From North Somerset Councillor Mike Bell

North Somerset Council – in common with many councils across the country – is facing unprecedented financial pressure. As part of our ongoing work to address our budget challenges we have launched a petition that we are asking local residents, partners and businesses to sign to show their support for local government.

We know the government is listening and trying to help – so now is a key time for us to speak with one voice and send a message to them that North Somerset needs a fairer deal.

Thanks to our below average council tax levels and below average share of government grants, North Somerset is missing out on around £50 million a year in funding. We are determined to highlight that unfairness and disadvantage to government and try to get a fairer deal.

This matters to our residents in their daily lives, in terms of the support and services they rely upon. This matters to us in our collective efforts to protect and improve local services.

This week I have been meeting with and listening to residents across North Somerset at our early round of budget engagement sessions. One thing that has come across loud and clear from them is “we get that you are underfunded, so what are you doing to get a better deal?”. This petition and campaign are part of our answer.

There are four things you can do today to help:

  1. Please sign the petition to show your personal support: Calling for a fair deal for North Somerset | North Somerset Council
  1. Please share the petition and our supporting resources with your residents, friends and contacts and encourage them to help us send a message: Calling for a fair deal for North Somerset | North Somerset Council
  1. If you are on social media, please share the council’s official content to help spread the word:
  1. Help us to inform and engage with our residents and partners by promoting our budget resources. We’ve got a priorities survey, an interactive budget simulator and a toolkit of resources that help everyone (including councillors!) to better understand the position. You can find details here: Budget development 2025/26 – North Somerset Council Consultations

Thank you for your support.