Bath & North East Somerset Council

What Bath & North East Somerset Council does

Bath & North East Somerset Council is a UK local government authority established in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, serving as the statutory provider of local public services for the non-metropolitan district of Bath and North East Somerset in South West England. The council serves a residential and business population across Bath, Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, and surrounding areas, delivering core services including Council Tax administration, business rates collection, planning and building control, waste collection and recycling, social care (adults and children), housing, libraries, transport passes, and community support. Its headquarters are located at The Guildhall in Bath, with additional service centres in Bath (Manvers Street), Keynsham (Civic Centre), and Midsomer Norton (The Hollies), supplemented by a mobile library service and contact centre.

The council operates a comprehensive digital citizen services platform centred on its main website (bathnes.gov.uk) and supporting portals, including the LiveWell cost-of-living support portal and the Liveable Neighbourhoods urban planning hub. Service delivery is multi-channel: residents can transact online, in person at One Stop Shops and libraries, by phone through the contact centre, or via the Post Office network for Council Tax payments. The council has formally adopted AI technologies — Microsoft Copilot for staff productivity, Magic Notes for secure social care meeting transcription, and Zoom AI for contact centre automation, a Waste Services virtual agent chatbot, and translation — all governed by a Use of Generative AI Policy with mandatory human review, GDPR-compliant data processing, and ICO registration (Z5664161).

The council's revenue is generated primarily through Council Tax on residential properties, business rates on commercial properties, and central government grants, supplemented by transactional fees (planning, parking, building control), recurring subscriptions such as the £75/year garden waste collection service, community space hire, and library charges. Strategic partnerships underpin parts of the operation, most notably the LibrariesWest consortium (seven regional authorities, ~2.5 million items, 145 libraries), the West of England Combined Authority on transport, and welfare/housing partners including Citizens Advice B&NES, Julian House, and Reach. The council has declared Climate and Ecological Emergencies and committed to Carbon Neutrality by 2030.

Name

Bath & North East Somerset Council

Legal name

Bath and North East Somerset Council

Website

https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Bath & North East Somerset Council is a UK local government authority established in 1974, delivering statutory services including Council Tax, waste collection, planning, libraries, social care, and housing to residents and businesses across the Bath & North East Somerset district in South West England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Government Administration

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs (925110), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340), Services-Social Services (8300), Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Local Education Authorities & Municipal Education Offices (EDADABAD)

Keywords

• Local government services
• Council tax administration
• Waste and recycling services
• Public library services
• Planning and building control

Headquarters

HQ city

Bath

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Council Tax: Property-based local taxation charged to residents based on property valuation bands. Direct Debit is the preferred payment method. Collected from all residential properties in the council area.
2. Garden Waste Subscription: Annual subscription service for garden waste wheelie bin collection at £75 per year plus bin delivery charge. Collected from residents who opt into the service.
3. Business Rates: Business rates collected from commercial properties in the council area.
4. Parking Permits and Fines: Revenue from parking permits, fines, and enforcement activities.
5. Planning Fees: Fees charged for planning applications and related services.
6. Community Space Hire: Revenue from hiring Keynsham Community Space facilities including the auditorium (£240 full day, £130 half day) and meeting rooms (£140 full day, £80 half day).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bath & North East Somerset Council is the unitary local government authority for the Bath and North East Somerset district, providing statutory and discretionary public services to residents including Council Tax administration, planning and building control, household waste and recycling collection, library services, social care, housing advice, transport passes, and community space hire. Services are delivered through a digital-first citizen platform (bathnes.gov.uk), physical One Stop Shops, libraries, contact centre, and through partnerships with organisations such as LibrariesWest and Citizens Advice.

Product overview

Bath & North East Somerset Council operates a comprehensive digital citizen services platform centred on its main website (bathnes.gov.uk), providing access to all local government services. Key service products include rubbish and recycling management (with garden waste subscriptions), the Liveable Neighbourhoods sustainable transport initiative, and the LibrariesWest library network spanning physical branches, mobile services, and digital resources. The council maintains dedicated portals for cost of living support (LiveWell) and publishes its AI technologies usage transparently. Residents can access council tax services, apply for the Discovery Card discount programme, and engage through various public consultations on topics including street strategies, amenities, dementia care, and job coaching services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LibrariesWest: A partnership of seven public library services across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Dorset, and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
• Diamond Travelcard

Products and services

• Council Tax Services Online and offline services for managing Council Tax payments, including Direct Debit, online, phone, bank transfer, and in-person channels; also handles discount applications, exemptions, band reviews, and support for residents struggling to pay. Available to all residential property owners and tenants in the B&NES area.
• Garden Waste Subscription Service Chargeable garden waste collection service providing 240-litre or 140-litre wheelie bins or paper sacks for domestic garden waste, with fortnightly collections. Annual subscription at £75/year per 240L bin with optional bin delivery charge; sack alternative at £5.09 each. For B&NES residents who opt into the service.
• Rubbish and Recycling Services Waste management services including household rubbish collection, recycling programmes, reuse shop, recycling centre facilities, and business waste services across Bath and North East Somerset. For residents and businesses in the B&NES area.
• LibrariesWest Library Network Public library service partnership providing access to approximately 2.5 million items including books, DVDs, audiobooks, and music CDs across 145 public libraries. Includes Bath Central Library, Keynsham Library, Midsomer Norton Library, Mobile Library, and community libraries. For B&NES residents and library members.
• Diamond Travelcard (Bus Pass) Free bus pass for eligible B&NES residents of pensionable age or those with certain disabilities, providing free off-peak bus travel. Replacement for lost or damaged passes costs £7 (free with police crime reference if stolen). Applications processed via West of England Combined Authority (WECA) portal.
• Liveable Neighbourhoods Programme Urban planning initiative to enhance residential streets and promote safe, active, sustainable transportation through improved crossings, wider footways, better cycle lanes, traffic calming measures, and through-traffic restrictions. Targets 15 areas across B&NES for traffic reduction and active travel improvements. For B&NES residents and streetscape users.
• Residents' Discovery Card Resident discount card programme offering exclusive offers and discounts at participating businesses across Bath and North East Somerset. For eligible local residents.
• LiveWell Cost of Living Support Portal Dedicated portal providing resources, signposting, and information to support residents in managing finances and accessing cost of living assistance, including food, energy, and money advice services. For B&NES residents facing financial pressures.
• Keynsham Community Space Hire Facility hire service for Keynsham Community Space including the auditorium (£240 full day, £130 half day) and meeting rooms (£140 full day, £80 half day), VAT included. For community groups, organisations, and event organisers.
• Planning and Building Control Services Statutory planning application search, submission, building control, heritage conservation, and development management services, with associated application fees. For property developers, businesses, and residents seeking planning permissions and regulatory approvals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Council achieves WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility compliance for its website
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LibrariesWestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLibrariesWest is a partnership of seven public library services across Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Dorset, and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. The partnership provides access to 2.5 million+ items across 145 public libraries.
• West of England Combined Authority (WECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWECA provides the application portal for bus pass (Diamond Travelcard) applications. The council works with WECA on transport and regional planning initiatives.
• Citizens Advice B&NEScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCitizens Advice provides free confidential advice on money, legal, and consumer problems at Bath Housing, Welfare and Advice Services and Keynsham Library.
• Reach (DHI-online)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing advice and support service providing assistance to those having difficulty with accommodation, available at multiple council locations.
• Julian HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomeless outreach service providing support to homeless individuals, available at Bath Housing, Welfare and Advice Services.
• National Westminster BankminorOthersCouncil's banking provider for Council Tax and other payments. Sort Code: 56 00 34, Account Number: 57134510 for Council Tax payments.
• Radstock Town CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in neighbourhood planning, with Radstock Neighbourhood Plan submitted to B&NES council for approval. Also co-manages Radstock Community Hub and Conservation Area initiatives.
• West of England Combined Authority (WECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWECA is consulting on transport issues along A37, A367 and A362 corridors between Radstock, Midsomer Norton, Westfield, and Bath and Bristol as part of broader transport planning.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Bristol City Council: Adjacent unitary authority also a LibrariesWest partner, providing the same comprehensive suite of UK local government services (Council Tax, waste, planning, libraries, social care) to a larger urban population. Directly comparable in service mix, governance structure, and AI deployment stage.
• Devon County Council: Larger two-tier county council authority in the South West providing a comparable portfolio of public services to a more rural population. Useful as a regional comparator for county-level strategic planning and AI deployment in social care.
• Dorset Council: Larger unitary authority formed in 2019 reorganisation, also a LibrariesWest partner. Operates the same statutory services including waste, planning, libraries, and social care across a predominantly rural geography with tourism exposure similar to B&NES.
• Wiltshire Council: Neighbouring unitary authority in the South West operating comparable statutory services. Similar in scale, governance structure, and rural-urban demographic mix to B&NES, making it a useful comparator for service delivery efficiency.
• BCP Council (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole): Unitary authority formed in 2019, partner in the LibrariesWest network. Provides the same statutory local government services (Council Tax, planning, waste, libraries) to a coastal population with similar tourism-related economic dynamics.
• North Somerset Council: Neighbouring unitary authority sharing the LibrariesWest partnership and West of England Combined Authority coordination. Provides directly comparable Council Tax, planning, waste, and social care services to a similar suburban-rural population.
• South Gloucestershire Council: Adjacent unitary authority within the West of England region and a LibrariesWest partner. Comparable in scale, population profile, and service portfolio including Council Tax, planning, libraries, and social care.
• Somerset Council: Larger unitary authority created in 2023 via local government reorganisation, also part of LibrariesWest. Comparable in rural-urban mix and the broad range of council services including LibrariesWest catalogue access.

Broad incumbents

• Manchester City Council: Large metropolitan UK unitary authority operating a much broader portfolio at greater scale. Comparable in service breadth (Council Tax, social care, libraries, planning, waste) but operates as a larger incumbent with more developed digital citizen services.
• Westminster City Council: Large central London borough operating the full statutory portfolio plus additional commercial activities. Comparable as a UK local authority but significantly larger and more commercially diversified than B&NES, providing a reference point for ambitious service digitisation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bathnes
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/bathnescouncil
• Facebookfacebook.com/bathnes
• Instagraminstagram.com/bathnescouncil

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Bath & North East Somerset Council