Residents, businesses and community organisations across Somerset are being invited to share their views as Somerset Council launches an early-stage consultation on its budget for 2027/28.

The Summer Budget Consultation is the first step in the Council’s annual budget-setting process. It aims to understand what matters most to local people before detailed proposals are developed later in the year.

Somerset Council is inviting residents and businesses to have their say on how Somerset could change in future.

The Local Plan is relevant to everyone, guiding where and how change happens across towns, villages and the countryside over the next 20 years.

The Scoping Consultation (Regulation 20) is a legal requirement under the new plan‑making system for England (from March 2026) and launches today, Friday 19 June.

A Somerset Council programme that is transforming employment opportunities for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) has won a prestigious national award.

Imagine the Possibilities was awarded silver in the Diversity and Inclusion category at the 2026 Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards, recognising its innovative work helping young people with SEND move from education into paid employment.

Somerset’s pioneering partnership between Imagine the Possibilities and the partnership with the schools and colleges has been named a Silver Award winner in the School or College Partnership of the Year category at the prestigious Pearson National Teaching Awards.

The project has been delivered to support young people to explore their futures and build confidence in their next steps.

Somerset children are invited to get creative in Somerset Council’s latest story writing competition.

The competition, which opens today, is being run in partnership with the Council’s waste contractors, Biffa and SUEZ.

Building on the successful competition in 2025, the contest will encourage children to explore why and how food should be recycled, using Somerset’s food characters as inspiration.

Somerset Council’s Children’s Services have been described as having an ‘unwavering commitment to supporting children, young people and families’.

Inspectors from Ofsted highlighted several areas of strong practice and positive outcomes in their recent report. There were also areas recognised as needing improvement.

A wide range of organisations across Avon and Somerset are working together to support and protect victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

Partners are encouraging everyone to help prevent abuse by recognising the signs, staying alert, and knowing how to report concerns. They are also highlighting that perpetrators who are willing to change can access support to stop their behaviour, or face the consequences of their actions.

Waste collections in Somerset will begin earlier next week starting at 6am from Monday 22 June and throughout the week, with an extreme heat weather warning in place.

The early starts are to help crews impacted by the hot weather and help to minimise any chance of disruption to recycling, rubbish or garden waste collections across the county.

Improvement works planned for one of the county’s major transport arteries have taken an important step forward following the submission of the Full Business Case for the A38 Major Road Network project to the Department for Transport (DfT).

Developed and delivered in partnership with North Somerset Council, the A38 Major Road Network looks to better connect communities by improving options for getting around – including by active and sustainable travel – whilst also addressing journey reliability times and road safety.

2 Somerset Council projects have been recognised at this year’s Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Somerset Love Your Countryside Awards, celebrating outstanding work to protect and enhance rural communities.

The Council’s Ham Hill Country Park project, “Uncovering Ham Hill’s past for its future”, received an award recognising its work to improve access to the countryside, protect heritage and connect more people with nature.

Taunton Town Council and Somerset Council will once again be showing their support for the Armed Forces by holding a flag-raising ceremony on Monday, 22 June at 11am.

The service will be hosted at County Hall in Taunton by the Chair of Somerset Council, Councillor Mike Best, and the Mayor of Taunton, Councillor Bev Fernandes.

Somerset businesses are being helped to reach new heights thanks to a Somerset Council-backed drone skills initiative.

From understanding the rules and regulations to hands-on flying experience, the 10-week Skills Bootcamp in Drone Use gave attendees the skills and experience needed to help their businesses adopt the latest drone technology.

Work on a major road safety scheme aimed at reducing deaths and serious injuries at a notorious collision spot starts in July.

Work will be done to replace the existing junction at Whitnell Corner near West Horrington, close to Wells, where the Bath Road B3139 intersects with the B3135, with a new roundabout. Work commences on 6 July and a 24/7 road closure will be in place for the duration of the scheme.

A new scheme to encourage more people to use – and enjoy – Wellington Library is about to be launched by Somerset Council.

As part of the National Year of Reading 2026, Wellington Library is working alongside Wellington Town Council’s project Cradle to Career – Wellington Reading Town and launching a Library Loyalty Card.