Council and democracy

Includes how the council works, council meetings and election information

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Somerset Council’s Corporate Peer Challenge 2024

Read the final report and recommendations from our Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge

Somerset Council Plan 2023 - 2027

Our vision and priorities for Somerset Council

In this section

Have your say

Being represented at meetings and committees

Your council

Includes our service standards and priorities

Complaints and compliments

Tell us what you think of our services

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Central Government e-petitions

UK Government and Parliament Petitions

Our customer panel

Help us shape your services

Consultation and engagement

Information on how to get involved and have your say on the things that matter to you

Petitions

Includes guidance on making, signing and submitting petitions

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Somerset Council’s Corporate Peer Challenge 2024

Read the final report and recommendations from our Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge

Impact assessments

Assessing the impact of our services on our customers and staff

Operational Service Standards

Our service standards let you know our timescales and what to expect from our services

Education for Life Strategy

Plans to transform education in Somerset

Somerset Children and Young People’s Plan

The plan sets out a shared vision to keep children and young people in Somerset safe

Customer Promise

Somerset Council is committed to good customer care and aims to deliver the best service possible

Customer Strategy

Our Customer Strategy outlines the way the council will seek to enable customers to access the services we offer

Our Customer Service Standards

Developed to support the commitments we have made to you in our Customer Promise

South Somerset Historic Environment Strategy

Read our Historic Environment Strategy on how we protect and enhance the historic environment of South Somerset

Somerset Council Plan 2023 – 2027

Our vision and priorities for Somerset Council

Charter Trustees for Taunton

Information on who the Charter Trustees for Taunton are, what they do and how they are funded

South Somerset Area+

Working together to find out and take care of the important things that the Area Committees have decided on

Enforcement Policy

Read our policy to see how we make enforcement decisions

Working together as a unitary

Changes to local government in Somerset

Somerset Council Productivity Plan

A summary of all the actions being taken in Somerset to secure long-term financial sustainability

What happened to my council account?

Log in to a district council account

Somerset Council’s Transformation Plan for children, young people and families

A programme of work to build stronger services to support the children and families we work with

Gypsies and Travellers

Information on Gypsies and Travellers in Somerset

Equality and Diversity

Equality data - information on the Equality Act and our duties, and our Workforce Equalities Report

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Complaints about Councillors

How to make a complaint about a councillor in Somerset

Complaints, comments and compliments

Give us your feedback or make a complaint

Democracy

Includes member profiles, meeting dates and reports and election information

Somerset Local Community Networks

Improving outcomes for residents by establishing strong connections between Somerset Council, our communities and our partners

Somerset Council Productivity Plan

A summary of all the actions being taken in Somerset to secure long-term financial sustainability

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Electoral Services

Includes how to register to vote, ways to vote and the latest election notices

City, Town and Parish Councils

There are 272 parishes in the Somerset Council area

Previous Committees

How to access records of previous committee meetings.

Constitution

Information on what the Constitution of Somerset Council is and what it includes

Find a councillor

How to find out who your local councillor is and the committee they belong to

Speaking at a council meeting

Guidelines to follow when speaking at a council meeting

Community Governance reviews

Checking if existing arrangements are reflective of the community in that area

Councillor Allowances

View the amount paid to councillors in allowances and expenses.

Committees, agendas and minutes

Find out the committees of the council and see how to access agendas, reports and minutes of all our meetings

Speaking at Planning Committee 

Guidance on how to request to speak at a planning committee, documentation and speaking time limits

About the Council

Information on what the elected councillors do and their services

Forward Plan and decisions

Find out about the council's key and non-key decisions

Working at an election

Find out about how you can get involved and register your interest in a role

Police and Crime Commissioner election

Each area elects one Police and Crime Commissioner who will serve for four years

Civic Dignitaries

Information about the Chair of Somerset Council, the Lord Lieutenant and the High Sheriff

Honorary Aldermen of Somerset Council

The highest award that can be made to a former Councillor in recognition of exceptional service to the Council

Become a Councillor

Information on standing for election and becoming a Councillor

Boundary and Electoral Arrangement Changes Privacy Notice

What we do with the information you give us

Public notices

Public notifications and announcements from Somerset Council

Civil Contingencies Unit

Responsible for providing the front line local authority response to an emergency in Somerset

Somerset Equality Officers

Working in partnership with other public sector partners across Somerset allows the council to work effectively, efficiently, avoiding duplication and share good practice.