Economic development. The county is responsible for the strategic plans which set out policies for the location of new development such as housing, industry, shopping and leisure facilities and the transport to serve these.
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Consumer Protection;
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Libraries and museums.
District and Borough Councils
In Somerset there are four district councils: Mendip, Sedgemoor, South Somerset and West Somerset; and one borough council: Taunton Deane.
Their responsibilities include:
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Building regulations;
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Car parks;
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Cemeteries;
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Concessionary bus fares;
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Council tax;
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Council housing for rent and sale;
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Economic development;
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Elections;
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Food safety and hygiene;
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some highway maintenance;
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Historic buildings; housing benefits; improvement grants; leisure and recreation; licensing;
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Local plans;
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Parks and playing fields;
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Pest control;
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Planning applications;
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Refuse collection;
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Sports centres;
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Street cleaning;
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some markets;
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Tourism;
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Tree preservation.
At the grass roots level are town and parish councils.
They provide and maintain:
Parish councils were established by the Local Government Act 1894, but most of their legal powers were abolished by the 1972 Local Government Act.
A parish council acts as the voice of its local community, passing parishioners’ opinions and views on to higher levels of government and other bodies. Its powers are defined and granted by acts of Parliament.
Funding of local authorities
Local authorities raise their income in a number of different ways. Council tax makes up 25 per cent of the revenue, business rates 24 per cent, 18 per cent is recovered in fees and charges and the remaining 33 per cent comes from central government.
Working together
Local authorities frequently work together in partnership, not just with each other, but with other agencies including the Health Service and voluntary sector.
*Two of Somerset County Council’s neighbouring councils are unitary authorities. Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset Councils are two of the councils who replaced the former Avon County Council. A unitary authority has a two-tier structure combining the services provided by both the county and district councils.
Contacts:
SOMERSET COUNTY COUNCIL
County Hall
TAUNTON
TA1 4DY
Phone: 0845 345 9166
Website : http://www.somerset.gov.uk
SEDGEMOOR DISTRICT COUNCIL
Bridgwater House
King Square
BRIDGWATER
Somerset
TA6 3AR
Chief Executive: Kerry Rickards
Phone: 0845 408 2540
Fax: 01278 435500
Website: www.sedgemoor.gov.uk
MENDIP DISTRICT COUNCIL
Cannards Grave Road
SHEPTON MALLET
Somerset
BA4 5BT
Chief Executive: David Thomson
Phone: 01749 648999
Fax: 01749 346392
Website: www.mendip.gov.uk
WEST SOMERSET DISTRICT COUNCIL
West Somerset House
Killick Way
WILLITON
Somerset
TA4 4QA
Executive Director: Adrian Dyer
Phone: 01643-703704
Fax: 01984-633022
Website: www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk
SOUTH SOMERSET DISTRICT COUNCIL
Council Offices
Brympton Way
YEOVIL
Somerset
BA20 2HT
Chief Executive: Philip Dolan
Phone: 01935 462462
Fax: 01935 462188
Website: www.southsomerset.gov.uk
TAUNTON DEANE BOROUGH COUNCIL
Deane House
Belvedere Road
TAUNTON
Somerset
TA1 1HE
Chief Executive: Penny James
Phone: 01823 356356
Fax: 01823 356385
Website: www.tauntondeane.gov.uk
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