News

The Full Council Meeting was held last night, 12 September 2023, Chaired by the Mayor, Cllr Nick O’Donnell. The Mayor announced CHARIS Refugees (Christian Help and Action for Refugees in Somerset) as his chosen charity for this year. Gordon East of CHARIS attended and gave a brief overview of the charity’s aims and objectives. In line with the values of CHARIS, the Town Council resolved to support the City of Sanctuary Pledge.

 The second meeting of the Taunton Town Council Finance and Governance Committee was held last night, 11 September 2023, Chaired by Councillor Ray Tully. This was our first meeting to be broadcast as a YouTube Live, allowing greater transparency. The video is on our YouTube Channel and can be accessed at any time.

The Leader of Taunton Town Council (TTC), Cllr Tom Deakin, along with Craig Stone, the Operations and Events Manager, attended a meeting today, 8 September 2023, to discuss the issue of anti-social behaviour affecting businesses and the community in the Town Centre. In attendance were representatives from Avon and Somerset Police, Somerset Council and Taunton Chamber of Commerce and Rebecca Pow, MP for Taunton Deane.

Somerset Council and Taunton Town Council will be showing their support for the Emergency Services by holding a flag-raising ceremony on Monday, 4 September.

On Monday 10th July 2023 Taunton Town Council held the first meeting of the Grants sub-committee. The group, comprised of five councillors (with two apologies), chaired by Councillor for Vivary, Amber Packer-Hughes met to consider the 16 grant applications and one request for sponsorship. A total of £22,375 was awarded from the Grants budget, with a further £14,347 awarded in sponsorship and £9,750 from the Events budget.

Taunton Town Council is committed to standing up against bullying, harassment and intimidation. Councillors unanimously resolved to sign up to the Civility and Respect Pledge and adopt a Dignity at Work Policy at the June meeting of Full Council on 13th June 2023.

Taunton Town Council unanimously declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency at the June meeting of Full Council after a Motion was brought forward by Councillor Caroline Ellis, and committed itself to play its part in working towards Taunton becoming a carbon-neutral town where nature and biodiversity are restored and thriving by 2030.

In recognition of a new era, Councillors at the last Full Council meeting on 13th June 2023 formally adopted a brand new logo for the Town Council, which, whilst firmly rooting the Council to its sense of history and place, also offered the Council a unique design concept fit for the 21st Century.

Taunton Town Council have provided permission to Somerset Council’s Tree Surgeon team to address an Ash Tree in a popular well used area of Lyngford Park. 

Somerset Council and Taunton Town Council will be showing their support for the Armed Forces by holding a flag-raising ceremony on Monday, 19 June.

Taunton community groups, charities and local organisations looking for funding can now apply to the Town Council for a grant.