Council agrees to continue CCTV contract in town centre

A total of 10 CCTV cameras will continue operating in Frome town centre after town councillors agreed to renew a three-year agreement with Somerset Council to monitor and manage the system.

At the annual meeting of Frome Town Council, councillors approved a new service level agreement with Somerset Council from 1st April 2027 to 31st March 2030 at an initial annual cost of £27,980, plus any repair costs and future inflation increases.

The agreement follows the devolution of CCTV funding in 2024, when responsibility for paying for public CCTV cameras in Somerset towns was transferred from Somerset Council to town councils. Somerset Council remains responsible for monitoring and managing the cameras from its control room in Bridgwater.

A report to councillors said footage from Frome’s town centre cameras was forwarded to police 30 times in 2025.

Whilst most councillors supported continuing the service, Cllr Lisa Merryweather questioned whether it represented value for money.

She said, “In Frome, 41% of the crime that takes place are violent or sexual assault crimes. The top three hot spots for crime in Frome are Victoria Park, which has three CCTV cameras operated by Somerset Council, Frome Leisure Centre and the surrounding residential area and Egford Playing Fields.

“We are paying £28,000 worth of taxpayers’ money to deter or reduce crime where only 12 to 15% of that happens. If we look at the town centre crime, it is 20% antisocial behaviour, 16.5% assault and 6.67% weapons. The rest of it is shoplifting, vandalism or commercial theft.”

Cllr Nick Dove agreed with some of the concerns but said the presence of CCTV cameras provided reassurance to the public.

Environment manager Rob Holden said one of the main changes in the new agreement is the creation of a dedicated liaison role within Somerset Council’s CCTV team. The officer will work directly with town councils, answer questions and attend meetings.

He also said the agreement allows the council to review the number and location of cameras in future if required.

Leader of the council Cllr Fiona Barrows said she shared some of the concerns raised but supported continuing with the agreement while keeping it under review.

She said, “We should see how this year develops and how that goes and see if we can make the most of the opportunity and actually have more of a say over it so that it does become more valuable and better value for money for the taxpayer. I think we should keep it under review.”

The 10 cameras covered by the agreement are located at eight sites across the town centre. They are separate from three police-owned cameras operating in Victoria Park and the Mary Baily area.