Somerset Council is revising its budget setting timetable following confirmation from Government that the Final Local Government Settlement will now be published on 9 February 2026, a week later than previously expected.

The delay significantly affects the Council’s planned budget process and limits the time available to analyse the settlement, complete internal approvals, and prepare statutory budget papers.

Since April 2023, Somerset Council, which owns in excess of 10,000 homes, has operated via 2 models of housing management after bringing together the services of the former Sedgemoor and Somerset West and Taunton Councils, the only 2 district councils which owned housing stock.

The current housing management services are split, with circa 6,000 homes managed in-house by Somerset Council and circa 4,000 homes managed by Homes in Somerset, a not-for-profit Arms-Length Management Organisation (ALMO) wholly owned by Somerset Council.

Somerset Council is proud to announce that the Somerset Domestic Abuse Service has been awarded SafeLives’ Leading Lights Accreditation for another 3 years, following a unanimous decision by the accreditation panel.

Leading Lights is SafeLives’ gold standard for community based domestic abuse services and is recognised across the UK as a mark of quality and best practice. The rigorous accreditation process assesses services against evidence based standards designed to ensure that victims and survivors receive safe, effective and high quality support.

Somerset Council and its Public Health team are highlighting  the dangers of ketamine use – and the help available to those who need it.

Ketamine use has risen in recent years – not just in Somerset but across the country. As ketamine use continues to rise, so do the risks to both physical and mental health.

Somerset Council’s Public Health team is launching a collaborative campaign with NHS Somerset around Valentine’s Day to encourage people not to take their own heart health for granted.

It is estimated that one in three people in Somerset have high blood pressure – but many do not even know it. Public health officials are encouraging adults to check their blood pressure regularly and take advantage of free NHS Health Checks.

Staff working in Somerset Council’s Education Service have been recognised for their exceptional work in reducing the number of young people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET).

A research report, titled Social Mobility: Local Roots, Lasting Change, was presented at the House of Lords Social Mobility Policy Committee, who were so impressed by the Somerset team’s findings – its structured, collaborative approach and strong outcomes –  that they recommended sharing it across the UK as an example of national best practice.

Following a close-run race, and a record number of votes, 3 new Somerset Members of Youth Parliament have been elected to represent the county.

Messages of congratulations have poured in since the announcement, wishing  Blake, Eva and Luca, success in their roles, and with their youth campaigns.

With cold and wet weather set in, Somerset Council Libraries are reminding residents that the Winter Coat Exchange continues across the county, offering free access to warm coats for anyone who needs one.

Now in its third year, the Winter Coat Exchange has become a well-established community initiative, helping people stay warm and dry through the winter while reducing waste. Last year alone, 2,470 coats were donated, with 2,086 coats taken by residents across Somerset.

Somerset Council is calling on residents, unpaid carers, and organisations to have their say in shaping the future of care and support across the county.

Its current Adult Social Care strategy is set to be renewed in 2026 and will set out key priorities for the next 3 years. The aim is to ensure the new strategy, covering 2026 to 2029, reflects what matters most to those who live and work in local communities.

Somerset Council is asking selected residents aged 18 and over who receive long-term council-supported care to provide feedback on their services.

The Council sends the Government’s Adult Social Care Survey (ASCS) to a random selection of Somerset residents annually to gather valuable insights from adults aged 18 and over who have undergone a full assessment and receive care funded or managed by adult social care.