Cllr Tom Deakin

Leader of Taunton Town Council. Councillor for Taunton North on Somerset Council

[Cllr Tom Deakin @TomDeakin95]

@Kieran_1974 @CountyGazette Hi Kieran, the Town Council has only been existence since May 2023. The budget fully balances. If you want to know more about the services we deliver, drop me a message and I’m happy to provide further information

[Cllr Tom Deakin @TomDeakin95]

@BarryHavenhand I believe this is the next round of surveying being undertaken by @Taunton_TC to see what is possible moving forward

[Cllr Tom Deakin @TomDeakin95]

There is lots of hard work to do, but our focus will always be on delivering the best possible outcomes for our residents.
You can see the full programme here: https://t.co/shJw3BqPjf

[Cllr Tom Deakin @TomDeakin95]

📷 It was great to speak to the @BBCBristol Politics Show about how @Taunton_TC are stepping up to protect and improve local services in our town (including @visit_taunton Information Centre, CCTV and the unlocking/locking of Vivary Park.)

[Cllr Tom Deakin @TomDeakin95]

We will work alongside colleagues at @SomersetCouncil over the coming weeks and months to look for improvements to these services so we can ensure value for money and reduce the cost for local tax payers.

[Cllr Tom Deakin @TomDeakin95]

At last night's @Taunton_TC meeting, Cllrs voted unanimously to protect vital local services that were at risk of being lost to the town.
📺 24/7 CCTV monitoring across the town
🔐 Daily unlocking, locking and security checks of Vivary Park
🎟️ Keeping @visit_taunton Info Centre

[Cllr Tom Deakin @TomDeakin95]

Many local residents and groups have been in contact regarding the future of these services and I'm delighted that our Town Council has stepped up and protected them for the next financial year. A decision that was made possible by the budget we passed a couple of weeks ago.

[Taunton & Wellington Liberal Democrats @TaWLibDems]

Excellent news!

This project is essential to rejuvenating North Taunton as well as providing state of the art affordable homes 🏘️

@BillRevans @TomDeakin95

https://t.co/QZoF8bCwXT

[Bill Revans 🔶 @BillRevans]

I have joined 32 other county authority leaders (25 Con, 4 LibDem, 2Lab 1 Ind) in writing to Michael Gove warning of the dire financial consequences facing our councils.

Councils in England warn of growing financial crisis https://t.co/8aKmZe0JKa

[Cllr Tom Deakin @TomDeakin95]

What an amazing day and evening at Taunton Winterfest to kick off our Christmas celebrations!

This is the first year @Taunton_TC have provided the town’s Christmas lights and I thought they looked amazing!

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make it happen!

[Cllr Tom Deakin @TomDeakin95]

@Kit_Chapman @visit_taunton @GazettePHill @Giles_Adams @GideonJAmos @SomersetCouncil @bbcsomerset @chambersomerset @MikeSRigby In all @Taunton_TC comms we are referring to Christmas. I don't quite understand what the problem is. I thought you would be supportive of your local Town Council supporting and funding initiatives to encourage people into the Town Centre. https://t.co/3MW7G5atmO

[Cllr Tom Deakin @TomDeakin95]

However I am now back and here to help however I can so please do get in touch if you have any local issues or concerns!

[Cllr Tom Deakin @TomDeakin95]

Thank you to everyone for your patience as I get back to the various messages and emails I've received over the past couple of weeks.

Last week I married my amazing wife followed by a trip to Edinburgh so have been away from my desk.

[Cllr Tom Deakin @TomDeakin95]

@MarcusFysh Wow. Just wow.

The irony of this given it was your party that:
- Crashed the economy causing rocketing inflation and soaring interest rates
- Failed to fix (and worsened) the delivery and funding of social care
- Continues to underfund our local councils and public services

[Cllr Tom Deakin @TomDeakin95]

@BillRevans @MarcusFysh @SomersetCouncil An appalling use of language. We deserve better from our MPs. The sooner @Adamjamesdance is the MP for Yeovil, the better.

[Cllr Tom Deakin @TomDeakin95]

@Kit_Chapman @pow_rebecca @MrRonanHunter @Giles_Adams @GazettePHill @visit_taunton @VisitSomerset I can assure you that we are committed to action working with @ASPolice and others. That’s why we’ve already met with local businesses and the police albeit before these latest incidents. We’ve contacted your hotel manager directly to offer a meeting in the next couple of weeks.

[Cllr Tom Deakin @TomDeakin95]

What can't be ignored though is the significant underinvestment in our local police and I encourage our Conservative MP to ensure the government properly fund our police service so they can put more officers on the street and deter these incidents from happening again.

[Cllr Tom Deakin @TomDeakin95]

Yesterday I spoke to ITV News West Country about anti-social behaviour in Taunton.
It is saddening that so many of the recent incidents have impacted our local, independent businesses who are already having to deal with the challenge of the cost of living crisis.

[ITV News West Country @itvwestcountry]

Shops and restaurants hit by spate of vandalism and break-ins in Taunton

https://t.co/0SDDc02VGn

[Cllr Tom Deakin @TomDeakin95]

At @Taunton_TC we are committed to working in partnership with @ASPolice , @TauntonChamber and others to tackle this problem and recently held a meeting bringing together these partners to agree actions we can take.

[Cllr Tom Deakin @TomDeakin95]

@Kit_Chapman @BillRevans @MikeSRigby @GazettePHill Hi Kit, sorry to hear of this - glad everyone is ok. I’m not sure what appeals have been ignored though? Always happy to meet. Have had several conversations with the Chamber of Commerce and others across Taunton. Partnership working with @ASPolice and others will be essential.