EVERY town and parish council across West Somerset has been asked to take over as many services as they can from Somerset Council as it hurtles toward bankruptcy.

But the only way most would be able to do so is to raise council tax bills for residents.

The Liberal Democrat-run unitary council, which was only created in April, is expected to issue a section 114 (bankruptcy) notice in February, when control could then be taken over by Government-appointed commissioners.

Somerset faces a £100 million budget gap next year, and on Wednesday (November 8) officially declared it was in a ‘financial emergency’.

The unitary authority is restricted by the Government to a maximum council tax hike of 4.99 per cent for next year, whereas town and parish councils could increase their share of the bill by as much as they chose to do so.

Watchet Town Council clerk Sarah Reed said her councillors were aware of the situation and had already registered an interest in asset transfers but no progress had been made because the unitary council did not have a policy in place to devolve its assets.

Ms Reed said with the changing pace of the crisis the matter would be considered again by councillors later this month with recommendations going to the December meeting of the full council.

Somerset has already informed the Government it could have no choice but to issue a Section 114 if things did not dramatically change, meaning that many local services not required by law could be scrapped.

Its executive councillors in declaring a financial emergency also noted controls which were being put in place across the organisation to limit spending.

They agreed to dispose of commercial investments at a £70 million loss because of falling values, and pledged to step up ongoing talks about funding with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Lib Dem deputy leader Cllr Liz Leyshon said: “It is clear we are one of the growing number of councils nationally to be facing a financial emergency.

“There is a fundamental structural problem with local government budgets as our costs are rising much faster than our ability to raise income.

“While we will continue to call for a national solution to this national problem, we are also determined to do everything we can to reduce our budget gap to ensure we continue to provide support for those most in need.”

Lib Dem council leader Bill Revans in his plea to town and parish councils asked them to consider taking on greater responsibility for local community assets and services.

He listed services such as support for buses, minor highways maintenance, public toilets, theatres, libraries, bus services, flood prevention measures, grass and hedge cutting, ditch clearing, drain jetting, fly tipping, and carnival clear-ups.

Cllr Revans said: “Transferring ownership and management of services at a local level means communities can tailor them to meet the specific needs and preferences of their neighbourhoods.

“Local councils also have access to funding sources not available to the larger authorities.

“And they are great at tapping into their networks to mobilise volunteers and partners.”

Heads of departments at the unitary authority have also been drawing up savings proposals to be voted on by executive councillors at their next meeting in December.

These could include selling assets and buildings, including offices, raising council tax bills, fees, and charges as much as possible, reducing staffing levels, and reducing council services to ‘statutory levels’.