Editing Wells, Somerset (section)

==Governance==
[[File:Wells, Somerset, 24 June 2013.jpg|alt=Street scene with shops on either side of the street. In the centre stands an old stone monument. In the background are an old stone gatehouse and behind it the towers of the cathedral.|thumb|left|The Market Place is the site of one of the city's ancient wells (note the water flowing in the gully, down High Street); the [[The Bishop's Eye, Wells|Bishop's Eye]] gatehouse (to the Bishop's Palace) is at the far end; two of Wells Cathedral's towers can be seen rising behind the buildings.]]

Wells City Council is a [[parish councils in England|parish council]], with a membership of sixteen councillors, elected from three [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|parish wards]]. They are (with the number of parish councillors each elects, in brackets): Central (four), St. Thomas' (six) and St. Cuthbert's (six).<ref>[http://www.wells.gov.uk/index.php?page=members Wells City Council] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220195446/http://www.wells.gov.uk/index.php?page=members |date=20 December 2014 }} Members</ref><ref name="citycouncil">{{Cite web |work=Wells City Council |title=City of Wells |url=http://www.wells.gov.uk/|access-date=21 September 2007|archive-date=29 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929101003/http://www.wells.gov.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Civil parishes in England|civil parish]] of Wells was formed in 1933<ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10445530/relationships Vision of Britain] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106011750/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10445530/relationships |date=6 January 2015 }} Wells CP</ref> upon the merger of [[Wells St Cuthbert In]] and [[Wells St Andrew]] (the latter being the historic liberty of the cathedral, the bishop's palace, etc., amounting to just {{cvt|52|acre|ha}}).<ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10445541/relationships Vision of Britain] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106012128/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10445541/relationships |date=6 January 2015 }} Wells St Andrew CP</ref> Wells is the [[successor parish]] for Wells Municipal Borough, which existed from the creation of [[municipal borough]]s in 1835 to their abolition in 1974.<ref name=wellsrd>{{cite web |title=Wells RD |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10061581 |work=A vision of Britain Through Time |publisher=University of Portsmouth |access-date=4 January 2014 |archive-date=5 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105024500/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10061581 |url-status=live}}</ref> The parish has held the [[city status in the United Kingdom|city status]] of Wells since 1 April 1974<ref name="lg0474"/> (previously held by the municipal borough) and the member of the City Council who chairs the council holds the historic office of Mayor of Wells, typically for one year. The current mayor (for the 2024-25 municipal year) is Councillor Jasmine Browne, who is the 650th Mayor of Wells. She assumed office on 18th May 2024.<ref>[1] Archived 13 October 2020 at the [[Wayback Machine]] the [https://web.archive.org/web/20201013185218/https://www.wells.gov.uk/index.php?mact=News%2Ccntnt01%2Cdetail%2C0&cntnt01articleid=1648&cntnt01origid=15&cntnt01returnid=97 Mayor of Wells]</ref> Another historic position is that of the [[Town Crier]].<ref>[http://www.wells.gov.uk/index.php?page=town-crier Wells City Council] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220195711/http://www.wells.gov.uk/index.php?page=town-crier |date=20 December 2014 }} Town Crier</ref>

The City Council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the council's operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. They also evaluate local planning applications and work with the local police, district council officers, and [[Neighbourhood Watch (UK)|neighbourhood watch]] groups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. This includes city centre management including [[CCTV]], an alcohol ban and regulating street trading permissions including the two funfairs held in the Market Place in May and November each year and the Wells in Bloom competition.<ref name="citycouncil" /> The city council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of city facilities, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning. They are involved in the management of the Community Sports Development Centre at the Blue School, the [[Skateboarding|skateboard]] park and [[Allotment (gardening)#United Kingdom|allotments]] in the grounds of the Bishop's Palace, Burcott Road and Barnes Close. Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council.<ref name="citycouncil" />

[[File:Wells Town Hall 01.jpg|alt=Symmetrical two-storey building in classical style with nine bays.|thumb|[[Wells Town Hall]]]]

[[Wells Town Hall]] was built in 1778, with the porch and arcade being added in 1861 and the balcony and round windows in 1932. It is a Grade II [[listed building]].<ref name="ioetownhall" /> It replaced the former on the site of the Market and Assize Hall in the Market Place,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wells.gov.uk/services/townhall.php |title=The Town Hall |publisher=Wells City Council |access-date=2 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713052101/http://www.wells.gov.uk/services/townhall.php |archive-date=13 July 2009}}</ref> and a Canonical House also known as 'The Exchequer', on the authority of an Act of Parliament dated 1779. The building also houses the magistrates courts and other offices. The [[Assize court]] last sat here in October 1970.<ref name="ioetownhall">{{NHLE |num=1334708 |desc=Town Hall |access-date=2 March 2009}}</ref>

All other local government services are provided by [[Somerset Council]], a [[unitary authority]] established in April 2023. Prior to this date, Wells elected five councillors to [[Mendip District|Mendip District Council]] from the same three wards as are used for the City Council (two were returned from St Cuthbert's, two from St Thomas' and one from Central).<ref>[http://www.mendip.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=7704&p=0 Mendip District Council] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220194643/http://www.mendip.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=7704&p=0 |date=20 December 2014 }} Election results summary (2011)</ref> Wells is an electoral division (with the same boundaries as the civil parish) of Somerset and returns two councillor to Somerset Council, but returned one to its predecessor [[Somerset County Council]].<ref>[http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/council/divisions.asp Somerset County Council] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616002346/http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/council/divisions.asp |date=16 June 2010 }} Councillors by Division</ref> Wells is part of the [[Wells and Mendip Hills (UK Parliament constituency)|Wells and Mendip Hills]] constituency.

The Wells city arms show an [[Fraxinus|ash tree]] surrounded by three [[water well]]s, crested with a gold [[mural crown]], with the [[Latin]] motto ''Hoc fonte derivata copia'' (translated: "the fullness that springs from this well").<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/cornwall_wessex.html |title=Cornwall and Wessex Area |publisher=Civic Heraldry of England and Wales |access-date=20 December 2014 |archive-date=20 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120205725/http://civicheraldry.co.uk/cornwall_wessex.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The council formalised [[Sister city|twinning]] links with [[Paray-le-Monial]], France, and [[Bad Dürkheim]], Germany in 1979, then added [[Fontanellato]], Italy in 1983; the Wells Twinning Association and the Mayor of Wells organise the twinning activities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wells.gov.uk/index.php?page=twinning |title=Wells Twinning Association – Wells City Council serving Englands smallest Cathedral City |access-date=23 December 2014 |archive-date=20 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220220518/http://www.wells.gov.uk/index.php?page=twinning |url-status=live}}</ref>

{{HMS|Somerset|F82|6}}, [[Mary Rand|Mary Bignal-Rand]], [[Danny Nightingale]], [[The Rifles]] and the late [[Harry Patch]] have the [[Freedom of the City]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/surface-fleet/type-23-frigates/hms-somerset/city-of-wells/174963 |title=City of Wells |publisher=Royal Navy (crown Copyright) |access-date=28 November 2009 |archive-date=7 December 2009 |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20091207052931/http%3A//www.royalnavy.mod.uk/surface%2Dfleet/type%2D23%2Dfrigates/hms%2Dsomerset/city%2Dof%2Dwells/174963 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wells.gov.uk/pdfs/CNCLMINS-14feb07.pdf |title=Minutes of the City Council |date=14 February 2007 |publisher=Wells City Council |access-date=3 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090320143409/http://www.wells.gov.uk/pdfs/CNCLMINS-14feb07.pdf |archive-date=20 March 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/HistoryAndHonour/FreedomOfWellsForBritainsOldestSoldier.htm |title=Freedom of Wells for Britain's oldest soldier |date=11 July 2008 |work=Defence News |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=3 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090807051900/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/HistoryAndHonour/FreedomOfWellsForBritainsOldestSoldier.htm |archive-date=7 August 2009}}</ref> The [[Somerset Light Infantry]] received the freedom of the City of Wells following their return from [[Cyprus]] in 1956.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Somerset & Cornwall Light Infantry |url=http://www.britisharmedforces.org/li_pages/regiments/scli/scli_civichonours.htm |publisher=British Light Infantry Regiments |access-date=1 February 2016 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>