Footpath repairs and street cleaning are among the services transferred to town council level as part of a landmark deal in Somerset after the county declared a 'financial emergency' last year.
Somerset Council has handed over assets and services to Bridgwater Town Council in a joint deal to help ensure 'much-valued facilities continue for residents'.
The move has seen services devolved, such as:
- winter Service – filling grit bins
- roadside verges maintenance, including grass-cutting
- vegetation clearance and cutting on the Rights of Way network
- planned path safety inspections
- non-illuminated sign cleaning and maintenance
- minor highways functions such as footway and footpath repairs
- street cleaning and roadsweeping
Bridgewater will also be in charge of various assets including parks and open spaces.
Getting the band together: Cllr Butt Philip, Cllr Kathy Pearce, Bridgwater Town Council, Cllr Tim Mander, Bridgwater Town Council, Cllr Mick Lerry, mayor of Bridgwater, David Mears, CEO and Town Clerk of Bridgwater Town Council, Cllr Revans, Scott Mason, and James Presdee, operations manager at Somerset Council.
Somerset Council replaced Somerset County Council in April 2023 as a new unitary authority but by November had already declared a financial emergency.
Council leader Bill Revans wrote to all 279 Somerset parishes, highlighting a list of ‘at risk’ functions that could be devolved to those city, towns, and parishes willing to take them on.
The local authority received dozens of expressions of interest and has said that Bridgwater 'is the first of many devolution deals anticipated'.
Cllr Theo Butt Philip, Somerset's lead member for transformation and human resources at Council, said: 'Devolution doesn’t just protect some of the services our residents value the most, it also means that these services will be delivered by an organisation which is much closer to the community which uses them.
'We also know that devolution will strengthen the role of our parish councils, allowing them to play a greater role in leading, shaping deciding the future of their local areas.'
Scott Mason, the newly appointed director of amenities at the town council, added: 'Taking charge of street cleansing and road sweeping is a significant responsibility. We are dedicated to making Bridgwater a clean, safe, and attractive town for residents and visitors alike.'
Somerset Council said in a statement that it had a balanced budget for 24-25 at its Full Council in February, 'but not without agreeing to heartbreaking service reductions, urgent efficiency savings, increases to fees and charges, and council tax rises'.
It also pledged to have fewer council offices, a significantly reduced workforce, and transfer services to parishes.
Cllr Revans said 'The Local Government finance model is broken. With no help from government forthcoming, despite all the lobbying and stark warnings, we quickly recognised we needed to seek local solutions, here in Somerset.'
