Residents, businesses and community organisations across Somerset are being invited to share their views as Somerset Council launches an early-stage consultation on its budget for 2027/28.
The Summer Budget Consultation is the first step in the Council’s annual budget-setting process. It aims to understand what matters most to local people before detailed proposals are developed later in the year.
Somerset Council delivers a wide range of services across the county, including adult and children’s social care, waste collection and recycling, public health, education, highways, libraries and community services. Many of these are statutory services that the Council is required by law to provide.
Like councils across the country, Somerset continues to face growing financial pressures despite saving around £135m since 2023. While the council has moved from financial emergency towards financial recovery, the demand for and cost of delivering services continues to rise meaning ongoing actions are required.
This consultation focuses on priorities – asking people what they value most, and what should guide future decision-making.
Somerset Council’s Deputy Leader Cllr Liz Leyshon, who is Lead Member for Finance, Procurement and Performance, said: “Setting a balanced budget each year is one of the most important things we do as a council, and we have taken decisive action in recent years to save £135m and move from financial emergency towards financial recovery.
“We know these are challenging times for many of our residents, businesses and communities. That’s why it’s so important we hear from as many people as possible before we develop detailed proposals to ensure we stay on the right track and continue the hard work we’ve undertaken to move us into a recovery phase.
“This early consultation is about listening – understanding what matters most to people across Somerset so we can focus our resources where they will have the greatest impact.”
Feedback from this stage will help shape the Council’s approach to balancing the budget and inform the options that will be brought forward for further consultation later in the year.
The consultation is open to everyone, and all responses will be considered as part of the decision-making process.
Residents are encouraged to take part and share their views online:
Have your say on Somerset’s budget priorities
The consultation closes on Monday 27 July.
