Local Devolution

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Let's talk North Somerset Council Local Asset Devolution

North Somerset Council (NSC) funding crisis

Like many local authorities NSC has been struggling to fund its budget deficit. It has managed to plug the gap for 2025-26 with various service cuts but must still make £millions more savings in future years, as the cost of statutory services that it has to provide by Law, such as adult and children's social care go up alarmingly every year without NSC being able to get funds to keep pace.

NSC has to prioritise statutory services over non-statutory items like maintaining our parks and play areas and keeping our streets clean. The funding crisis is so severe that NSC is asking all Town and Parish Councils to take on some services and assets, otherwise we will be seeing more broken play equipment being taken away rather than replaced, dilapidated public buildings and less maintenance around the town.

NSC has stated that if Portishead Town Council (PTC) takes on the costs of local assets and services that this will not result in a reduction in the NSC Council tax bill as it needs the money just to keep statutory services running.

Parks and green space maintenance, litter bins provision and emptying, street cleaning, the Lake Grounds, Somerset Hall and Portishead Library are amongst the services and assets that might be transferred to Portishead Town Council.

Portishead Town Council Response

Our view is that these services and assets are important for residents, community groups, volunteers, our economy and our wellbeing but any transfer or devolution has to be financially viable and acceptable to residents. NSC has not yet provided clarity on the costs, liabilities and income streams related to the assets and services that might be devolved.

Given this uncertain future, we have took the difficult decision to raise the local council tax known as the precept which is the only tax exclusively allocated to funding services in Portishead. The rise for 2025-26 was £1 per week for the "average Band D household" , with the majority of residents paying less and those exempt from paying Council tax remaining exempt.

This money is needed to investigate what assets and services we could take on, estimate future costs and potential liabilities. We plan to create a "Devolution Prospectus" for residents to share their views. Once resident views have been considered, PTC could then potentially take on some services and assets towards the end of the 2025-26 Financial Year.

We have already found out how other Town Councils around the country have taken on locally devolved assets and service, as this is a trend happening all over England, but there is much more to do. We will not accept any potential hospital passes from North Somerset.

What have Portishead Town Council been doing?

• We've been collecting details of assets, services, costs, liabilities and revenue.
• We have been having a series of regular meetings with NSC Council Leader and NSC Chief Executive to impress on them the need to provide the time, effort and resource needed to make devolution successful.
• Working with Weston-super-Mare, Nailsea and Clevedon Town Councils to share knowledge and approach.
• Agreed a set of principles for negotiation with NSC.
• We are in discussion with external organisations and legal experts who have helped with devolution in other Town Councils and negotiated a better deal for their residents.