Bill Revans: Somerset Council’s road to financial recovery

I understand that residents may have questions about what this means for our council and for the services people rely on every day.

Transparency is important, so I want to be clear: while the notice highlights challenges we must address, it also reflects many of the issues we have already identified ourselves and have been working hard to tackle.

Since Somerset Council was created just over three years ago, we have faced some of the biggest challenges local government has encountered in a generation.

Rising demand and costs for services, particularly in adult social care, children's services, and support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), have placed immense pressure on councils across the country.

Despite these challenges, Somerset has made real progress.

We have significantly reduced what was once a structural budget gap of around £130m.

We are aiming to balance the budget without additional resources next year.

Council borrowing is down, and council tax remains below the national average.

Increasing reserves has made the council more financially resilient.

And recently, we confirmed the appointment of a permanent chief financial officer – others said this was a "job that no one wanted".

We are going through the process of bringing services from the five former councils into a single organisation, a complicated process which councils all over the country are now embarking on.

This has saved millions of pounds of money already and does so every year.

Removing duplication and improving efficiency are making a huge difference.

Through this, we have continued to provide and protect essential services to residents, supported vulnerable people, and invested in the future of our communities, all while navigating a period of considerable financial pressure.

Somerset is seen as a place in which to invest, as we are seeing at Hinkley Point, Gravity, and Leonardo.

None of this has been easy, but it demonstrates something important about Somerset Council.

We are an organisation prepared to face challenges head-on and take the difficult decisions needed to secure a sustainable future.

The government's notice should therefore be seen not as a verdict on Somerset Council, but as an opportunity to sharpen our focus and accelerate the improvements already underway.

We know there is more to do.

We need to strengthen our financial resilience, continue transforming how we work, and improve the pace of change in some of our most pressured services.

Those are challenges we recognise, and we are already taking action to address them.

What gives me confidence is the remarkable commitment of the people who serve Somerset every day.

Across our county, council staff, partners, community groups, and volunteers work tirelessly to support residents and help communities thrive.

The cooperation of our city, town, and parish councils, our NHS and police partners, and the many voluntary groups that have stepped up has been awesome.

Their dedication is one of Somerset's greatest strengths.

I am also encouraged by what I see when I visit communities across the county.

Whether it is local businesses creating jobs, volunteers supporting neighbours, town and parish councils stepping up for their communities, or residents working together to improve the places they live, Somerset is full of people who care deeply about the future of our county.

That spirit of collaboration will be essential as we continue our improvement journey.

Our ambition remains unchanged.

We want Somerset Council to be a financially sustainable, high-performing organisation that delivers excellent services and value for residents.

We want to create opportunities for future generations, support those who need our help most, and ensure Somerset remains a great place to live, work, and do business.

The challenges ahead are real, but so too is the progress we have already made.

This is not a moment for pessimism.

It is a moment to build on what has been achieved, learn from where we need to do better, and focus our energy on delivering the improvements our residents deserve.

I remain optimistic about Somerset's future because I know the strength of the communities we serve and the determination of the people working to make a difference every day to provide the opportunity, connection, and homes that Somerset residents need."