AN increase of 6.8 per cent in Frome Town Council’s budget for the coming financial year has been agreed.

Councillors voted by a majority for the rise in the town council’s share of council tax, which represents an average of 32p per week extra for most residents, to support the full range of services and investment delivered locally by the council.

Leader and chair of Frome Town Council, Cllr Fiona Barrows, said: “We know how tough things are for many people right now, and we do not take any increase lightly.

“We have gone through every single line of this budget with real care, knowing that residents are under real pressure.

“There have been detailed discussions about areas of work and every pound we are proposing to spend.

“We have done everything we can to keep our costs down, budgeting carefully, responsibly, and compassionately, with the long-term interests of Frome in mind.

“We believe we deliver good value for money for the town.

“We keep our investment local, and we use it to support the people, places, and opportunities that make Frome what it is.

“This budget is about maintaining what works, stepping up where it is needed, and continuing to invest in our community in a way that is practical, responsible, and rooted in the priorities our residents have helped shape.”

The council used residents’ feedback, gathered during the past year’s ‘Building a Picture of Frome’ project, as well as surveys, pop-up engagement events, and other channels of communication to set its priorities.

In recent years, the town council has stepped in to protect services, take on assets, and fill gaps, particularly following Somerset Council’s financial emergency.

This included the adoption of 57 new open spaces, taking on the Key Centre and Badgers Hill, improving cleaning and maintenance in the town centre, and supporting community organisations which are themselves plugging gaps in statutory services.

During the meeting, some councillors shared concerns about the proposed work programme.

Cllr Lisa Merryweather expressed the view that some areas, such as post-16 education, support for the economically deprived and the digitally excluded, were not sufficiently provided for in the programme.

New Liberal Democrat town Cllr Richard Pinnock shared concerns that the precept increase was too high and would impact the most vulnerable people in the community.

Lenka Grimes, of Fair Frome, thanked the council for its ongoing financial support of the charity, as its services were experiencing unprecedented demand, and for raising the precept as little as possible.

In light of the council’s growth in recent years, the authority invited the Local Government Association to review the organisation via a ‘peer challenge’ process in 2025.

The resulting report praised the council’s ambition, values, and its community-focused approach.

It made a series of recommendations for governance and financial management which are embedded in a new improvement plan for the town council and reflected in the new work programme and budget.

Residents can view the full work programme and budget online.