What We're Working On

Local Devolution

North Somerset Council (NSC) has been struggling to fund its budget deficit. It has managed to plug the gap for 2025-26 with various service cuts but must still make £millions more savings in future years, as the cost of statutory services that it has to provide by Law, such as adult and children’s social care go up alarmingly every year without NSC being able to get funds to keep pace.

NSC has to prioritise statutory services over non-statutory items like maintaining our parks and play areas and keeping our streets clean.

The funding crisis is so severe that NSC is asking all Town and Parish Councils to take on some services and assets, otherwise we will be seeing more broken play equipment being taken away rather than replaced, dilapidated public buildings and less maintenance around the town.

NSC has stated that if Portishead Town Council (PTC) takes on the costs of local assets and services that this will not result in a reduction in the NSC Council tax bill as it needs the money just to keep statutory services running.

Parks and green space maintenance, litter bins provision and emptying, street cleaning, the Lake Grounds, Somerset Hall and Portishead Library are amongst the services and assets that might be transferred to Portishead Town Council.

Our view is that these services and assets are important for residents, community groups, volunteers, our economy and our wellbeing but any transfer or devolution has to be financially viable and acceptable to residents. We plan to create a “Devolution Prospectus” for residents to share their views. Once resident views have been considered, PTC could then potentially take on some services and assets towards the end of the 2025-26 Financial Year.

We have already found out how other Town Councils around the country have taken on locally devolved assets and service, as this is a trend happening all over England, but there is much more to do. We will not accept any potential hospital passes from North Somerset. We will keep you updated.

In addition and in conjunction with this we are:

1. Continuing to work to make the Lake Grounds a first-class amenity once more.

2. Doing all we can to protect other green spaces in Portishead, in particular campaigning to ensure that the North Somerset Council Local Plan protects Weston Big Wood and the surrounding area from development.

3. Continuing to push North Somerset Council and the bus companies for the bus services that residents want and need. We will also try to ensure that bus services integrate properly with the new Portishead railway line.

4. Encouraging participation in local issues amongst children and young people - engaging the next generation of residents and seeking their ideas on the future of their town.

5. Investing in the refurbishment of the The Folk Hall, North Weston Village Hall and Redcliffe Bay Hall.

6. Maintaining support for residents and community groups through grants and wellbeing projects.

7. Representing the best interests of the town in respect of the Wyndham Way project.

8. Continuing to honour the pledges we made four years ago: to ensure that any new development comes with the required infrastructure; to deliver accountable and open government; and to further develop local partnerships.

These are all things that you’ve told us matter to you, and we understand how important they are to Portishead.