Chair’s Reflections – Operations & Assets Committee 11 March 2026

Our March meeting covered a huge amount of ground: from equalities to grit bins, from planting thousands of trees to riverbank erosion at Welshmill.

First up on the main agenda, our Community Engagement Officer Emily presented a clear and thoughtful report, setting out objectives for improving FTC’s approach to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) – not just because we have to meet certain statutory obligations, but also to make sure we’re considering it in everything we do and are consistent about it – in our decision-making, our staff recruitment, events, infrastructure works, facilities and more.

There was strong support in the room, including from members of ARC (Anti‑Racist Community in Frome). Councillors approved the report’s recommendations, available in more detail in the paper.

Next up, our Environment Manager Rob Holden presented a new policy for grit bins around Frome. Town councils aren’t obliged to provide them, but most do, and so do FTC – because our local knowledge and contact with residents means we’re more likely to put them where people want them. Until now, decisions on new grit bins have been made on a case‑by‑case basis. Rob’s new policy provides clear criteria — including distance from existing bins, slope, vulnerable users, accident history, and whether the location is already on a priority gritting route. Councillors voted unanimously to adopt the policy.

Rob then took us on a whistle‑stop tour of the huge amount of work happening across Frome’s open spaces, including some fantastic new play areas at St John’s and Tower View, plus the planned improvements at Mary Baily and progress with the skatepark project. Rob thanked councillors for voting in favour of buying FTC’s new tractor last year, which he said had been a ‘game changer’ for looking after hedgerows for efficiency and time saving for the ranger team, and also shared un update on the subsidence at Welshmill and the possible cost of repairing it.

Finally, Rob shared an update on the amazing achievement at the new community woodland at Spring Gardens – 3,800 trees planted by more than 650 people in a fantastic community effort.

FTC’s HR Lead and Executive Assistant to the Town Clerk, Laura, presented updates to the council’s safeguarding, health, safety and welfare and lone working policies. Given the Town Hall, Key Centre, and FTC’s other facilities are seeing increasing community use, having robust, clear, and well‑understood policies is vital; councillors approved all changes.

Finally, Facilities Manager Alastair Findlay gave us an overview of work across the council’s buildings and facilities, including an update on access to the Changing Places facility in Market Yard, heating, decorating, smart meters and compliance checks and the ongoing conversation about Badgers Hill:

You can watch the meeting in full on the FTC YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/ops-assets-11-march-26 and view the papers and reports from the meeting at https://www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/event/operations-assets-committee-4/