A MEETING was held yesterday to debate proposed changes to how much council tax people in Somerset will have to pay in 2025/26.

The proposals currently being consulted include four different options to address the council’s significant financial deficit.

Under consideration is the reduction of council tax discount levels for working-age residents on low incomes.

Currently, the amount of discount received is determined by the local income band scheme, which factors in income and family composition. Under the proposed changes, all levels of support would be reduced.

For instance, a single person with a weekly income of £100 could see their discount reduced from 100 per cent to 75 per cent, while a couple with two children earning £500 a week could have their discount cut from 25 per cent to 10 per cent.

Councillor Diogo Rodrigues, representing Bridgwater East and Bawdrip, voiced strong concerns about how Somerset residents may be forced to pay council tax during the meeting.

He stated, "Obviously this council is going to have to make a decision at some point about this.

“My biggest concern looking at all these options really, is that someone who is perhaps struggling the most and getting that 100 per cent discount will be affected.

“They're the ones that are going to be impacted the worst and going to have to find some money from somewhere to pay any level of council tax.

“That's really worrying for me and will also be worrying for some of the residents that I represent in Bridgwater East and Bawdrip."

After a thorough debate, the committee voted to recommend to the Executive Committee that the option to reduce the current discount for those most in need from 100 per cent to 75 per cent not be considered as part of their final council tax proposals.

Cllr Bill Revans, Leader of Somerset Council, said: “We fully recognise and appreciate the value of Council Tax Reduction to those on low incomes.

"In fact, one of our first decisions as a unitary council was to harmonise this support for everyone across the county.

"However, the national model of funding local government is broken.

"The costs of providing key demand-led services have risen sharply and we have limited ways to raise income.

"Without national intervention, this means we have no choice but to consider all available options to reduce spending.

"But we will not do this lightly and it’s really important that people understand the changes being proposed and have their say so we can consider every impact before any decisions are made.”