Once again, the ‘Mayor’s View’ column falls onto the shoulders of the trusty Deputy Mayor. Mayor Anita Collier is taking a backseat for a much deserved and needed spot of R&R due to an upcoming medical procedure, I’m sure you would all join me in wishing her all the best and we hope to see her back in action as soon as she is ready. We love ya M’am!
I last communicated with you all in my official capacity back in early November 2020 with my ‘open letter to Frome’ which was seen on various social media platforms and could be read on notice boards town wide. I really hope it communicated a message of hope, resolve, community and personal resilience. I hope you continue to be strong, focused and above all else healthy in these trying times. I’ve been really pleased to see the vast majority of Fromies embracing lockdown restrictions and making the difficult, unpleasant but necessary sacrifices to protect each other while looking nationally to the bigger picture of protecting our beloved NHS. I would like to give a shout out and a massive thank you to all the staff at Frome and Beckington medical practice who have been busy diligently vaccinating as well as delivering their everyday obligations to us. THANK YOU.
I’m also pleased to share that we at FTC have revealed our ambitious and flexible work programme and budget for the year ahead. It reflects our collective ambitions to build a truly inclusive, resilient and participative community, a thriving local economy and a clean, happy and healthy town. Our work programme boasts, promoting civic pride and supporting events and projects inclusive of ALL residents. As well as looking after sixty-five acres of parks and open spaces, 7 play parks, and the Town Hall, the work programme sees a substantial portion of the budget continue to be spent on supporting local communities and local organisations. This is largely through Grants and the People’s Budget and £178k distributed in this way. Community development projects generally sees a further £69k. Anne Hills, Leader of the Council said: “This work programme is about consolidation and the strategic vision of this work is clear: Frome works together to get things done, is a town where people look after each other, where they continue to check in on their five nearest neighbours, where we shop locally to make the best use of the town’s resources. Our work programme represents FTC as part of that community in an enabling role, actively being part of the town we live in.
This is just a brief overview of a wider plan than can be found on our website at www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/work-programme-overview/.
