Correction to email dated 26 June

Dear Friend,

In my email dated 26 June, I stated the following in relation to the Finance Policy and Resources Committee this week:

“Following the letter of 24 June 2025 from our solicitors, Russell Cooke, outlining the potential for apparent bias, the Leader recused himself from the meeting altogether…..”

My statement was based on a statement made in an interim response dated 25 June from the Council’s lawyers as follows:

"For your information, Cllr Roberts has in any event chosen to recuse himself from the Committee debate and decision later today."

I read this as meaning the decision was taken following our solicitor’s letter but I was informed yesterday by Cllr Roberts that the decision was made some time ago and it was not in reaction to our solicitor's letter. Apologies to Cllr Roberts for not spotting that his decision to recuse himself might have been made before or after the letter from our solicitors.

Some of you say you want to watch the Webcast of the meeting - it is not yet available but I assume it will be published soon. The Council has not responded to a request for information about the delay. I am a little concerned that the Council’s webcast site no longer shows the publication as imminent (which it did on Thursday) but no doubt we shall find out more next week.

Kind Regards

Sarah

Sarah Atkins

Chair Pensford Field Environmental Trust Ltd