Trouble at the top
As Somerset Council cuts the Executive to save money, we ask if the cost saving program is going to plan? How is council performance being measured? Are the basic controls in place?
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Trouble at the top
It is hardly news that Somerset Council is in dire financial straits. Last year they declared a financial emergency. They have largely delivered on a plan to close the budget gap for 2023/24. However the plan for 2024/25 is an altogether bigger mountain to climb.
On 20 August Somerset Council announced changes to the top team. Whilst the council’s avuncular Leader Bill Revans and Deputy Leader Liz Leyshon stay in post, the Executive will be reduced from eight Lead Members to seven. Further, Associate Lead Members will be reduced from 10 positions to six
There will also be one less Opposition Spokesperson.
In total it will make for £36,000 in savings.
Those stepping down include Cllr Adam Dance following his election as MP for Yeovil, Cllr Ros Wyke and Cllr Dixie Darch (for personal and private reasons) and Cllr Tom Deakin to focus on his role as the Leader of Taunton Town Council.
£36,000 in savings is not a lot for a council that reckons it needs to find cost savings of £103m in 2024/25. This is to bridge the budget gap, the amount costs will exceed expected revenues by. As Leader Cllr Bill Revans, says: “As part of the Financial Emergency we are looking to make savings in all parts of the Council’s work.”
Opposition Leader David Fothergill approves too. He told us: “At a time when so many of our staff are worrying about their jobs and the consequent impact on their families it is absolutely right that these changes are being made. Whilst I will always hold the LibDem administration accountable for the financial mess the council is now in I do support this decision being made.”
As we write this, the September Executive meeting is in preparation and as you read it, may well be in progress. The published papers for that meeting do not give the warm glowing feeling one might hope for.
But let’s start with the good news. It now looks as if the financial year 2023/24 will end up with spending across the council being around £2m less than budget. That’s good news, but much of the budget gap for 2023/24 was made up by reserve movements, capitalisation directives etc.
Nevertheless that £2m of savings is an achievement. It is certainly better than an overspend. It will also work its way through to the current fiscal year 2024/25.
However the financial challenge for this year is of a different order of magnitude.
to deliver…..£47m to £116m in cost savings during 2024/25