CHAIRMAN for the Taunton and Wellington branch of Reform UK, Charles Hansard has said that planned auditing by party-run councils will “expose” Somerset Council’s “profligate waste of money”.

If Reform UK were to be running the county council in 2027, Mr Hansard says “[it would] bring in auditors” to “scrutinise contracts and expenditure”, adding that “savings will be made”.

The chairman’s comments follow the council’s announcement in mid-May that it would be spending £3-million on consultants to advise the management team on how to better pay their staff.

In February, the council faced a £43-million budget gap - which the government stepped in to relieve - prompting a cut in 550 jobs by April of this year.

The reduction in staff was a move to deliver a balanced budget, on top of selling off non-operational assets and being allowed to raise council tax by 7.5 per cent - higher than the 4.99 per cent cap which the government usually allows.

In May, the council announced it would be spending £3-million on new consultancy services to advise on pay structures.

Mr Hansard said: “An organisation that needs to bring in external advisors to undo the muddle that they have created speaks volumes.

“The council has the internal expertise. It is a cowardly act not to confronts one’s own failures and resolve the issues internally without the extra cost.

“The auditing undertaken by Reform UK run councils will expose the profligate waste of money over many years – no stone will be left unturned in Somerset.”

In a report published at the beginning of the year, Somerset Council finance officer, Maria Christofi said another £101.284-million budget deficit was already forecast for 2026/27 and it was unlikely that any further savings plan would be capable of meeting it.

Somerset Council has been contacted for comment.