Which Council Does What?

Unless you know your way around local government, it can be quite confusing to work out who does what.

So, if you are unsure and you need some guidance, please don’t hesitate to call us and we will help to point you in the right direction.

On 1st April 2023, Somerset became a Unitary Authority, meaning that the vast majority of services are managed an provided by Somerset Council. This move will  allow Somerset to have a stronger, clearer voice both nationally and internationally. For more information on the new Somerset Council click here

Below are bullet point lists of some of the services for which each council is responsible. They are not exhaustive.

• Allotments

• Public seating and street furniture

• Acting as consultees for planning applications within the Town’s boundaries

• Play areas and play equipment at Richards Close and Burchills Hill

• Grants to help local organisations

• Neighbourhood planning

• Minor highways functions, such as some vegetation clearance

• Provision of litter bins (Emptied by Somerset Council)

• Provision of dog litter bins (Emptied by Somerset Council)

• Public toilets (Longforth Road)

• Pop-Up Shop on Fore Street for budding businesses and charities

• Maintenance and future planning for the Green Corridor

• Hiring out the town centre promotional space

• Christmas lights and their annual switch-on

• Emergency planning

• A Community Warden

• Town Centre hanging baskets and flower beds

• Household refuse collection and recycling

• Car parks

• Council Tax and Business Rates collection

• Housing services

• Determining planning applications

• Setting planning policies

• Parks and open spaces

• Community centres

• Fly tipping

• Provision of litter bins

• Provision of dog litter bins

• Bus Shelters

• Grass cutting

• Weed spraying

• Public toilets (North St car park & Wellington park)

• Cemeteries (Rockwell Green)

• Licensing of pubs/clubs and public festivals

• Street trading licences

• Housing and Council Tax Benefits

• Holding elections

• Environmental Health

• Street cleaning

• Leisure services

• Schools and Education

• Roads and Transport

• Street lighting (most, but not all)

• Some planning decisions (eg, major quarrying applications)

• Fire & Rescue services

• Public safety

•  Youth services

• Children’s social care

• Adult social care

• Public libraries

• Public footpaths

• Waste disposal and management (currently delegated to the Somerset Waste Partnership)

• Trading Standards (currently jointly provided with Devon County Council)

• Registration of births, marriages, and deaths

Useful links:

Somerset Council website