Labour Councillors have welcomed the speed with which Bath and North East Somerset has moved to set up a Community Contribution Fund within a matter months of the group’s proposals being agreed by the Council in July.

Leader of B&NES Labour Group, Cllr Robin Moss (Labour, Westfield) said: “A growing number of Councils are preparing to follow the example of Westminster City Council which, since 2018, has generated an additional £1m by giving residents the opportunity to contribute more to their local community on a voluntary basis. I am very glad that B&NES Council has acted quickly to follow suit following its decision earlier this year.

“It may surprise people to learn that our own Council Tax team has fielded enquiries from Council Tax payers who are willing to pay more in order to support local priorities. While the chronic underfunding of Local Government, which has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, requires a fair and progressive funding settlement, in the absence of this, the Council must, in its

community leadership role, enable those who wish to pay more to be able to do so.

“I am really looking forward to seeing how this plan develops. While statutory services should not be dependent on

voluntary contributions, this Fund will enable the Council to fund projects over and above what might otherwise be possible.”