News

The Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Implementation Board, comprised of five County Councillors and eight District Councillors, met to review progress towards launching the new unitary Somerset Council on 1 April 2023. The Board reviewed key policies and the current performance…

An historic range of Somerset’s ancient – and modern – rights and traditions are due to be enshrined in law as part of essential work to make sure the new, unitary Somerset Council is ready to launch on 1 April…

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A consultation on council tax support for the new unitary Somerset Council is launched today (25 July 2022). This is the first major policy consultation for the new council and it proposes that the lowest income households across Somerset get…

A meeting of Somerset County Council has confirmed Duncan Sharkey as the new Council Chief Executive. Currently Chief Executive of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Mr Sharkey will take up the post with SCC in the autumn and…

Somerset councils today set out their plan for developing new Local Community Networks (LCNs) – groups that will be established in every part of the County to support decision-making at its most local level. Leader of Somerset County Council, Cllr Bill…

Residents are being encouraged to find out more about proposed changes to local governance arrangements at engagement events taking place during the second stage of public consultation. Somerset West and Taunton Council (SWT) is considering whether a town council should…

Cllr Val Keitch has been confirmed as Executive Lead for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and Prosperity, a key role in the Somerset County Council Executive. As part of the new administration, formed following the May 5 elections, Cllr Keitch will…

Arts and culture across Somerset are set to benefit from the creation of a Somerset Cultural Strategy following a £30,000 grant awarded by Arts Council England. Over the next year, the aim is to produce a five-year cultural strategy for…

Somerset County Council held a Full Council meeting on 25 May 2022. It was the first since the election results were announced – and there were lots of appointments to be made to key roles within the Council, and to…

With the current reorganisation of local government in Somerset under way to create the new unitary council, Somerset West and Taunton Council (SWT) is considering whether a town council should be set up to represent the central area of Taunton…

The results of yesterday’s Somerset County Council elections are as follows: Liberal Democrat: 61 Conservative: 36 Green Party: 5 Labour: 5 Independent: 3 Full details of the results for individual divisions and candidates can be found on the elections results page…

Thousands of Somerset residents will be making their way to the ballot box for the County Council elections tomorrow (5 May 2022). Some 434,000-plus residents are eligible to vote for two of the 337 prospective councillors vying for their support today…

Voters in Somerset will be heading for the polls in just a week’s time – and will be able to cast their vote for two candidates in the County Council election on 5 May. This year’s election is different as…

With just under two weeks before people in Somerset go to the polls voters are being urged to get ready for the forthcoming local elections. Voters will already have a poll card informing them where they should go to cast…

Somerset residents planning to vote by post in the 5 May local elections have just a week left to submit their application. Voters must complete the form and make sure it is received by the electoral services team in their…

One year from now, on 1 April 2023, a single council for Somerset will be open for business. This brand new council will replace Somerset County Council and the four District Councils (Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West & Taunton, and South…

Polling cards for the election for the new Somerset Council, town and parish councils on Thursday 5 May are arriving on doormats across the county. Somerset residents are being advised to check their poll card to make sure that they…

Highlights from the March meeting of the Exmoor Area Panel, held at The Moorland Hall, Cutcombe On 1 April 2023 a new Somerset Council will replace the current county and district councils. To ensure communities have ability to influence decisions…

Formal notice has now been given for elections to Somerset County Council that will take place on Thursday, 5 May. There are 110 seats available across the county, two in the 55 divisions with voters able to cast two votes…