The February meeting of Frome Town Council marked an historic moment: after months of discussion, conversation and planning in light of the financial emergency at Somerset Council, the town council voted unanimously to proceed with the devolution of several assets and services from Somerset Council to FTC.
The Key Centre and Mount Community Garden
A former Sure Start Centre, the Key Centre on Feltham Lane has been underutilised for several years. Frome Town Council voted unanimously to take on the freehold of the building and the community garden, at an estimated cost of £45,800 in the 2025/26 financial year.
Among the ambitions for the space is increased capacity for Early Help services, a safe space for children and young people and a meeting place for other community groups, such as those working to combat isolation in older people. Fair Frome Coordinator Lenka Grimes welcomed the plans and hopes the charity can have greater access to this vital space, the only one of its kind in the Mount area. Cllr Max Wide reminded the councillors that FTC wouldn’t seek to run Early Help and other services itself, but rather facilitate them, having heard from many community groups that their greatest need to operate more effectively was space.
Market Yard toilet block
FTC will take on the lease for the toilet block and linked building space in the Market Yard in 2025/26. The other spaces in the block will be utilised for community benefit. FTC has been managing the maintenance and cleaning of the toilets since 2024, including an accessible Changing Places cubicle, saving them from closure. The cost of this will be circa £60,000 in 2025/26.
Weekly markets
Frome Town Council will take on the running and management of the weekly markets in the Cattle Market car park from Somerset Council. The cost in the 2025/26 financial year is expected to be £49,000, including the cost of appointing a freelance staff member to coordinate them. An advisory group will bring together traders, councillors and other stakeholders to discuss longer-term plans for the weekly markets.
Open spaces and Highways depot
FTC voted unanimously to take on 48 open spaces, eight play parks and a piece of land at Mendip Drive on a 25-year lease. In light of this increased remit for the council’s Environment Team and additional equipment including a ride-on mower, FTC will also lease the former highways depot next to Frome Recycling Centre. This is the most costly element of the devolution plan, coming in at an estimated £180,000. However, Environment Manager Rob Holden confirmed to councillors that the majority of these are one-off/set up costs of around £130,000, with the annual cost of remaining there to be far lower.
The February meeting also saw an update on the winding up of the Weymouth Road residents’ parking scheme, an invitation to the latest instalment of ‘Canteen’ on 18th February, a pop-up restaurant offering locally sourced, pay-what-you-can food at Trinity Church Hall organised by Frome Food Network and Green and Healthy Frome, along with questions from councillors and the public.
Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Clare Moody presented to council and spoke about her priorities, including combatting violence against women and girls, crime prevention work and support for victims of crime.
Watch the meeting in full on the FTC YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/council-meeting-12th-feb
