Frome Community Funding workshop, 26th March

Frome Town Council are holding a community workshop on Wednesday 26 March at 7 (7.30) to 9pm at Frome Town Football Club, to discuss what local funding is available to community groups and projects, and how you can access it. See http://www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/news/view/participate-frome-next-steps. 

Rodden Meadows consultation, 26th March

The above workshop will also discuss the Town Council’s plans for the future of Rodden Meadows, the Town Council-owned fields by the river between Wallbridge and the town centre. See http://www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/news/view/rodden-meadow-plans for details.

Frome Annual Town Meeting, 2nd April:

“Your chance to hear about what’s been happening in Frome in the past year and what’s coming up, and to have your say on things that matter to you.” The Frome Annual Town Meeting will take place on Weds 2nd April at 7pm in the Merlin Theatre. Questions can be submitted in advance to a Question Time for local councillors, see here for details.

Mendip support pilot emergency homelessness accommodation project in district:

Mendip District Council recently decided to award grant match funding of £48,366 to deliver a 6 month pilot Direct Access Community project (October 2014 to March 2015),  to support, in partnership with Crisis: “Direct Access accommodation unit within Mendip (consisting of 4 units) which will assist between 8-18 rough sleepers to move on into other sustainable accommodation over the 6 month pilot; 24 hour management of the project via on site manager; Management and staffing on-costs; and Office costs.”.

When up and running this shoudl provide the firts and only emergency homeslessness shelter accommodation in Mendip. See here for details, and here for Mendip’s homelessness information page.

Home Improvement loans available:

Homeowners, if your home needs repair, adaptation or essential improvements, Mendip District Council may be able to provide a low-interest loan for essential repairs. Please see here.

Frome Town Council given first refusal on former Town Hall

At last night’s Frome Town Council meeting, councillors agreed to work with Somerset County Council towards transferring the ownership of the current Social Services Building on Christchurch Street West to the Town Council.  The building could be a ‘Town Hall’ for Frome once again, with several meeting rooms for other organisations. See here, and FTC meeting agenda here for the background (item 5).

Improving Walking and Cycling routes in Frome

Much progress has been made recently in mapping and identifying how to improve Frome’s walking and cycling routes, by the members of Frome Town Council’s Walking and Cycling Working Party – see here. I am keeping informed of the work of the group, and am trying to provide helpful advice, as and when I can.

Mendip delay improvements to playgrounds:

Mendip District Council has put the implementation of its revised Play Strategy on hold again, due to a lack of staff time available in the Operational Assets team to progress things. The revised Play Strategy was adopted by the Cabinet in August 2013 and proposed that: (1) the council would define which were the most important playgrounds to invest in, and (2) the council would define which were ‘low use’ play areas, which would either (a) have play equipment removed and be turned into open spaces, in consultation with local residents, or (b) would be transferred to parish councils or local communities to own and manage.  One thing that is happening is a market assessment of some playground sites, to value some of them for divestment/closure, as part of the strategic review of assets.

In College ward, Mendip own the play areas at the old Showfield, Packsaddle Way, Acacia Drive, Cheddar Close, and Chapmans Close, and the large open space at Brunel Way as well as the network of green spaces through Stonebridge and the Mendip Drive/Grange Road area.  Frome Town Council own the Welshmill Park nearby, which has been drastically improved, with more to follow, through working with FROGS and local residents.

FTC spending: At the regular Frome Town Council full council meeting (my first) in early January, I asked that the Town Clerk (Paul Wynne) consult all town councillors when officers propose to spend large sums of public money in a hurry (which according to the rules is anything over £5000 which has not been previously approved by the Council), so that members can be fully informed and scrutinise spending decisions before they are made.

FTC spending on consultants: At my first briefing with FTC officers in January, I asked for a full list of the spending commitments the Council has made in this financial year, including on consultants. I now have the list, and it is available on request.

Fracking: There have been no meetings of Mendip District Council’s Fracking Working Party since January.  No developer activity is reported in Mendip. Somerset County Council are consulting on the Pre-Submission Minerals Plan, including Policy SMP7 on oil and gas, runs until 14 April, see here. The Government’s Strategic Environmental Assessment Report on onshore oil and gas runs until 28^th March – see here.

Mendip District Council other news:  Please see here for recent news of:

• Building design awards (March)
• Glastonbury Festival: 10 year licence approved (March)
• Flytipping prosecution in Frome (February)

 

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