Wells City Council has agreed an ambitious budget to invest in the future of the city.

This follows the end of austerity signalled by the national government in London.

The budget covers the year from April 2020. Here are the investments, extra costs and savings in it:

Investments and extra costs:

Salary of a new part-time resilience officer to secure climate change grants for Wells and support the Climate Change emergency Committee. Also inflation and increment increases for existing staff - £35,548.

Auto enrolment into pensions for all staff - £25,548.

Improved HR provision from new provider - £1,750.

Neighbourhood Plan to give Wells residents more say in planning - £2,000.

New website to improve communication with residents and boost the tourism and the city's economy - £12,000.

Grants to support events run by volunteers for the public in Wells - £4,500.

To move the Tourist Information Centre back to the Town Hall's East Room - £10,000.

Climate Change public events - £6,450.

Additional cost of toilet maintenance due to vandalism - £2,000.

New cycle racks and signage - £ 3,000.

Replacing broken Christmas lights - £5,000.

Loss of rent for Post Office in Market Place - £ 7,500.

General Inflation and cost increases - £5,535.

Bishop's Barn and Recreation Ground cost provision if transferred from Mendip - £15,000.

Total - £135,831

Savings:

Telephone - £500.

Office costs - £1,000.

Advertising - £500.

Public toilet cleaning - £10,000.

Seasonal staff - £10,000.

Cemetery project - £6,000.

Parkes Room wedding venue project - £10,000.

Total £38,000

This 26 per cent increase in the city council's part of council tax will mean households living in a Band D household paying an extra 40p a week.

The majority of the council tax is charged by Mendip District Council, Somerset County Council and the police. The final calculation of council tax is made each year by Mendip.