GOOD DEAL FOR SOMERSET (13/12/05)

As the Government announces how much it is to give local authorities over the next two years, Somerset County Council has fared better than most.

The Government has finally told local authorities how much funding they are going to receive over the next two years. In a confusing response, Cllr Jill Shortland, Somerset County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Finance said “Relative to other counties, Somerset has fared well,” before going on to claim that the funding is not sufficient and warning that this will result in steep Council Tax rises along with service cuts.

David Huxtable, Conservative Finance Spokesman, said “We have had some sympathy with the Council’s frustration with the amount allocated by the Government in the past. However, any reasonable assessment of this year’s settlement, which gives Somerset a 3.8% increase in non schools formula grant, along with a 6% increase in funding direct to schools, must conclude that this is a good deal for Somerset.”

“We look forward to the Liberal Democrat proposals for keeping the council tax rise well below the Government’s target figure of 5%, and with this favourable settlement we do not accept that this means that Somerset’s residents should suffer reductions in important services”.

Pledging to co-operate for the benefit of the people of Somerset, David Huxtable said “We will work closely with the Liberal Democrats to help them achieve a low increase. However, all our suggestions in the past have fallen on deaf ears!”

Ends

Notes for Editors:

1 For further information or comment, please contact David Huxtable, Finance Spokesman for the Conservative Group at Somerset County Council, on 01278 723120