17/09/2026
📢 We face difficult choices to close a £12m budget gap 📢
We’re facing difficult decisions about services and spending as we look to close a £12m budget gap for 2027/28 and protect essential support for our residents.
The council’s Cabinet discussed the financial outlook yesterday (16 September) after reduced government funding and rising demand and costs for services is putting further pressure on our finances.
At the heart is the need for fair funding for care. Almost every pound we raise in council tax is swallowed up by social care costs, leaving precious little for other essential services. Spending on care and support services for adults and children, early years services and welfare continue to increase, accounting for 65 per cent of our budget.
The 8.99 per cent increase in North Somerset Council’s share of council tax for 2026/27 helped fund essential services and balance this year’s budget. However, further funding reductions and rising costs mean another gap is forecast for 2027/28.
The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) carried out an assessment of our finances and confirmed we manage our finances well. Benchmarking shows we are also a low spending council compared to others.
This £12m forecast gap for next year forms part of a wider £40.5m funding gap between 2027 and 2031, despite savings and changes to how services are delivered.
We will shortly launch an engagement exercise to hear which council services matter most to residents and help shape our budget proposals. Residents will then have the opportunity to comment on the draft budget in December. Cabinet will then consider a final budget and make a recommendation to Council in February 2027.
