City council signs 'devolution deal' on parks

Wells joins other Somerset towns in agreeing to take over managing its own green spaces

Wells City Council has signed a deal which will see it take over the city's green spaces to help save Somerset Council money.

The deal is expected to save the county authority around £100,000 a year - with the city council funding future costs from its council tax share.

After declaring a financial emergency in November 2023, Somerset Council asked town and parish councils to take on running some services to help plug a £100 million budget gap.

Bridgwater, Minehead, Wellington and Yeovil have already signed similar deals to manage their parks.

As well as looking after its parks and green spaces, Wells City Council will also be responsible for street cleaning and will continue to manage the public toilets within the Union Street car parks, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

It already takes care of three closed churchyards – Cathedral Green, the Mendip Hospital cemetery on Hooper Avenue, and St. Cuthbert's Cemetery on St. Cuthbert Street.

Chris Hall, Somerset Council's executive director for community, place and economy, said: "Officers have since been in conversation with Wells City Council regarding devolution of further services and assets to support Somerset Council's financial position and protect services for residents of Wells.

"Any further devolution of assets and services will be subject to a separate decision-making process."