SOMERSET NEWS: Jobs to go as council looks to save money

AROUND 100 jobs could be lost at Somerset County Council to help save the authority nearly £1.5-million in the year ahead.

Spending plans of more than £300m have been unveiled by the authority – alongside a council tax freeze for a sixth year in a row.

But as a direct result of the reduction in Government funding, the council has had to make savings. These include decisions which will be debated and voted on by Cabinet members in early February:

£2.2m saved in adults services through more efficient ways of working.

£1m saved by less use of residential care homes and helping people stay in their own homes for longer.

Around 100 staff posts being lost – either through not filling vacancies, or voluntary/compulsory redundancies – the area hardest hit will be the back office and admin area of business support which alone will save £1.4m.

Reducing staff sickness – needing fewer expensive temporary staff.

Reducing training and support in areas such as nursery, early years and school improvement.

There are around 60 other proposals, from minor funding changes through to significant sums, bringing the savings total to just over £16m.

The proposals will be put to a vote at February’s Full Council meeting and also see plans for more than £56m to be spent on new roads, school buildings and other projects as well as outlining how funding to services such as supporting adults, children and vulnerable people will be allocated.

The plans reflect a loss of government funding to the tune of £20m compared to last year, as well as increased demand across many services which has put huge pressure on council budgets.

Council leader, Cllr John Osman, said: “We are delighted that we will be able to make decisions that will see investment in key areas in Somerset like roads and schools, and to continue with our promise to freeze our part of Council Tax for a further year.

“We have had to make some very difficult decisions to reflect the fall in Government funding. I call again on Government to look at how it allocates its funding and to stop the current system which penalises rural counties like Somerset. We want fairer funding for Somerset and will continue to take the fight to Government to try to win the argument.”

Under the proposals, frontline services for adults (£86m) and Children (£40m) remain the biggest budget areas and wherever possible have been protected. The plans will also see more set aside for highways and waste budgets.

The spending plans will be discussed by the council’s scrutiny committees on January 30, 2015, and Cabinet on February 9, 2015, both of which will be held at the Taunton Conference Centre at Somerset College.

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