Council tax could rise by 15% amid 'financial emergency'

A council has asked people if they would donate up to £1,000 as councillors also consider an unprecedented 15% rise in tax.

North Somerset Council has launched a consultation into how it can overcome its "current financial emergency".

The authority faces £53m funding gap over the next three years, and could effectively be declared bankrupt if savings are not found.

Councillor Mike Bell, council leader, said: “No decisions have yet been made and no stone has been left unturned as we’ve looked to bridge our funding gap."

A 15% increase would see Band D household charges rising by £256 a year, from the current £1,708.

The consultation comes after council leaders warned they would need to introduce “radical measures” to balance their books.

In August the council wrote to the government saying it needs more support for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (Send) and said a deal to manage its Send budget overspend is failing.

The council originally faced a £53m funding gap over the next three years, but officials have now identified savings of £46m, and £2.5m still needs to be found by February for the 2025-26 financial year.

Mr Bell continued: "Like many other councils, we still face having to make tough savings decisions which will affect the lives of residents.

"We are urging the government to break away from years of cuts to council budgets and instead find solutions that will help us rise to the challenge of our current financial emergency.”

Asked what the government would do to stop local councils from going bust, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told BBC Radio Bristol: “It’s making sure the money goes further and making sure the money in our budget goes to the frontline for our councils.

“On special educational needs, we made a big provision in our budget for that because it needs more funding and it needs to change.”

Residents are being asked to fill in the council's online survey and also attend drop-in sessions.

Councillors will meet on Wednesday to discuss the proposed savings, and the consultation will close on 13 January.

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