A North Somerset councillor has proposed axing the jobs of two senior council members to redirect their salaries toward funding an hour of free parking in Clevedon. Luke Smith (Conservative, Clevedon West) put forward the amendment during the council’s budget vote on February 18, targeting new parking charges in several Clevedon locations. “I can’t, with a clean conscience, not try to further mitigate the parking strategy,” he said.
Council leader Mike Bell (Liberal Democrat, Weston-super-Mare Central) responded with a mix of sarcasm and critique: “I applaud your cheeky amendment, selflessly prioritizing your own area over the district.” While appreciating Smith’s effort, Bell dismissed the plan, saying, “It doesn’t add up and doesn’t make sense.” He pointed out a procedural flaw: “You can’t delete executive members—that’s my constitutional right to appoint—so you’ve instantly got a £38k hole in your budget.”
Councillors earn a base allowance of £9,666.21, with executive members receiving an additional £18,300.18, totaling £27,966.39. Amid this year’s budget, which included a freeze on allowances, the council tapped £9.1 million from reserves to bridge a funding gap, driven largely by rising costs in adult and children’s social care.
Smith’s amendment went further, suggesting cuts to the interim mobile library and Visit Somerset contract, while restoring Nailsea Community Transport and allocating £8,000 to sustain library funding. Although the 2025/26 budget spared libraries, future plans include closing some to save £433,000. The amendment garnered nine votes from fellow Conservatives but was overwhelmingly rejected.
The approved budget features a maximum 4.99% council tax increase and deep cuts, which a senior councillor had warned would “strip our services to the bone.” Facing a £53 million shortfall over three years, the council reduced this to £10 million through savings and cuts. Bell defended dipping into reserves: “It’s the only way to balance the 2025/26 budget without sustained government funding or extra council tax flexibility.”
Ash Cartman (Independent, Long Ashton), a former budget-setting executive until 2023, estimated reserves at £20-25 million, cautioning, “We’re spending £9 million next year. If we were a ship, we’re sailing close to the rocks.” Bell blamed a £50 million annual loss from reduced government funding and a limited tax base, calling it “a ball and chain that’s impossible for us.”
Bell highlighted a £25 million budget strain this year from soaring social care demands, a challenge set to persist. “Something has to give,” he said, urging government action on care funding reform. He also outlined plans to bring more social services in-house and localize them to curb rising costs from outsourcing, admitting, “It’s taken us far too long to get a grip on this.”
| Visit for More News and Updates | WSOA NEWS |
