WELLS City Council has agreed a devolution package with Somerset Council to save local services, and to take on the running of the weekly markets.
The city council’s precept – its share of council tax – is going up to cover the cost of services that are being devolved. With Somerset Council set to put up its share of council tax above the norm as it grapples with its ‘financial emergency’, and the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner, and Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Authority announcing increases as well, council tax payers are likely to notice a sharp rise in bills when they are delivered in the next few weeks.
The city council has debated the devolution of services on numerous occasions in recent months and during their discussions, councillors have considered the impacts to residents of the loss of services, whilst being aware that the cost-of-living crisis is still being keenly felt.
They have also considered the community feedback received via written statements, the public consultation evening held last September in the Town Hall, and the recent requests for opinion through Wells Voice. The vast majority of people who responded expressed the view that maintaining local services was critical and that providing them locally through Wells City Council rather than the current arrangement with Somerset Council would benefit the city.
In January, the council took a decision in readiness for these services being passed from Somerset Council, and increased its precept to ensure that there were adequate funds to continue delivery of these functions, which include grass cutting, hedge management, play parks, public toilets and trees on council-owned land.
The city council’s Devolution Officer, Haylee Wilkins, provided a report for councillors that was considered at the Finance and Council Matters Committee meeting and the Full City Council meeting in December 2024. The report outlined that the cost of the services that the city council is taking on would equate to £510,043 per year.
With this in mind, a precept of £1,603,433 for 2025/26 was approved – up from £1,178,497 in 2024/25, a rise of £424,936, or 36 per cent. For the city council element of council tax, residents will see an average increase of £137.35 per year.
Through the negotiations with Somerset Council, the city council has also secured a number of key assets which will, it is expected, be further developed into a wider income strategy for the council. These include the weekly markets, alongside securing other assets such as closed cemeteries, allotments and the skatepark.
“The decision to increase the precept is not one that has been taken lightly,” said Councillor Stewart Cursley, the council’s Chair of Finance and Council Matters Committee.
“When considering the impacts to our residents, we have weighed up the financial impact, as well as the feedback we have received from residents, regarding those services that are considered to be of the greatest value and set a precept accordingly.
“We have challenged officers to provide realistic budgetary predictions to ensure that we can sustain services and through efficiencies, in some cases offering a greater level of service than is currently delivered.”
Services and assets will be transferred to Wells City Council by May 31 and a full list of services and locations which will now be managed by the city council can be found on its website: www.wells.gov.uk
Residents who would like to raise concerns and receive updates on Wells City Council services can attend the Annual Parish Meeting in Wells Town Hall on March 5 at 7pm, where updates will be provided by committee chairs of the actions completed within the year.
All meetings of the council are open to the public as well, and dates for these can be found on the council website.
Somerset Council
SOMERSET Council has transferred the running of services to a number of other councils, but its share of council tax could still rise by 7.5 per cent – 2.5 per cent above the national cap of five per cent – following an announcement from the Government.
The council had been seeking Exceptional Financial Support from the Government as part of its budget setting for 2025/26, saying that despite taking emergency action to reduce costs and plans to save a further £47 million next year, including £34 million by reducing the number of staff and managers employed by April 2025, it was still facing a gap of about £66 million for 2025/26.
Leader Bill Revans wrote to Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), to highlight the challenge and request Exceptional Financial Support, and MHCLG has confirmed that Somerset Council will be allowed to raise council tax by up to 7.5 per cent. The council will now meet to decide whether to agree to the increase.
Cllr Revans said that the announcement “gives us clarity and we will need to consider the implications before we finalise our budget proposals for debate and decision at Full Council”.
The budget setting Full Council meeting will take place on March 5.
Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner
AVON and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Clare Moody has confirmed an increase in the policing part of the council tax for 2025/26 of £14 more per year for the average Band D household.
The PCC’s proposal was supported by the Police and Crime Panel at a meeting on February 4.
The approved increase, which the BBC says represents a five per cent rise, equates to approximately £1.16 per month. This decision follows the public consultation where 3,146 residents across the region shared their views. The majority supported a precept increase of £10 or more (52 per cent).
Each year, the PCC sets the police precept, the portion of council tax that funds local police services. This funding makes up 43 per cent of Avon and Somerset Police’s overall budget, with the remainder coming from central government grants.
PCC Clare Moody said: “I know the cost of living is a concern for many, and I did not take this decision lightly. It is my responsibility to ensure our police service has the resources to continue tackling crime, keeping communities safe, and improving trust and confidence in policing.”
This year’s precept will generate an additional £8.5 million for Avon and Somerset Police.
Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Authority
THE Fire Authority met on February 17 to discuss proposals and recommendations following a consultation on its council tax precept, which it says showed that 64 per cent of businesses and 74 per cent of residents agreed that it would be reasonable for the Authority to consider increasing its council tax charge for 2025/26.
The recommended option was to increase the council tax precept by £5 for the year, a five per cent increase over 2024/25, which the Fire Authority agreed with and approved.