News

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…

Highlights from the sixth LGR Advisory Board Meeting, a hybrid meeting held at Williams Hall, Stoke St Gregory and also online 17.03.22 It was an evening of firsts. Our first Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Advisory Board in-person meeting for 2022,…

Candidates planning to stand for election in Somerset on 5 May should submit their nominations soon to meet the deadline. Nominations close on 5 April – and papers must be submitted in person by 4pm to the local district council…

Following consideration by both Houses of Parliament, the Secretary of State has made the Somerset Structural Changes Order 2022 which paves the way for the new Somerset Council to be established on 1 April 2023. The Order comes into effect…

The Local Government Association (LGA) has awarded a £50k funding boost to help develop innovative new Local Community Networks (LCNs) in Somerset. LCNs promise to set a new standard for keeping a large unitary council embedded in the towns and…

Crucial local elections for Somerset are taking place on 5 May for a new, unitary council. This represents the first major change to the way the county is governed in almost 50 years. For their first year, the councillors will…

Somerset West and Taunton Council has approved draft arrangements for the creation of a new town council for Taunton. The preferred options identified by the Community Governance Review Working Group were supported at a special meeting of the Full Council…

Highlights from the fifth Advisory Board Meeting, held virtually via Microsoft Teams 03.02.22 A unitary Council for Somerset will be in place in just over 12 months. Preparations are ramping up to ensure residents continue to receive the local services they…