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News roundup
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YouTube video: Willow's Story - You Can Change A Child's Story
Foster carers make a difference to the lives of vulnerable children and young people.
Fostering is a paid role. Fees and allowances vary depending on the type of care you offer and the age of the child or children in your care. For specialist schemes such as High Need Fostering carers receive around £45k per year, with full training provided and comprehensive, ongoing support.
You don't have to foster full time - we also need carers who can provide occasional care for a child, such as one night a week or one weekend a month.
Chair of Somerset Council, Cllr Mike Best.
Christmas is a time for giving and to spend time with loved ones, family and friends. It is also important that we recognise and encourage the efforts throughout the year of the many people who work so hard to make Somerset a better place and to those who keep us safe and help us during times of need.
I would particularly like to thank everyone who will be away from their families working over the festive season, especially on Christmas Day – people working in hospitals, care homes, the emergency services and in all areas of public service. I would also like to thank those who work as volunteers over Christmas and New Year.
For some, the festive season is a difficult time – they may be alone or have suffered a bereavement. My thoughts are with them and I would encourage people to be good friends and neighbours and visit or call those who may be on their own.
On behalf of Somerset Council, its Members and Staff, have a very peaceful Christmas and New Year.
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Confirmation of a below national average increase in funding for Somerset Council has been described as ‘bitterly disappointing’ by Leader Bill Revans.
As part of the Monday’s Local Government Finance Settlement, the Government announced a 6.5% increase in Core Spending Power for councils nationally. However, for Somerset Council the increase is just 6.1%.
The provisional settlement is less than forecast by £3.9m for 2024/25 mainly due to reductions in Service Grant of £2.8m, reduction in New Homes Bonus of £1.9m partially offset by a slightly higher increase in Social Care Grant of £800k above our forecast.
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Somerset Council has secured £9.6m of Government funding to deliver phosphate mitigation measures which will unlock the delivery of new homes across the area and provide for long term nature recovery.
The award comes after the Council working in partnership with the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), Plymouth University, Salinity Solutions, and Dorset Council, submitted a bid to the Government’s Nutrient Mitigation Fund.
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With the festive season in full swing, Somerset Council is reminding everyone to put recycling the Christmas tree onto their list.
The best option is to compost it at home or turn it into a wildlife corner, though we appreciate that will not be possible for many people.
Garden Waste Service subscribers can leave their decoration-free tree out with their first collection of the year, so long as its smaller than 2 metres (or 6ft). The service will resume from Monday 8 January.
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Wells embraced the magic of the season as its annual Christmas Market attracted hundreds of visitors, making it a sparkling success.
The market, held on Saturday 16 December, showcased more than 100 vibrant stalls, offering an extensive array of food, drink and unique gifts.
The historic city provided the perfect backdrop as families and friends strolled through the charming market embracing the atmosphere.
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Somerset Council is looking for new volunteers to become Independent Panel Members for School Appeals.
Independent Panels hear and decide on admission, exclusion and transport issues for maintained schools and Academy schools in Somerset. A panel meets when a parent or school lodges an appeal against a decision related to a child’s education. These panels are independent of Somerset Council and the governing bodies of the school.
The Panels meet online so there is no need to travel, and applications are welcome from across Somerset. No qualifications are needed and full training is provided.
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The South Bridgwater Local Pantry ( SBLP ) celebrates three years of fighting food waste and tackling hunger.
SBLP is part of the Somerset Local Pantry Network ( SLPN ) who buys and collect surplus food and makes it available to members for a low weekly fee, which helps reduce food waste, feed families and save them money.
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More than 100 people turned out to learn more – and have their say – about proposals to restore and regenerate Bridgwater Docks, as part of the government’s Levelling Up programme to transform Bridgwater Town Centre.
The first of a series of public consultations took place on Wednesday, 13 December at the Bridgwater Sea Cadets Hall and around 120 people took the opportunity to meet the project team and share their views on the future of the historic Docks.
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