AMBITIOUS plans to strengthen community services in Wellington next year will drive up council tax bills in the town.

The town council’s 2026-27 budget will have a focus on expanding community services across the whole of Wellington, building on the past year’s successes.

The result will be a 24 per cent increase in the authority’s precept, equating to 98p a week for people living in an average band D council tax property.

Wellington Mayor Cllr Janet Lloyd said: “Over recent years, support from Somerset Council for young people and other groups has significantly reduced.

“The town council is stepping in to ensure these vital services remain accessible.

“We have proved with open spaces management that we deliver high-quality services.

“While this will mean an increase in our precept, which is our part of the council tax, we believe it is an investment in our town and community that is worth making.

“It underscores our vision of the town being inclusive, safe, and secure, where everybody is supportive of each other and offers particular care for the more vulnerable members of our community.”

Cllr Lloyd said the proposed £1.75 million budget next year struck a balance between providing excellent local services and the cost pressures households were under.

She said the past year had been transformative for the council as it took on more and more new responsibilities devolved to it as Somerset Council faced a financial emergency.

Cllr Lloyd said there was greater focus on local needs and the town council had been able to deliver an award-winning service with its management of open spaces and invest in the community by providing activities, advice, and support for residents.

She said the council had:

• Won multiple Britain in Bloom awards

• Opened the Kings Arms Community Hub

• Reintroduced youth provision to the town

• Was launching a ‘Wellington Connect’ initiative in January to strengthen community-based adult social care and early intervention activities

Key Investments for 2026-27 would build on the initiatives with a focus on providing support to those who needed it most, with youth engagement, education, and family support, including:

• Weekly youth provision delivered by In the Mix through the Kings Arms Community Hub and around the town

• Specific programmes supporting young people facing challenges such as anxiety, isolation, and digital exclusion

• Introducing skills and employability opportunities for young people through workshops, mentoring, and early career development opportunities in partnership with local employers and other organisations

A ‘Cradle to Career’ initiative would support families and individuals from birth through to adulthood, ensuring they had the resources and opportunities needed to succeed academically, socially, and economically.

The programme, led by Court Fields School and involving other schools and early years providers, health services, local employers, and other groups, will launch on January 28 with full town council support.

A council spokesperson said: “We will not know the precise impact on individual households’ precept amounts until we have information through from Somerset Council which will be considered at January’s council meeting.”