The Conservative Opposition Group at Somerset Council has criticised the Liberal Democrat administration following the latest failure to appoint a permanent finance chief, known as a Section 151 Officer.
The appointed candidate for the role has now withdrawn, meaning the council will continue to rely on interim arrangements to manage its finances, at significant cost to council tax payers.
Conservatives say this latest development raises more concerns about stability at the top of the organisation, particularly as Somerset Council continues to face ongoing financial pressures and has required repeated support from central government to balance its budget.
The council has cycled through multiple finance chiefs in recent years, with the continued reliance on temporary appointments adding further cost and uncertainty at a time when residents are facing rising council tax bills and pressure on local services.
Cllr Diogo Rodrigues, Leader of the Conservative Opposition at Somerset Council, said:
“This is becoming the job no one wants, and it speaks volumes about the state Somerset Council is in under the Liberal Democrats. The candidate who pulled out would have been the fifth finance officer in just four years.
That level of turnover is not normal and is evidence of political instability at the very top. This is Lib Dem chaos and Somerset households are paying the price through higher council tax bills.”
Somerset Conservatives are calling on the Liberal Democrat administration to get a grip of the council’s finances and provide the stability needed to restore confidence in the Council.
