In the summer of 2025, the Local Government Association (LGA) did a Corporate Peer Review. This review identified core weaknesses at the Frome Town Council.

In this episode I look at the concerns raised around leadership, culture, and relationships.

You can read the full report here:

https://www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Frome-Corporate-Peer-Challenge-Report.pdf

In the summer of 2025, the Local Government Association (LGA) did a Corporate Peer Review. This review identified core weaknesses at the Frome Town Council.

In this episode, I focus on the concerns the report raised about Purpose, Remit, and Strategic Clarity.

You can read the full report here: https://www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Frome-Corporate-Peer-Challenge-Report.pdf

If you have a concern about Somerset Council services, your first Port 'o Call is your local Somerset Councillors.

Get in touch if you need my support: [email protected]

As a Somerset Councillor I have a varied and interesting inbox. In this episode I share what's in my inbox right now - what came in yesterday and a flavour of last week's emails.

Please submit any issues directly to the Somerset Council website for a more speedy response:

https://www.somerset.gov.uk/

And get in touch if you have any questions about being a councillor, or anything else. I will try my best to help, or will know someone who can: [email protected]

I am thrilled to share some news with you about the Conservative Group at Somerset Council.

And I wanted to share two 'pots' of council money:

• Revenue - running costs
• Capital - long-term costs

Please get in touch if you have a question or for some support:

[email protected]

Happy 2025!

In local and national politics, if we lower everyone's expectations, we can wallow in the misery and the general public will be sympathetic (or at least we will believe they will be). But then no one expects anything from us and we can just shrug our shoulders and accept things are difficult or not possible.

"We said it was going to bad, and there we have it!"

A self-fulfilling prophecy!

Imagine if we started the new year with, "2025 is going to be my best, happiest and most fulfilling and productive year yet."

• What could that look like?
• What do we need to do to make it happen?
• And why can't we?

In this episode I look at a concrete example in relation to Somerset - and changing the narrative about Somerset being an old county.

Please get in touch if you have any questions, ideas, or just to say hi:

[email protected]

The next few months are going to be tough for the council and for the residents of Somerset. With a bankruptcy notice looming in February, there will be implications for us all, and the council will face some brutal actions of commissioners who will come in to sort things out.

Here is also the official Conservative Leader (David Fothergill) response to the open letter from the Somerset Council Leader, Bill Revans.

Okay, okay, I am a bit of a Trekkie. I love how much I learn about human nature with every Star Trek episode. But, the Borg makes me deeply uneasy, and while listening to the US Supreme Court rule against supporting abortion, I could not help feel the same as I do when watching the Borg.

I can't believe it is over a year since the election. I have had the most remarkable 12 months learning about myself and the community, and meeting the most amazing people and organisations. Thank you for your ongoing support!

The Somerset Village & Community Agents offer free, confidential, practical support for you and community groups. They can be contacted via email or phone, and can help with whatever you need if you don't know where to turn. Phone: 01823 331 222 Email: [email protected] Website: https://somersetagents.org/