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News
roundup
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Somerset Council’s share of Council Tax could rise by 7.5% – this includes 2.5% above the national cap of 5% – following an announcement from Government.
Somerset Council had been seeking Exceptional Financial Support from Government as part of its budget setting for 2025/26.
Stock image of rough sleepers by TheOtherKev from Pixabay
Somerset Council is welcoming more Government funding to help ease winter pressures on homelessness and rough sleeping, as it launches its new strategy to tackle the twin problems.
Somerset will receive an extra £242,000 from the latest Rough Sleeper Winter Pressures funding round, bringing the total to just under £400,000 from the national pot.
 Valentine’s Day – 14 February – will mark the start of a new venture to encourage people to fall in love with Somerset and its rich natural heritage.
Somerset Council’s Library service is launching a series of free ‘Celebrating Somerset – connecting with nature’ drop-in events and the first is in Taunton Library’s Glass Box on 14 February from 2pm to 5pm.
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Somerset Council’s Severe Weather Emergency Provision (SWEP) is now active in Somerset.
During this period of severe weather, the Council is seeking to provide emergency accommodation for rough sleepers to prevent harm or death due to the severe weather.
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Somerset Council and their waste collections contractor, SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK have launched a new campaign promoting recycling metal packaging.
In a bid to improve kerbside recycling rates, households across the county are being encouraged to recycle food and drink cans, aluminium wrapping foil and foil trays, empty aerosols and metal screw tops.
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Students in Somerset are learning new ‘green’ skills thanks to Somerset Council and its waste collections contractor SUEZ recycling and recovery UK.
Team Repair, a company committed to reducing electronic waste and increasing STEM career take up, will be running a 12-week course at five of the county’s schools.
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More than 60,000 primary school children have now benefitted from lessons in waste reduction thanks to Somerset Council.
Popular Schools Against Waste (SAW) waste-reduction workshops are delivered on behalf of the Council by Carymoor Environmental Trust.
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Somerset Council is considering a range of new proposals to improve bus provision in the county under a major government funded initiative.
The Council has already trialled initiatives such as evening bus services and capped fares in Taunton along with plans for transport hubs in the county and bus priority measures following an initial £12 million in funding from government for the Somerset Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) in 2022.
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A planned road closure for a multi-million pound regeneration project in Bridgwater is being brought forward to minimise summer disruption for traders, shoppers and residents.
Clare Street will be closed to vehicles for up to 5 months from Monday 17 February as part of the Celebration Mile project, funded by the Government’s Town Deal scheme. Access for pedestrians and shoppers will be maintained throughout the closure.
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National HIV Testing Week, starting on Monday, 10 February 2025 is an annual event, funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and is a key component of the HIV Prevention England strategy.
It provides a critical opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of regular HIV testing to reduce stigma and help achieve the national goal of ending new HIV cases by 2030.
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Somerset Council and NHS Somerset are excited to announce the launch of our new Smokefree Campaign, part of the national drive for a Smokefree 2030.
Our goal is a future where no more than 5% of the population smokes, and we need your help to get there.
Trading Standards is recommending that children’s plastic beach shoes are tested nationally after some products on sale in Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay were found to contain banned levels of chemicals and had to be removed from sale.
Clothing retailers and importers are being urged to consider and review how and where they source their stock.
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