Budget consultation 2027/2028

Overview

Introduction

Welcome to Somerset Council’s Summer Budget Consultation for the 2027/28 financial year.

This early-stage consultation is part of our budget planning process. We want to understand what matters most to residents, communities and businesses before detailed proposals are developed. Your feedback will help shape our priorities and inform how we plan to use our resources.

Our budget and Medium-Term Financial Plan set out how we fund and deliver a wide range of services across Somerset. These include adult and children’s social care, waste collection and recycling, public health, education, highways and transport, libraries, and leisure and community services. Many of these services are statutory, which means we are required by law to provide them.

Like all councils, we must set a balanced budget each year. This means we cannot spend more than the funding available to us. At the same time, we are facing growing financial pressures. The cost of delivering services is increasing due to inflation and rising demand, while available funding has not kept pace. This creates a significant gap between what it costs to deliver services and the funding we receive.

We recognise that these pressures are similar to those experienced by many households and businesses. As a result, we need to make difficult decisions about how we prioritise spending and manage limited resources.

Why your views matter

We want to hear from you.

Your feedback will help us understand what is most important to you and your community. This will inform the approach we take to balancing the budget and help shape the options we develop for later in the year.

This consultation is open to everyone, including residents, businesses and local organisations. Every perspective is important.

Your views will help us make informed decisions and ensure that, as far as possible, our budget reflects local priorities.

When sharing your feedback, please think about what matters most to you, your family, and your local area. Your views will help influence the choices we make.