01278 228004

Chamber News

You are here: 

Help us shape a new unitary council for Somerset

Monday 22nd November, 2021

Organisations from across the county are joining together to deliver a new unitary council for Somerset – and local people are encouraged to be part of the conversation.

A public meeting is planned at Donyatt Village Hall, near Ilminster, on 25th November, 3pm until 5pm. It’s the third in a monthly series of events where residents and communities are invited to learn about, and feed into, the new council process.

Members of the recently-established Joint Advisory Board will be on-hand to answer any queries. They include representatives from Somerset County Council, the four District Councils, Somerset Association of Local Councils, City, Town and Parish Councils, health, police, education, and the voluntary and community sector. 

The Board is also developing  links to the Somerset Youth Parliament, and is particularly keen to engage young people in the sessions.

The role of the Board is advisory but its proposals, ideas and recommendations will feed in to the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Joint Committee – the decision-making body.

On the agenda at the Board this month will be the operating and governance principles of the new council, communications, an update on Local Community Networks (LCNs) and emerging plans for the next Town and Parish Council Conference.

Covid safety measures will be in place and mask-wearing is encouraged by attendees.

On 1st April 2023, Somerset will become a unitary authority, replacing the current County Council and four District Councils with a single council governing the whole area.  Find out more HERE.

Latest news

Free online course helps Somerset business leaders think differently about growth
August 21, 2026

Somerset business owners and managers looking to sharpen their strategic thinking now have access to a free, entirely self-paced course designed to do exactly that. Help to Grow: Management Essentials distils the essential business concepts needed for growth into short, practical videos that can be completed at work, at home or on the move. Created…

Read More
Free diplomatic expertise now available to help Somerset businesses trade internationally
August 21, 2026

Somerset businesses looking to start or grow exporting now have access to a free source of expertise few SMEs can usually tap into: the UK's own diplomatic network. The Diplomatic Advisory Hub, a joint initiative between the FCDO and the British Chambers of Commerce, offers businesses direct insight from the UK's international diplomats, entirely free…

Read More
Fully funded robotics and AI programme opens for Somerset manufacturers this autumn
August 21, 2026

A new fully funded training programme is opening this autumn for Somerset manufacturing and production businesses looking to build their skills in robotics and AI, with places limited and interest already building ahead of the first cohort. The AI-Ready Robotics Workforce Programme is delivered by UWE Bristol through the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, in partnership with…

Read More
Somerset employers: modern work experience reforms open a new route to future talent
August 21, 2026

From September 2026, schools are being encouraged to reform how they deliver work experience, with a stronger focus on giving pupils meaningful, real-world exposure to the workplace. For Somerset employers, that shift is likely to mean more requests for involvement, but it also opens up a genuine opportunity to shape the future workforce and raise…

Read More