Taunton has a new mayor, but she only represents half the town

The new mayor of Taunton has been elected - but concerns have been raised about how much of the town she really represents.

Councillor Francesca Smith was elected unopposed as mayor on Tuesday evening (June 4), with Councillor Sue Lees serving as her deputy over the coming 12 months.

But while her election was welcomed, questions have been asked about how much of the town she will be able to serve.

Ms Smith was elected by the Taunton Charter Trustees - a new committee comprising of councillors representing the unparished area of Taunton.

Residents of the unparished area have also raised concerns about how her role will be paid for - and whether funds from their area will be used in other parts of Taunton.

Councillor Hazel Prior-Sankey said: "I have known Fran for many years, and she has represented Blackbrook and Holway for 16 years.

"She is a Taunton girl and will be very worthy of filling this role. She was deputy mayor last year, and will give the time and energy that this role requires."

While Ms Smith's appointment was widely welcomed by councillors like Ms Prior-Sankey, concerns were raised about how much of the county town she would truly represent.

Councillor John Hunt represents the Comeytrowe and Bishop's Hull ward - which is not part of the unparished area, and therefore has no role in electing the mayor.

He said: "I'd like to state that I’m firmly in favour of Taunton having a mayor.

"However, our mayor should be just that - a mayor that represents the whole of Taunton.

Cllr Francesca Smith, the new mayor of Taunton (Image: Copyright Unknown)

"I have the privilege to represent 11,500 registered electors; however, 6,800 of those will, it seems, not have access to Taunton’s mayor - and don't forget, this is people eligible to vote, not an actual population figure, which is considerably higher.

"Your mayor will actually be a mayor available to an electorate of just 33,659 people - that's only 56 per cent of those eligible to vote in Taunton.

"Can I please have your assurance that this charter trustee group will only be in place until such time as a proper Taunton Town Council can be established - or the unparished area is split into parishes, and another way found to create a mayor, one serving the whole of our county town?"

Councillor Libby Lisgo said the previous Conservative administration in Taunton Deane had failed to take steps to address this perceived democratic deficit.

She said: "The sad fact of the matter is that the old Taunton Deane Borough Council completely missed an opportunity about two years ago.

"We could have had a governance review, which would have meant by the time we reached this point, we would have been able to create a town council for Taunton.

"This is a temporary measure, and we have to find a way to instigate such a review - the sooner, the better."

Councillor Catherine Herbert (the final mayor of Taunton Deane) raised concerns about funding from the unparished area being spent outside it (such as on travel expenses), stating: "This role is only for the unparished area."

She added that the twinning associations - which link Taunton to Lisieux in France and Konigslutter in Germany - should not be funded, arguing "the world is now a tiny place" and the current arrangements "add not value to Taunton in 2019."

Cllr Sue Lees, the new deputy mayor of Taunton (Image: Copyright Unknown)

David Orr - who lives in the unparished area - also spoke against the use of funds outside of the town.

He said: "Is £42,000 from the unparished area enough to bear the administrative costs of the charter trustees and the mayoral office?

"We simply don’t know as no sensible budgeting has been carried out.

"I think that using the funding raised in unparished areas outside of those areas is morally wrong.

"I will move a formal complaint if I see the unparished fund being used out of area."

Nigel Power, another Taunton resident, described the use of unparished funds for the mayor as "a stealth tax" and "a luxury against the backdrop of cuts and shortages".

The trustees agreed to revisit these issues at its next meeting in the autumn.