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Councillors also approved a 4.99% North Somerset Council tax increase on a Band D property (including a 2 percent of adult social care), which is an £85.25 increase over the year or £1.64 per week. As a result, North Somerset’s council tax will remain second lowest in the region.
Cllr Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council said: “It’s taken a lot of hard work and determination to set a balanced budget in these challenging financial times.
“To do so, we’ve implemented a series of measures to help reduce costs and generate income, changing the way contracts are commissioned, looking at how services are delivered, how services can be transformed and in some cases reducing services. We have also reduced senior management and the staff workforce. However, our hard work doesn’t stop with a balanced 2025/26 budget today, we still have a £10 million gap in our revenue budget for the next financial three years left to close.”
North Somerset Council’s capital strategy 2025 to 2029 sets out £450 million of investment plans that will bring improvements for communities, children and young people and help tackle the climate emergency.
There are approximately 170 different capital schemes being delivered. These include a number of existing projects as well as new initiatives - largely funded by the council’s success in obtaining external grants.
This includes supporting the Metro West Rail project in Portishead and Pill, delivering the Banwell Bypass, improvements to public transport, replacement of the Winterstoke Road Bridge in Weston-super-Mare, the A38 Major Road Network improvements and our Improving Weston-super-Mare programme which includes landmark projects at Birnbeck Pier, the Tropicana, Grove Park and Marine Lake.
The council is also delivering the government’s Warm Homes Local Grant. This delivers insulation measures and other improvements such as solar panels, batteries and low carbon heating to cut bills for families, slash fuel poverty, and reduce carbon emissions in support of the net zero 2050 target.
Cllr Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council, said: “We are continuing to invest in public services thanks to our success in bidding for external grants and government funding. Despite our financial challenges, we have ambitious plans for investment in the region including infrastructure, housing, and economic regeneration.
“I’m pleased our Capital Strategy is supporting communities, children and young people and helping tackle the climate emergency, leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come.”
To know more about the differences between the council’s revenue and capital budgets, visit: Rules and restrictions on how we can spend our budget | North Somerset Council
There’s still time to sign North Somerset Council’s Fair Deal petition, which will be handed to central government. The Council is calling on the government to provide a ‘fair deal’ to the people of North Somerset and provide fairer funding. Please sign the petition at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/fairdeal.
To read more about the Council meeting, visit Agenda for Council on Tuesday, 18th February, 2025, 6.00 pm | North Somerset Council or watch it back on North Somerset Council’s YouTube channel.