North Somerset Council

Local Government / Public Administrationn-somerset.gov.uk

North Somerset Council is a unitary local authority in England providing statutory local government services—including waste management, planning, council tax, social care, education, and housing—to residents of the North Somerset area, employing over 1,500 staff across hubs in Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon.

Company typePrivate
Founded1974
HeadquartersWeston-super-mare, United Kingdom
Headcount1,001–5,000
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What North Somerset Council does

North Somerset Council is a unitary local authority in England, established in 1974 and headquartered at Town Hall in Weston-super-Mare, with a second hub at Castlewood in Clevedon. The council serves as the sole statutory provider of local government services for the North Somerset geographic area, employing over 1,500 staff across two central hubs with some remote working arrangements. Its service portfolio spans waste management and recycling, planning and building control, council tax administration, benefits and welfare support, adult and children's social care, education services, housing, environmental protection, road infrastructure, and community safety.

The council operates a digital-first service delivery model anchored by the MyAccount citizen portal, iOS and Android mobile applications, and specialized online platforms for planning searches, council tax management, garden waste subscriptions, recycling centre bookings, school admissions, and benefits applications. Technology infrastructure includes Civica ePay for payment processing, MiPermit for cashless parking, HousingJigsaw for social housing, and Silktide for accessibility monitoring. Distribution spans digital self-service, a phone contact centre (01934 888 888), face-to-face support at libraries and registration offices in both Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon, and traditional postal channels. The council is partially compliant with WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility standards and operates in compliance with UK GDPR.

Funding derives from Council Tax (property-based local taxation), Business Rates levied on commercial properties, central government grants including Department for Transport Bus Service Improvement Plan funding, and service fees (garden waste subscriptions at £70 per bin annually, planning fees, parking fines). Annual procurement spending exceeds £170 million through standardized contracting procedures. The council operates as a member of the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority alongside Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol City, and South Gloucestershire councils for regional collaboration on transport and economic development.

North Somerset Council firmographics

Firmographics

Name: North Somerset Council
Legal name: North Somerset Council
Website: https://n-somerset.gov.uk
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1974
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 1,001–5,000 employees
Short description: North Somerset Council is a unitary local authority in England providing statutory local government services—including waste management, planning, council tax, social care, education, and housing—to residents of the North Somerset area, employing over 1,500 staff across hubs in Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

North Somerset Council industry classification

Industry

Product category: Local Government / Public Administration
NAICS: Solid Waste Collection (562111), Administration of Housing Programs (925110)
SIC: Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950)
akta.pro primary industry: Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH)
akta.pro secondary industry: Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ)

Keywords

Local government services
Waste management
Council tax administration
Planning applications
Social housing

Where North Somerset Council is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Weston-super-mare
HQ country: United Kingdom
HQ region: Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

North Somerset Council business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

Council Tax: Local taxation charged to residents based on property valuations to fund council services
Business Rates: Levied on business properties based on rateable value
Service Fees: Various service charges including garden waste subscriptions (£70 per bin annually), planning fees, parking fines, and other service-specific fees
Government Grants: Central government funding and grants including Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Subscription	Annual	Standard garden waste subscription
Subscription	Annual	Discounted garden waste subscription
Other	Multi-year contract	Contract opportunities threshold

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

North Somerset Council product offering

Product offering

Core offering

North Somerset Council is a unitary local authority that delivers statutory public services to residents of North Somerset, England. Its core offering covers waste and recycling collection, Council Tax administration, planning and building control, social housing allocation, school admissions, benefits administration, births/marriages/deaths registration, transport schemes (Kids Go Free and Diamond Travelcard), public health, and adult social care. The council operates these services through a digital-first delivery model anchored on the MyAccount portal, mobile applications, online booking systems, and traditional face-to-face support at libraries and council offices.

Product overview

North Somerset Council operates as a unified local government authority providing a comprehensive suite of digital citizen services. The council's product portfolio consists of multiple interconnected online service portals rather than a single unified platform. Core citizen-facing services include MyAccount (the central authentication and service hub), the North Somerset Council Mobile App (for iOS and Android), the Planning Search and Map system, Council Tax Online Services, and various online reporting/request systems. The council offers specialized services including the Garden Waste Service subscription, Recycling Centre Booking System, Benefits and Support Services, School Admissions, Social Housing Applications through HousingJigsaw, Registration Services for births/marriages/deaths, and the Better Health North Somerset health platform. Additional services include the Kids Go Free bus travel scheme, Diamond Travelcard for disabled residents, Bin Collection Calendar, and a Consultations Platform for public engagement. Most services integrate with the MyAccount citizen portal for authentication and service management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

MyAccount Central citizen portal enabling North Somerset residents to access multiple council services online, including reporting missed bin collections, managing Council Tax accounts, applying for benefits, and requesting services.
North Somerset Council Mobile App Free mobile application for iOS and Android allowing residents to check waste collection calendars, receive bin collection notifications, access council news, and manage services on mobile devices.
Bin Collection Calendar Online system for searching bin collection dates, checking collection schedules, and managing garden waste subscriptions for residential properties.
Garden Waste Service Annual subscription service for kerbside garden waste collection, including discounted rates for households receiving Council Tax Reduction, student-only households, those with Severe Mental Impairment discount, or armed forces exemption.
Recycling Centre Booking System Online system for booking time slots to visit household waste recycling centres, designed to manage visitor flow and reduce queues.
Planning Search Online portal for searching planning applications, viewing weekly and monthly application lists, and accessing planning application records across North Somerset.
Planning Map Interactive mapping tool displaying current and decided planning applications geographically across North Somerset.
Council Tax Online Services Online portal for managing Council Tax accounts including payments, direct debits, single person discounts, and address changes.
Kids Go Free Free bus travel scheme for children aged 5-15 during school holidays across the West of England region, in partnership with the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
Diamond Travelcard Free bus pass for disabled and eligible North Somerset residents for public transport within the area.
School Admissions Online system for applying for school places in North Somerset, including appeals and admissions policies.
Benefits and Support Services Online portal for applying for and managing benefits including Council Tax Reduction, Universal Credit information, and welfare provision for North Somerset residents.
Social Housing Applications Online system for social housing applications and property selection operated via the HousingJigsaw portal.
Registration Services Online appointment booking system for birth, death and marriage registrations, citizenship ceremonies, and naming ceremonies at council offices in Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon.
Better Health North Somerset Digital platform providing health and wellbeing support including smoking cessation, weight management, mental health, and alcohol reduction services for North Somerset residents.
Report or Request Services Online system for reporting issues including anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping, potholes, noise nuisance, and abandoned vehicles.
Consultations Platform Online consultation platform (InConsult) for viewing and responding to council consultations on local matters.

Quantifiable outcome

99.89% bin collection completion rate (1,197,315 containers in September 2025)
+2 more outcomes

Companies that use North Somerset Council

Customer profile

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

North Somerset Council technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

North Somerset Council partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

West of England Mayoral Combined AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Partnership with West of England Combined Authority for the Kids Go Free bus scheme providing free bus travel for children during school holidays. The scheme has saved families £1.4 million and increased bus journeys by 89-98% in lower-income communities. Funded using Bus Grant funding secured from Department for Transport.
Alun Griffiths (Griffiths)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPrincipal contractor undertaking major transport infrastructure projects including the Queensway transport scheme in Weston-super-Mare. The partnership includes social value commitments to create local employment and apprenticeship opportunities through WECA-funded Construction Bootcamp programmes.
Weston CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing apprenticeship frameworks and training programmes for council infrastructure projects, supporting local people into construction and engineering careers.
HousingJigsawcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline housing portal used for social housing applications, property selection, and housing management across North Somerset.
Better Health North SomersetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth and wellbeing partner organization providing online resources and services for smoking cessation, weight management, mental health support, alcohol reduction, and active lifestyle programmes.
Weston-super-Mare Town CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for local management of play areas, transferring day-to-day management of eight local play areas to community control while maintaining council oversight.
West of England CouncilscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Bath & North East Somerset Council, Bristol City Council, and South Gloucestershire Council on regional projects including transport, economic development, and the West of England Combined Authority.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

North Somerset Council competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

Torbay Council: A South West unitary authority with a coastal population profile similar to North Somerset. Provides the same comprehensive statutory local government services and operates a comparable digital service delivery platform.
Wiltshire Council: A nearby unitary authority providing the same comprehensive local government services to a similar population profile in the South West region. Operates with the same statutory framework and citizen-facing digital service model.
Somerset Council: The unitary authority formed in 2023 by merging the former county council and four district councils in Somerset. Provides equivalent statutory local government services including waste management, planning, and housing administration across a larger but geographically contiguous area.
Cornwall Council: A large South West unitary authority formed from county and district mergers. Provides the same statutory unitary authority functions including waste, housing, planning, and transport services to a coastal/rural population profile similar to North Somerset.
Bristol City Council: A core West of England Combined Authority partner unitary authority serving Bristol. Operates the same unitary authority model with identical statutory responsibilities for waste, housing, transport, and social services in an adjacent territory.
Dorset Council: A unitary authority in the South West formed in 2019 from local government reorganisation. Delivers equivalent local government services including recycling and waste collection, council tax, planning, and housing administration.
Plymouth City Council: A South West unitary authority delivering the same full range of local government services. Operates a similar digital service delivery model and faces comparable regional challenges in waste collection, housing, and transport.
Devon County Council: A South West regional local authority providing comparable waste management, highways, planning, and social care services. Although a county council (two-tier), it shares the same statutory responsibilities for key services North Somerset delivers directly.
Bath & North East Somerset Council: A neighboring unitary authority in the West of England region with which North Somerset Council collaborates through the West of England Combined Authority. Provides the same full suite of local government services including waste collection, planning, housing, and council tax administration to a comparable population scale.
South Gloucestershire Council: A West of England Combined Authority partner unitary authority adjacent to North Somerset. Delivers the same comprehensive local government service portfolio to a similar demographic and geographic profile.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

North Somerset Council compliance and trust

Trust signal

Compliance2 records

North Somerset Council financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

North Somerset Council leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

North Somerset Council funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

North Somerset Council M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about North Somerset Council

What does North Somerset Council do?

Is North Somerset Council a public or private company?

North Somerset Council is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.

When was North Somerset Council founded?

North Somerset Council was founded in 1974. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.

Where is North Somerset Council based?

North Somerset Council is headquartered in Weston-super-mare, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.

How does North Somerset Council make money?

Four revenue lines are on record. Council Tax is the primary driver. The others are business Rates, service Fees and government Grants.

Who are North Somerset Council's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are Torbay Council, Wiltshire Council, Somerset Council, Cornwall Council, Bristol City Council, Dorset Council, Plymouth City Council, Devon County Council, Bath & North East Somerset Council and South Gloucestershire Council.

Does North Somerset Council have an API?

No public API is recorded for North Somerset Council.

What industry is North Somerset Council in?

North Somerset Council's product category is Local Government / Public Administration. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIACAH, Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration, with a secondary code of BPAIACAJ, Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs). Its NAICS code is 562111 and its SIC code is 4953.