Agenda item
Response to the Financial Emergency - How have other parishes in Somerset responded? What has your parish considered?
To discuss matters arising from the notes not covered in later agenda items.
Minutes:
Somerset Council had declared a financial emergency. There was currently a significant financial gap in nextyear’s budget. The Council was looking at how to change services in order to balance the accounts. Changes included the disposal of assets, the cutting of some services and the devolution of others.
At the last meeting we polled parishes to see what they may be prepared to take on. For instance, Frome Town Council had decided to take on some services and to increase their precept by 29% to pay for it.
Services which other communities had been prepared to take on included grass cutting, local fayres, some buildings, some open spaces, sports grounds, theatres, public toilets and CCTV.
On the whole parishes were interested in having greater control over some assets within their parish. As well as projects which contributed to community wellbeing.