SOMERSET County Council has promised to make no new cuts to front-line services after its current programme of savings has been completed.

Council leader David Fothergill made the pledge at a full council in Taunton on Wednesday morning (May 15), stating its spending plans until 2022 were “robust” with no additional savings needing to be found.

He also promised to dramatically increase the council’s reserves to above the expected levels set by central government.

But he warned that MPs needed to take urgent action for the future, especially on the issue of how adult social care was funding, to relieve ongoing pressure on local councils across the UK.

Speaking to councillors at Shire Hall, Mr Fothergill said: “The great news is that here in Somerset we haven’t waited around for a government handout – we haven’t sat back and watched our resources drain to nothing.

“We have taken active steps, and taken difficult decisions. We are now able to say that we are coming through the hard times, through the financial challenges, and we are rebuilding the foundations for a strong and healthy financial position.”

He confirmed council’s general fund reserves will be increased to £19m by April 2020 – above the £15m threshold which is considered by central government to be a safe level for the council to hold.

He added: “We have robust spending plans in place for 2020 and 2021. I do not forecast bringing forward any new cuts or savings for front-line services.” 

The council approved savings of around £8m in its 2019/20 budget in February, and will need to find just over £5m when it comes to set its budget for 2020/21.

After that, Mr Fothergill claimed, no proposals for further cuts or savings to front-line services would be brought forward.

The leader has committed to a “green” review of all council vehicles (following the declaration of a climate emergency), as well as plans to ensure new council building projects, including schools, were more sustainable and made better use of renewable energy.

He also announced £2.4m would be made available for small highway improvement schemes – such as new crossings and measures for calming traffic in built-up areas.

He warned, however, that the government needed to take urgent action on how adult social care and education would be funded further into the future.

Mr Fothergill said: “I’m not going to stand here and pretend austerity is over in Somerset – it isn’t. 

“We have to keep a tight grip on our finances. We are not funded to the level we should be and will continue to lobby and to fight for fair funding for our council.

“We have in place nationally recognised programmes to support our growing elderly population to remain independent for as long as possible, but the numbers game alone will show that there is only so much we can do before we reach a tipping point.

“Government has to step in and sort out how it will fund social care into the future.”