A GROWING and ageing population will add around £5 million to county council costs next year – and people in the county are being urged to sign a petition calling on the Government to give ’Fairer Funding for Somerset’.

The county’s population is growing by around 3,400 people a year and getting older. Estimates put the cost of this ‘demographic pressure’ at around £5m with inflation adding a further £3.5m to 2016/17 costs.

At the same time, the authority is facing major reductions in direct Government funding.

The county council needs to bridge a budget gap of around £27m for 2016/17 and by 2020 its Government funding is expected to have fallen by around £63m.

Cllr Harvey Siggs, cabinet member for resources, said: “People living longer in Somerset is great news but it makes the difficult job of balancing our budget even harder.

“We cannot ignore the fact that having more older residents, often coping with a number of complex health issues, poses a significant challenge as demand for services, particularly social care support, increase year after year.

“It’s a nationwide issue but one that is particularly pronounced in Somerset.”

Estimates show that by 2030 there will be an extra 56,000 people aged 65 and over living in Somerset – 30 per cent of the population compared to 23 per cent today.

The council has initiatives to manage demand for services and make its funding go further.

* Somerset Choices – a joint website created with the NHS to help people to find support.

* Community-based social care hubs that allow people to visit a social worker close to home.

* Centre-based, qualified social workers resolving enquiries without the need for full social care assessments.

* Closer integration to provide health and social care support ‘as one’.

“Some fundamental changes are needed,”said Cllr Siggs.

“The most vulnerable will always be prioritised, but part of the change has to be greater emphasis on us helping people help themselves.

“I would ask people to support our push for fairer funding for Somerset from the Government. The current formula does not do enough.”

To sign the Fairer Funding for Somerset petition go to fairerfundingforsomerset.org.