Council roles axed amid financial emergency

A council has announced cutting a number of roles and a reshuffle to help bridge a financial gap of £80m.

Somerset Council's eight lead members will be reduced to seven, while associate lead members will be cut from 10 to six.

About £36,000 will be saved from the changes, which will take effect from 1 September. The cuts follow the authority declaring a financial emergency in November 2023.

Council leader councillor Bill Revans said: "As part of the financial emergency, we are looking to make savings in all parts of the council’s work."

The planned reduction, which will also include one less opposition spokesperson and a merger of portfolios, was agreed by full council at its budget meeting in February.

Three of the existing executives are stepping down from their duties, with councillor Adam Dance dropping his public health, equalities and diversity brief after becoming MP for Yeovil in July.

Meanwhile, councillor Tom Deakin will step back to concentrate on his role as leader of Taunton Town Council, and councillor Dixie Darch and councillor Ros Wyke will be stepping back for “personal and private reasons”.

Mr Revans added: “Adam, Tom, Ros and Dixie have been such valuable members of the Executive Team and I thank them wholeheartedly for all that they have contributed to their areas of focus over their time in these roles."

The Liberal Democrat-controlled authority declared at a financial emergency amid a predicted £80m gap in its budget for the next financial year.

Other measures previously discussed by councillors to save money included a recruitment freeze, selling off the council's commercial investment properties, and pausing many building projects.

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