Frome Town Council heard that setting a Somerset budget and avoiding bankruptcy took a record eight hours and 18 minutes.

But councillors also heard that people at the county council were still not saying how or when services it will have to cull, can be taken on at town level.

The town is expecting to take on some of the burdens currently with Somerset including CCTV and, controversially, the toilets by the Cheese & Grain.

But although the council says it is ready to take responsibility, and built plans into the latest budget which will see the precept rise by 29 per cent, nothing has actually happened.

At the time of setting the highest precept of any local council, Frome Town Council insisted it needed to protect services that the community holds dear.

At its meeting at the Town Hall (February 21) heard that Somerset's budget setting may include up to one thousand staff being made redundant.

As part of balancing the books, and not going bankrupt, Somerset Council is passing on many of its operations to town level.

" The pace of devolution is much too slow," warned Frome Town Council clerk, " not glacial, but slower than that."

Councillors heard that Frome, along with other councils " heard the call and have stepped up," but have yet to hear what responsibilities they CAN take on and how.

Toilets in Market Place Frome, image Frome Nub News

The two issues at the top of the town agenda, CCTV operations around town and those Market Place toilets.

If a decision on handing the operating of those over to Frome, along with the cost of maintaining them, is NOT made soon, then councillors heard that come March 31 they will simply shut.

Frome Town Council is planning on meeting with other bigger towns on April 4 to see if they can work together to take on services no longer being costed by Somerset County Council.

Cllr Adam Boyden told the meeting he would take the matter of a lack of decision making and plans for what next, directly to the leader of Somerset County Council, Councillor Bill Revans.

Safer Streets? Expect resistance Frome Town Council told

Also at the meeting councillors were also offered an update on plans for Safer Streets around the town's schools which would see some roads closed to all but essential traffic. They were asked what consultations had been made and heard from a child minder who offered an alternative option to closing Oakfield Road and Nunney Road between 08:10 – 09:00 and 2.45 – 3.30, Monday – Friday during term time, and Park Road 8.25 – 8.55 and 3.00 – 3.30.

She suggested instead making the streets around the schools one way in particular Alexandra Road in Frome.

She told councillors: " I wholly support the notion of air in their hair (getting children out and active and walking to school) but is this the right way ?"

The Safer Streets project is coming into force in April. and will be initially enforced by volunteers.