Somerset Council
Dear Tim Lethaby, Editor of Somerset County Gazette
Hello Tim As the editor of County Gazette, I wanted to let you know I am concerned about how your newspaper’s recent posts on Facebook appear to incite hostility towards public officials like myself. There have been two specific posts regarding the remuneration of Councillors and MPs that lack context and balance. The resulting comments…
Read More“What has Somerset Council ever done for you, apart from what we do?”
Yesterday, during the Full Council meeting of Somerset Council, I responded to the annual report on Public Health. Below is what I said, along with some additional notes. Recently, I heard the remark: “What has Somerset Council ever done for you, apart from what we do?” Public Health is a crucial aspect of the Council’s…
Read MoreRoad Works Round-Up (2023 to date) – Evercreech Area
Extended reduced speed (40mph) scheme on A371 (including Pecking Mill corner): Lining work complete; sign installation imminent. Victoria Square Parking Improvements; lines installed, with bay timings consultation concluded. Discussions will continue with Evercreech Parish Council. Works Completed: Planned Maintenance:
Read MoreCouncil Tax Decision Explained
Somerset Council Leader Bill Revans has reiterated calls for expedited reform of local government funding by the Government, as councillors voted on a balanced budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year during the Full Council meeting on March 5th. As part of the budget proposal, the Government has authorised Somerset Council to increase Council Tax by…
Read MoreDistress with Dentistry in Somerset – we can’t fix this crisis alone say NHS Somerset
Dentistry in Somerset is currently facing a crisis, as reported by NHS Somerset, a part of the Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB), which is responsible for planning and delivering local health services. In a stark warning delivered to Somerset Council’s Adults and Health (Feb 27th, 2025) Committee, NHS Somerset said, “the gap between patient needs…
Read More“Because sometimes you have to do something bad to do something good.” Oscar Wilde
Yesterday, Somerset Council held a Full Council meeting, which I attended as the Unitary Councillor representing the Mendip South division. This meeting is a critical step in the budget-setting process scheduled for March. In an urgent effort to balance the books, we voted to transform the Council’s workforce, which will involve a reduction of around…
Read MoreDoes Somerset Need a Dry January?
Somerset is home to an estimated 5,202 individuals who are alcohol-dependent, with approximately 80% (around 4,000) having unmet treatment needs. While we should approach this figure with caution, national trends suggest it may actually be an underestimate. Alarmingly, alcohol-related hospital admissions in Somerset are higher than the national average, particularly among women under 40. One…
Read MoreA371 road safety planned works update
Road safety at The Pecking Mill corner has been a cause of concern for local people for a long time. Lib Dem Somerset Councillor Claire Sully made it a priority to investigate the issues to find solutions. Claire has met with local residents, consulted with Avon and Somerset Police, organised road monitoring, liaised with Somerset…
Read MoreMendip South councillor report for August
Somerset Council disposal of assets in response to financial emergency Somerset Council has authorised the sale of non-operational assets, with a combined value of between £17m and £21m. A report recommending the disposal of several Somerset Council assets to help generate funds in response to the financial emergency was considered and approved by Somerset Exec…
Read MoreSuicide Prevention Work in Somerset Update
When I joined Somerset Council’s Adults and Health Scrutiny Committee, in 2022, I asked that suicide prevention was added to the work programme. Last week we had an update on a new (draft) Somerset suicide prevention strategy that is supporting a new national strategy, which was launched September last year. The draft strategy draws on…
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