Tuesday 4th February

Tuesday, 4 February 2025 at 05:00

By Steve Haigh

Somerset has been permitted to increase its Council Tax share by 7.5 percent. An Ilminster man, forced out of his house by last week's floods, says he doesn't know when he will be able to return home. Ilminster Literary Festival has launched its annual children’s writing competition, designed to encourage local children to write creative literature...and more.

The government is giving Somerset Council more breathing space to help sort out its finances. The Council, which is limited to increasing the Council Tax by 5 percent, is facing a shortfall of £66 million on planned spending during the financial year 205/26. But, after writing to the government, the Council has been told it can break the 5 percent limit and increase Council Tax by 7.5 per cent. It will add an average of £130 extra to Council Tax bills from April. Lib Dem Leader of Somerset Council, Councillor Bill Revans, says although welcome, the increase will still not raise enough money to fill the funding gap of £66 million, and capital receipts from property sales will have to be used to pay day-to-day running costs.

One week after being forced to leave his home due to flooding, an Ilminster man says he's still no closer to moving back in. Ben Perham's home on Ditton Street was left underwater during last Monday’s heavy storms, forcing him to leave. He says the process to get back into the house is moving very slowly. Meanwhile, the Co-op in St James Street in South Petherton has re-opened after being closed by flooding. The shop says that while it's open, it will be some time yet before they’re fully back to normal.

Avon and Somerset Police is to get £30 million more to spend in the next financial year. The government has allocated an extra one billion pounds to England’s police forces, with £100 million ring-fenced for employing community support officers.

The Village Agents scheme in Somerset says the government’s decision to cut winter fuel payments has hit people really hard in Somerset. They say hundreds of people have asked for help, after not being able to pay their heating bills.

Rail passengers planning to travel between Taunton and Weston- Super-mare this week are being advised that no trains will be running on the line due to engineering works. A replacement bus service will operate instead up to Saturday.

Ilminster Literary Festival has launched its annual children’s writing competition, designed to encourage and support local children in writing creative literature. The closing date for entries is March 28th, with the winners announced on May 16th.

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