Plans to protect community spaces, support local events and invest in the town’s future have been backed by Midsomer Norton Town Council with a £741,004 budget for the year ahead.
On Monday, 2nd February, the budget took longer than usual to agree as the council responded to significant challenges around community buildings, including taking on unplanned management responsibilities. It has also worked to bring town hall costs under control following a prolonged period of uncertainty, taking a careful and responsible approach to budgeting for the year ahead.
The council has also had to account for the additional responsibility of services no longer provided by Bath and North East Somerset Council. The council said its budget reflects a commitment to maintaining and improving community spaces, while continuing to support events, youth provision and local groups across the town.
The council said it recognises the importance of local events and community activities to residents, noting that there has been no significant change in funding allocated to events and that a full programme will continue throughout the year.
The council’s planned investment is now required at the Somer Centre and Orchard Hall, with both buildings described as older, heavily used facilities in need of improvement to meet modern standards. It said early action would help safeguard the long-term future of these community spaces.
The budget includes £10,000 for community grants, £34,000 for town events and £28,500 for youth projects, along with £10,000 to support the town’s carnival. It also makes provision for essential tree work and increased spending on the general maintenance of green spaces.
The Mayor of Midsomer Norton, Cllr Martyn Plant, said: “The council has designed this budget to protect services, strengthen our support to local organisations and invest in the spaces and initiatives valued by our residents.”
People cannot afford that kind of increase ! You are pushing people into and further into poverty for your own greed !
Explain how so much of our money has been wasted on the town hall and so called market square. We’ve been charged for a smarter looking car park, it’s a joke ! Honestly questioning why on earth we choose to live here now when all the local council aims for is to take as much as they can for as little justification as possible…You should all be ashamed.
Why are the council along with the government trying to bankrupt the working families of this country.
Agree with above. The High Street is atrocious, the buildings are shabby and dilapidated. A pavement area – with two industrial rubbish bins opposite a solicitor’s office and pizza establishment outside Lidl are a disgrace. The exterior of the cafe next to it is appalling. Why does the Council allow this situation. The town mostly resembles an uncared-for slum.