Hundreds of jobs will be cut. The council and unions voiced worries about service impacts.
Job cuts are key to balancing the budget, and the council will sell assets too. They can raise council tax by 7.5 percent. Unions and councillors criticized the cutbacks, and auditors warn of service disruptions. The council might finalize job cuts too soon.
The council says changes must happen faster. Previous government decisions made things worse. A meeting finalized the staffing changes; it happened at a cricket club in Taunton.
Unison’s Neil Guild said there’s no costed plan and is unsure how the council will work. He said concerns exist about project details. A resident, David Orr, also criticized the council.
Orr said their response was confusing, stating key plans seem missing. Councillors know about failed changes, and past issues troubled other local councils.
Chief executive Duncan Sharkey called the changes essential, saying they ensure stable services. He stated the council faced a financial emergency and that old ways were not enough.
Sharkey said teams’ roles need clarity. This change is vital, even without savings. The upcoming budget will support planning, addressing councillor concerns.
Councillor Tony Lock welcomed the planning support, stating planning is essential to Somerset citizens. Many opposed the proposals, and some had supported a prior plan.
Councillor Dave Mansell opposed the staffing changes. Funding cuts since 2010 hurt services, and the council must balance its budget now. He said changes will reduce service capacity.
Councillor Gwiylm Wren said this is a warning and spoke to the Labour government. Unitary authorities are concerning to him, and adult social care needs fixing before changes.
Councillor Leigh Redman thinks the council is struggling and expects problems to increase. He hopes residents do not suffer too much; the cuts’ impact is still unknown.
Councillor Mandy Chilcott opposes the plan too. Her party started the unitary change. She urges officials to consider service needs before staff leave.
Councillor Theo Butt Philip said they consulted about the changes. He acknowledged challenges exist in enacting the required changes, and extra service funding may become needed.
He noted big pressure on the council budget. Social care demand greatly exceeds income, affecting all local authorities, he argued. He wants a sustainable council for Somerset.
The council will meet March 5 to set the budget.