SOMERSET NEWS: Unexpected cash windfall for county council

A £600k Government cash windfall has allowed Somerset County Council to review some of its cost-cutting measures due to be debated next week.

Somerset is among the authorities receiving an unexpected share of £74m for local welfare and social care announced by Government last week.

The cash will be used to review some of the proposed Saturday bus route closures and could see the removal of a proposed cut to some homeless support services from this year’s budget plans.

The extra funds are being seen as a victory for county and unitary councils who have lobbied hard for extra funding – including Somerset County Council’s “fairer funding for Somerset” campaign.

The review of savings in light of the extra funding will be considered at today’s (Monday, February 9, 2015) meeting of the County Council’s Cabinet.

Council leader, Cllr John Osman, said: “It is very welcome and comes at a time when we are looking at dealing with a £21m cut in government funding.

“I am delighted we are now able to review some of our proposed savings, but I will continue the fight for more funding to protect our frontline services.”

Cllr Osman highlighted proposed savings now being reviewed.

Funding to help prevent people becoming homeless – known as Pathway 4 Adults. Proposed savings could be removed from this year’s budget.

£90k in public subsidies for a seven Saturday bus routes.

Cllr Osman said: “We have listened to the many concerns expressed about Pathway 4 Adults and how the proposals would have an impact on other councils and partners.

“However, the longer-term the solution is not entirely in the hands of the county council which has no statutory responsibility to provide this support.

“We will be hosting further meetings with councils and partners to discuss how they can help us make savings in this service and what contributions they will make which needed for this support to continue.

“I’m also delighted that after our extensive consultation, we are able to consider continuing to subsidise some of our local Saturday bus routes. But let’s not lose sight of the fact that Somerset is under-funded by government and the gap between our funding and services that residents want us to provide is growing each year.”

The county council’s 2015-16 budget will be considered by Cabinet today (Monday, February 9, 2015) and then by Full Council on February 18, 2015.

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