Somerset Council and Communities Review

Authors: Max Wide, Amy Burnett, Jason Leman and Paul White

Citizen Network was commissioned to review how Somerset Council could support and engage communities. The review reflected on the aspirations when Somerset Council became a unitary authority with the experience since, and recommended a framework for Somerset Council, aiming to support a programme of community development and engagement.

The review followed a ‘double-diamond’ user centred design approach which sees all stakeholders as contributing to the development of a solution and we will use Appreciative Inquiry, which means focusing on what is working and being creative about overcoming challenges. The review found that there was:

• a lack of joined up action,
• insufficient understanding of the impact those actions are having,
• a difficulty in working well with what exists already rather than trying to create something new,
• a difficulty in seeking the views, listening and responding to communities at a local level.

The concluding recommendations were to:

• Enable members, officers and partners to work together at a local level.
• Enable the community to have a real say on shaping policy and services.
• Help to identify and build on the strengths and assets already in communities.
• Create a coherent geography for joint working.

The full findings and detailed recommendations are covered in the report: Community Working Review - Conclusions and Recommendations

You can read the research findings, which provide a base for the findings, here.

Read and download the free pdfs in your browser, links below.

Social media thumbnail photo by Jenny Hartnoll, Frome Connects project

The publisher is Citizen Network. Somerset Council Community Working Review - Conclusions and Recommendations © Max Wide, Amy Burnett, Jason Leman and Paul White 2026.