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News
roundup
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County Hall, Taunton
Somerset Council will be sending the Government a ‘Productivity Plan’ – setting out how the council is improving efficiency and reducing waste, while also highlighting the barriers facing local government.
It also calls on the Government to take action to address the broken system of Council Tax, end the unfairness of short-term funding pots, and invest in support for vulnerable children and their families, education, and adults’ services.
CGI rendering of Celebration Mile
The Board of Bridgwater Town Deal is pleased to announce the appointment of Taylor Woodrow as main contractors for the delivery of Bridgwater’s landmark Celebration Mile – a pedestrian and cycle friendly route connecting the railway station to the reinvigorated Northgate Docks.
Forming the ‘back-bone’ of Bridgwater’s revitalised town centre, Celebration Mile will celebrate the town’s rich history and culture. The project aims to create a vibrant and welcoming experience for visitors to the town centre which supports active travel, including improved pedestrian and cycling routes through the town.
Hendford, Yeovil
Somerset Council is pleased to announce the appointment of SWH (Taylor Woodrow) Ltd as contractors for the delivery of Yeovil’s Active Travel schemes, integral to the town’s programme of regeneration – the Yeovil Refresh – and improving the town’s transport network.
Focussing on Yeovil’s central streets, the schemes aim to deliver improved accessibility and connectivity for all users – whether by road, bike or on foot – across Yeovil Town Centre.
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Councillors will meet next week to consider steps to secure waste collections in Somerset.
Earlier this year, Somerset Council’s waste collections provider, SUEZ, disclosed that it is making unsustainable losses on its Somerset contract. It advised the council that unless payments are increased it will consider walking away, accepting the hefty financial penalty that would come with exiting early.
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Essential maintenance work is being carried out by Somerset Council on the A39 at Periton Road later this month.
Resurfacing is being done on a section of road between Parkhouse Road and Middlecombe junction. Access for homes and businesses will be maintained throughout.
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Somerset Council is calling out to anyone who has recently planted or plans to plant trees, to ‘root for Somerset’ and add them to the Somerset Tree Planting Register.
As part of the 10-year Somerset Tree Strategy launched last June, developed with partners like the Woodland Trust and the Environment Agency, the goal is to plant 240 hectares (93 square miles) of new trees across Somerset each year until 2033 to get the county’s tree coverage to at least the national average.
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Stock image by Erika Varga from Pixabay
A Somerset farmer has been ordered to pay more than £50,000 for failing to test chickens and eggs for salmonella before they went into the food chain and for presenting birds for slaughter with either falsified documents or with documentation which did not relate to those particular birds.
At Bath Magistrates Court on Wednesday (July 3) Stuart Perkins, 38, of Haywood Farm, Radstock, Somerset pleaded guilty to not carrying out the legally required testing for two years from 2021 to 2023 and for submitting chickens for slaughter with either falsified documentation or with documentation which did not relate to the birds being slaughtered, between July 2023 and October 2023.
Extend your Child Benefit claim for your teen today
It’s time for parents across the UK to extend their Child Benefit claim if their 16-19-year-old is staying in full-time non-advanced education or approved training.
HMRC sent 1.4 million letters between 24 May and 17 July to parents, explaining how to extend their claim. If you haven’t received a letter yet, there’s no need to worry. You can still extend your Child Benefit via the HMRC app or online where eligible.
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Forgotten cash? Helping your teens to claim their Child Trust Fund
If your child was born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, they may have a surprise windfall waiting for them!
Child Trust Funds (CTF) are long-term, tax-free saving accounts – worth an average of £2,000. If you didn’t open the account, HMRC may have opened one on behalf of your child.
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Image courtesy of HMRC
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has launched a digital tool to help businesses estimate what registering for VAT may mean for them.
The VAT Registration Estimator has been developed after feedback from small businesses suggested an online tool would be helpful to show when their turnover could require businesses to register for VAT and its effect on profits.
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