A NUMBER of green spaces, as well as the Market Yard toilet block and weekly markets are set to be controlled by Frome Town Council.

Somerset Council has been asking town and parish councils across the county to take on services  – known as devolution – as it looks to save money in light of its well-publicised financial emergency.

Councillors in Frome voted unanimously to proceed with the devolution deal at a meeting last night (February 12).

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This will see the town council take on the Key Centre and Mount Community Garden, the Market Yard toilet block, weekly markets, 48 open spaces, eight play parks and a piece of land at Mendip Drive on a 25-year lease.

The total cost of the devolution deal works out at £334,800 for the 2025/26 financial year.

The council previously said that the devolution deal could lead to an increase in the town’s precept.

The most costly element of the devolution deal is the leasing of the former highways depot next to Frome Recycling Centre, estimated to cost £180,000, as it will be used to house equipment that will allow the council’s environment team to deal with the increased remit.

Environment Manager Rob Holden said one-off/set-up costs are around £130,000 and that the annual cost will be far lower.

The Key Centre and Mount Community Garden

Councillors voted to take on the freehold of the building and the community garden of the Key Centre on Feltham Lane, a former Sure Start Centre, as they said it has “been underutilised for several years.”

This has an estimated cost of £45,800 in the 2025/26 financial year.

A Frome Town Council spokesperson said: “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.

“Councillor Max Wide reminded the councillors that Frome Town Council 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

Frome Town Council 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. Frome Town Council 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 also 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,” a spokesperson added.

Watch councillors discuss the proposals on the Frome Town Council YouTube page.