Last night’s (3rd April) Annual Town Meeting, organised by Frome Town Council on behalf of the town, began with tea, coffee and live acoustic music from Borrowed Light.
Mayor Sheila Gore welcomed everyone to the Council Chamber. She then gave a summary of the Town Council’s successes from the past year, which included moving to the new Town Hall, improving communication with the community, planting more trees and flowers, setting up Frome Community Cars and opening the Changing Places toilet in the Market Yard.
This was an opportunity for Sheila to share her highlights of the Mayor’s year too, which began with formally opening the renovated Westway Cinema, attending the End of Year Art Show at Frome College, opening the Frome Festival, many events in the lead up to Christmas, and supporting the Frome Toy Library.
Certificates and flowers were then given out, as the Mayoral Civic Awards were presented. Neil Howlett, Chair of the Frome Chamber of Commerce, was the first to be awarded. Followed by Lenka Grimes and Azeema Caffoor, for their work running the Multicultural Frome Event. Representatives from Songs for the Memory were given an award for providing a creative response to national health issues in Frome. An impromptu rendition of “We Shall Overcome” followed, to mark the anniversary of Martin Luther King’s death. Lastly “the impeccable Laura Flaherty”, was thanked by Shelia for keeping her organised throughout the year.
Next up, Toby Eliot spoke about the People’s Budget project, and how it provides “real people, real power, [over] real money”. Presentations were then given by people whose organisations were given grants from the People’s Budget in 2017. These included Openstorytellers, Missing Links, Home in Frome, Fair Housing for Frome, Word Up! and Frome FM.
The 2018 People’s Budget Vote was then officially launched, with a ballot box ready in the room to receive its first submissions. Everyone over the age of 10, living in Frome, can vote and the three options available are all in line with the council’s strategy. To read more about the options (a Dog Poo Powered Streetlamp, a Giant Waterslide, and a Town Orchard) and to cast your vote, click here.
After the Public Question Time, delicious cakes, tea and coffee were brought out, photographs were taken of the Mayoral Civic Awards winners and people mingled and chatted away.
The next update will follow the Town Matters meeting on 25th April. The details of everything mentioned above can be found at www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk
