Youth services, learning disability support and reserves contributions will be hit under new plans approved by the council.
Savings of £13m over the remainder of this financial year and £15m in total in 2019-20 are expected to to be made through the plans, ratified by the council last Monday.
The young carers service was the only area given a ‘stay of execution’ while the council discusses with the carers and the families where else they could get support, such as voluntary groups. This service could still be cut.
Council leader David Fothergill said: “This is not the biggest set of savings Somerset has faced. But it is absolutely the most difficult set of decisions we have had to consider.”
He added: “The government model for funding local authorities is broken.
“Rural councils like ours don’t get the funding they need or deserve.
“I have taken every opportunity to lobby and fight to address this, but there has been no extra funding. That is hugely disappointing.”
The council also wants to make savings in areas including winter gritting, park and ride services and funding to Citizens Advice Bureau services.
Fothergill said he would be writing to the secretary of state to ask for help before the next budget.
As reported by PF in July, the council ruled out issuing a Section 114 notice, as Northamptonshire council did earlier this year. It did say at the time it would have to make “urgent decisions” to address its financial position.
The council will be consulting on proposals for councillors and staff to take two days’ unpaid leave for the next two years. Unite union has criticised this idea, saying it was “a step too far”.
Elsewhere, Fife Council is faced with a £32m budget gap by 2022, according to a council report.
The Scottish council will have to make savings of 5% every year to plug gaps in its finances, the report put to the council’s policy and coordination committee said.
The council predicted its budget gap will rise from £9.4m in 2019-20 to £23.1m in 2020-21 and reach £32.1m in 2021-22.
The report said the biggest budget pressures faced by the council include children’s services and education (48%) and health and social care (17%).
The council has been contacted for comment.
