Thread by @DanielMumby

It’s Budget Day in #Somerset! Join me from 10am for live coverage as @SomersetCouncil sets the first budget of the new #unitary authority, which officially takes over in April 1. #LDReporter #Budget2023

We're live - here's the link to the video if you want to watch the proceedings from @thecanalside in #Bridgwater: teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/… #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Cllr Mike Best (#Crewkerne) is in the chair - and he has announced the passing of former @SomersetCouncil and @MendipCouncil councillor Alvin Horsfall :( mendip.gov.uk/article/11358/… #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023 #Frome

Councillors are paying tribute to Mr Horsfall, with @tessamunt (#Wells) describing him as "dedicated, kind and very funny". #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

We're onto public question time - starting with David Redgewell. All public questions are printed here: democracy.somerset.gov.uk/documents/b647… #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Cllr @MikeSRigby responds: "There is a range of approaches to managing bus stations and bus stops across the districts. This will be reviewed to provide consistency under the new #unitary." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

"Following representations from this council and others to government, bus support grants will continue until June 30 and we will continue to seek long-term support." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Next up is Pip Donovan of @ActionAgainstF - again, her full questions can be found here: democracy.somerset.gov.uk/documents/b647… #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Alyson Rogers' question is being taken at the same time - she's also from @ActionAgainstF. @MikeSRigby will respond to both individuals in due course. #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

.@MikeSRigby: "The reason for the lack of rebuttal to the #Cotley Hunt in that I was unaware of them. Before last year's meets, we received assurances from the hunts that they would either not meet on the highway... #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

"... or would not cause disruption on the highway." He says he is happy to meet with both women to discuss their issue in greater detail. #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Next up is Alan Debenham, who is wearing a @STWuk hat ahead of a protest in #London. He's talking about the new #Taunton Town Council, which will be officially created in May democracy.somerset.gov.uk/documents/b647… #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

.@ValKeitch: "The government decided that a single #unitary council be set up in #Somerset. We are determined throughout this chamber to make this work. It will free up resources by reducing duplication; we will use this to protect front-line services." #LDReporter #Budget2023

We also have a councillor question from Cllr Susannah Hart (#Glastonbury) about traveller provision within the budget: democracy.somerset.gov.uk/documents/b647…
#LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

It seems we won't get a response to that today :S #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

We're getting into the meat of the meeting - the #Budget2023 proposals: democracy.somerset.gov.uk/ieListDocument… #LDReporter #Somerset

Cllr @lizleyshon: "This is a budget that has been carefully considered but does not forget about ambition. We have dealt with inflation at the highest level for 40 years - and the budget builds in our estimates for that." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Here's a couple of handy guides for you about the budget.

Here's how the revenue budget is looking (which covers day-to-day spending on services): somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

And here's the planned capital programme (which covers new buildings, roads and other assets): somersetlive.co.uk/news/new-unita… #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Cllr @lizleyshon says the budget includes "significant" additional funding for children's and adults' services to enable people to live the most "stimulating" lives they can. #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

She's also singling out the creation of the local community networks (LCNs), which will be up and running by the summer: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somersets… #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

"We have worked to protect front-line services with a view to implementing the #unitary business case." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

"We are using £10m of earmarked reserves to smooth out the differences over the next two years and £4m of flexible use of capital receipts for the #unitary implementation costs." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

"The #counciltax increases we are proposing is in line with government policy, and the increase is half the current rate of inflation. We understand the pressures on local residents, and we have put forward mitigations wherever possible." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

She is referencing the council tax support scheme which was agreed in November - something which @BillRevans is understandably proud of and is keen to emphasise: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

"This first budget for the new #Somerset Council is very complex. We have positive assurance on the robustness of the budget and the availability of reserves." #LDReporter #Budget2023

"We need the government to give greater consideration to the future financial health of local authorities, particularly those with social care responsibilities." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

"Simply delaying social care reforms isn't good enough, and there is a clear risk of upper-tier [county] councils failing due to rising demand and inflation." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

"This balanced budget ensures key services are protected and the needs of our most vulnerable residents are met. It prioritises the health and well-being of #Somerset residents while continuing our journey to net zero." #LDReporter #Budget2023

Cllr @DJAFothergill (@SCCconservative leader): "It's fantastic that we have reached this point - although it's not one I totally agree with." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

"I won't be voting for this, because I and my party don't believe this is a balanced budget. The use of £19.9m of reserves to balance the budget - you can't keep doing that. You have to build reserves." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

"The monitoring officer says that failure to make tough reserves will lead to reserves being exhausted. If you keep pulling on reserves, you are going to go bankrupt." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

He points out the in-year deficit of @SomersetCouncil is around £23m. #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

"The reason I am concerned about this budget is that it has been put together on smoke and mirrors - the use of reserves, and it's been based on last year's budget. It doesn't take account of this year's overspend." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

"Within three months, you will not be achieving this budget - you will be overspending it." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

"I welcome the u-turns on gritting & planning notifications, but two others have slipped through - but the library outreach vehicle won't be provided, and national newspapers won't be provided in libraries. There is no way you can dress that up." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

"There is also cuts to the CCTV budget, which protects people. This administration is going to have to take a lot more, harder decisions in the years to come." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Cllr @lizleyshon responds: "A number of reserves were put in place during your administration, wisely." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

She has "a suitable level of confidence" in work being done to streamline children's services and adult social care to make the budget achievable. #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

"It's not the mobile libraries which are being cut - it's the vehicle which goes to public events. There are two issues with that - the age of the vehicle and the lack of drivers." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

On CCTV: "We will be exploring options on this." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

"The work is already started on the 2024/25 budget." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Cllr @ValKeitch: "I was interested to hear @DJAFothergill almost criticise any preventative work we're carrying out, given what we've heard in previous years." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Cllr Dave Mansell (@TheGreenParty): "I hope you'll be welcome to work across party groups so we can all work towards net zero." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Cllr @Adamjamesdance: "I'm very disappointed that the leader of the opposition isn't going to support this budget. If it wasn't for your party's government, we'd be able to support people." He references the council tax freezes of the 2010s. #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Cllr @Edric01: "The minor changes to library services are absolutely nothing compared to the cuts that were made." He references the specific cuts to #SheptonMallet. #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Cllr Sue Osborne: "Quite a significant chunk of the £28m for adult social care comes from central government funding." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

"The work on @OctagonYeovil is currently out for tender. In the event that the tender figures exceed the £27m in the budget, what is the next step?" somersetlive.co.uk/whats-on/whats… #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Cllr @ValKeitch says she can't comment on the tenders until they come in. #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

"I would point out the loss in arts investment since 2011 following decisions by @SomersetCouncil and other councils." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

"We want the arts to be part of the prevention agenda for people of all ages, and how a local, high-quality venue saves travel and reduces the carbon footprint." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Cllr Hugh Davies: "I'm very anxious about the CCTV cuts. In #Minehead, @ASPolice give us a site from which to operate." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Cllr Gwilym Wren: "The council is proposing to change the funding for corporate services for schools - for my school in #Milverton, the costs they will pay will rise from £32,000 to £49,000 a year." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Cllr @_ConnorPayne: "There was a commitment mad to plant 125,000 trees. I'm aware that has not been achieved. It's no wonder @SomersetLibDems have removed their manifesto from their website. How many trees have been planted?" #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Cllr @SarahDykeLD: "There is a huge number of trees being planted across #Somerset by a range of community groups. Our ambition is to plant 150,000 over the term of the new council, which starts on April 1." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Cllr @MikeSRigby: "I'm astonished at the leader of the opposition. Where is his alternative budget? The closest this council has come to a Section 114 notice was when he was leader of the council - we haven't forgotten their panic." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

"Perhaps what they're saying is that it is not possible to set a budget for this new council - the council which they fought so hard to create. Wouldn't that be an admission?" #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Cllr @Bridgwater_Lab says @SomersetLabour_ will be supporting the @SomersetLibDems' budget this year in light of all the work which has been going on to make the #unitary happen. #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Cllr Hart wants clarification on the gypsy site - she wants a meeting with officers and the relevant exec member. #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Cllr @lizleyshon: "The £108,000 has come through from @SWTCouncil's capital programme and is not identified for any specific site - it was an allocation of funds." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

"In #Glastonbury, we have an enabling project as part of @GlastonburyTD, and we are awaiting a planning application to come forward on this issue." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Cllr @CllrDiogo wants assurances from @BillRevans that "cutting 1 in 5 CCTV cameras" across #Somerset "won't put people at risk". #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Cllr @BillRevans: "We will be working with @ASPolice to ensure we have the best CCTV coverage that we can. It's not a reduction in the amount of coverage - it's a saving as a result of us becoming a #unitary council." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Cllr @woodyburnham wants assurance about the small improvements schemes being funded - the budget allocates around £1.5m, but he claims this just for "allowing existing schemes to finish" rather than funding new ones. #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Cllr @MikeSRigby: "We are very keen to see a new SIS open up. It's not in this year's budget." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Cllr @BillRevans is summing up: "I don't think there has been a council in the country which has found this year's budget easy." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

"I think this is a genuinely balanced budget. I don't follow the consistency of the maths attacking the cuts - I'm missing @DjhuxtableDavid at the moment." #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

BREAKING NEWS: the first budget of the new #unitary #Somerset Council has been APPROVED by 64 votes to 1, with 33 abstentions.

I don't have a precise breakdown of how each member voted - looks like most @SCCconservative abstained. #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

As expected, @SomersetLibDems & @SomersetLabour_ voted in favour of the proposals. #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

.@_ConnorPayne asked a question just before the vote about community asset transfers: "as this is important to fantastic community groups such as the local Community Hub within my division, what funding has been allocated to CATs?” #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Cllr Ros Wyke responded that even if money had not been set aside up front, the processes would begin in earnest so long as the groups taking over assets could prove competent. Pointed to the length of time it took on the Bishop's Barn in #Wells. #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

The full council has broken for lunch - and that's where I leave my coverage. Thanks for your time. #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023

Here's my full report in the first #unitary budget: somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-… #LDReporter #Somerset #Budget2023 #counciltax