Numerous green spaces in Somerset's smallest city will come under more local control by the summer after a 'devolution deal' was agreed.

Somerset Council reached out to town and parish councils across the county after declaring a financial emergency in November 2023, asking them to take on the running of services to prevent damaging cuts in the face of a £100m budget gap.

Devolution deals have already been signed with numerous town and parish councils, with key services in Bridgwater, Minehead, Wellington and Yeovil being brought under more local control – including the management of parks and other key green spaces in their respective towns.

Wells City Council has now become the latest parish-level council to agree a devolution deal, becoming responsible for numerous green spaces and play areas from June 1.

The following green spaces will come under the city council's control from that date:

• Balch Road Allotment Gardens
• Barnard Court
• Bignal Rand play area
• Black Dog Gardens
• Campkin Road Woodland Area
• Coronation Road
• Drake Road Woodlands
• Hawkers Lane play area
• Jocelyn Drive
• Lethbridge Road play area
• Parsons Way play area
• Powell Court
• Sealey Crescent
• Sheldon Drive (two sites)
• St. Cuthbert's Avenue
• Tor Furlong play area
• Tor Hill Lane footpath
• Tor Woods

The city council will also assume responsibility for three closed churchyards – Cathedral Green, the Mendip Hospital cemetery on Hooper Avenue, and St. Cuthbert's Cemetery on St. Cuthbert Street.

On top of managing these green spaces, the city council will become responsible for street cleaning and will continue to manage the public toilets within the Union Street car parks, which were transferred to the council at an earlier date.

The devolution deal is expected to save Somerset Council around £100,000 a year – with the future cost being borne by the city council's (uncapped) share of the council tax precept.

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. The relationships between officers have been good and the conversations positive.

"Any further devolution of assets and services will be subject to a separate decision-making process. Devolution of the market within Wells was also requested by the city council, but this is being dealt with separately as a wider markets discussion with the main city, town and parish councils within the former Mendip area."

Somerset Council will set its annual budget in Bridgwater on March 26.