SUBMISSION:

This petition and ultimatum will be formally delivered directly to Somerset Council Headquarters once sufficient signatures are gathered, to ensure it is received by the decision‑makers with full legal standing.

📜 THE GLASTONBURY ULTIMATUM

⚖️ TRANSPARENCY OR ACCOUNTABILITY — ADDRESSED TO SOMERSET COUNCIL

Updated: 14th Jun  2026
(Correction note: Glastonbury Town Council is NOT the accountable body — it holds no funds, no decision‑making power, and was excluded from all key choices. SOMERSET COUNCIL holds 100% of the power, the money, the contracts, and the legal responsibility. This Ultimatum is addressed only to them.)

⚖️ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY — LEGAL & EVIDENCE OVERVIEW

Constitutional & statutory foundation

• Magna Carta 1215: Principles of fair process, public trust, no denial of justice — Bride’s Mound (SM 1006147), St Dunstan’s Cottage

• Petition of Right 1628 / Bill of Rights 1689: No levies/retention without consent; no suspension of law — £528.2 M reserves / £117 M restricted; asset‑sales for salaries unlawful — LGA 1972 s.120

• Habeas Corpus 1679: Authority must prove right to withhold — excavation 175 mm vs 100 mm approved; records unreleased — RF26030174067C

• Statute of Westminster 1275/85: Officers = servants, not owners — £291k+ executive pay; conflict‑of‑interest entry removed

• Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act 1898: Misuse = criminal — Audit SR3 “Governance not robust”; SFO Ref C42DDCB05AADBE8

Key procedural point

• Formal notice served 3 May 2026; deadline 17 May 2026 elapsed

• Decisions taken thereafter arguably ultra vires — subject to court/regulator confirmation

Core local concerns

• Heritage & asset protection: Bride’s Mound, St Dunstan’s Cottage

• Transparency failures: Rule 17 changes, blocked portal access, unpublished data

• Finance irregularities: Project 8, Life Factory payments, reserve management

📌 PREAMBLE: THE COMMUNITY MANDATE

This Mandate is issued by the residents of Glastonbury in response to a systemic failure of governance, financial oversight, and public trust by Somerset Council.

Following the Statutory Recommendation (SR3) by external auditors and the collapse of the £2.29M Life Factory project, our community has suffered not only financial loss but profound human tragedy and the debt‑ridden collapse of 26 local businesses.

We represent a unified body of 177+ verified signatories and the hundreds of residents of the Non‑Bricks and Mortar (NBM) community who have been systematically marginalized. We no longer accept “closed door” explanations or attempts to downplay a £1.46M Enabling Project while people suffer on the roadside.

SOMERSET COUNCIL holds, controls, and spends £23.6 MILLION of public money allocated exclusively for Glastonbury. We demand the unredacted truth to protect our town’s future. This document calls for full disclosure on spending, clarity on outstanding payments, and urgent accountability following the Statutory Auditor’s warning of governance failures within Somerset Council’s own structures.
✅ PROVEN FACTS RECORDED:

• Land Ownership Statement: Somerset Council publicly claimed they only held land for “18 months — not long enough”. Official records prove ownership was 20 months 10 days — 2 months LONGER than stated.
→ IMPORTANT: This discrepancy was identified and referred to Police BY SOMERSET COUNCIL / THEIR OWN AUDITORS in late 2024 — Reference RF26030174067C. We did not report it — they referred themselves.

• Deliberate Secrecy: Official Council contact emails listed publicly bounce back as non‑existent or locked. External auditors confirmed: “Significant weaknesses — failing to respond to public or Ombudsman requests”. Legal rights to information have been blocked by Somerset Council.

• Exclusion of Local Voice: Glastonbury Town Council formally requested the return of unspent funds in Nov 2025 — REFUSED BY SOMERSET COUNCIL Dec 2025. Local representatives were side‑lined, ignored, and denied any control.
📂 SECTION 1: GOVERNANCE & STATUTORY SAFEGUARDS

1.1 Statutory Audit Compliance (SR3):
The External Auditor has issued a Statutory Recommendation (SR3), identifying that Somerset Council’s management and governance arrangements were “not sufficiently robust” — weaknesses existed throughout the programme, no proper checks, failures compounded over time.

✅ PROVEN FACT:
Following SR3, Somerset Council published a plan of 147 required corrective actions. As of today:
• 91 actions are OVERDUE
• 0% completed or delivered in 6 weeks
• No updates, no evidence of work, no transparency — promises only, no action.

1.2 Financial Protections Inquiry:
We request clarification on what financial protections (including performance bonds or insurance) were in place for Project 1 (Life Factory), and whether these remain valid — controlled and administered entirely by Somerset Council.

1.3 Board Accountability Inquiry:
Red Brick Building Centre Ltd / Town Deal Board — members appointed and controlled by Somerset Council:
• ALL 7 DIRECTORS resigned between Nov 2024 – June 2025
• Dr Lynne Sedgmore CBE (Chair) resigned 3 June 2025 — explicitly citing “audit findings and public pressure”
• The meeting at which this decision was taken was CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC — NO minutes published
• Fact: Mass resignation never occurs unless internal reports confirm serious failure, liability, or breach of duty.

We demand full disclosure of all board papers, internal reports, and legal advice — all held by Somerset Council.
💰 SECTION 2: CORPORATE EXPENDITURE VS. LOCAL LIABILITIES

2.1 Consultancy Spend & The £77M "Transformation" Context:
While declaring a “Financial Emergency” and a £77,000,000 budget gap of their own making, Somerset Council approved a contract with Newton Europe with a potential value of up to £20,000,000.

✅ PROVEN OFFICIAL SPENDING:
Official budget records confirm, while claiming “NO MONEY” for Glastonbury’s needs, funds were allocated/spent by Somerset Council on:
• £45,000,000 — Innovation Fund
• £1,560,000 — Digital Transformation Programme (+15 new staff posts)
• £5,000,000 — Highways Programme
• £700,000 — Commercial development (Costa Drive‑Thru, Wirral Park)
• £52,000 — External consultants / “Reflections” reports

Total: Over £80,000,000 allocated elsewhere. Claim of “no funds available” for Glastonbury is mathematically impossible.

2.2 Asset Disposals & Support Arrangements:
We request clarity on recent asset disposals and the financial support/management fee arrangements for the private operator at Tor Leisure — all approved and managed by Somerset Council.

✅ PROVEN LEGAL BREACH:
• £77.2M of public land/assets sold/transferred 2023–2025 by Somerset Council
• NO independent valuations on most sales
• NO public consultation before sale
• Audit confirms: “Procedures not followed — statutory requirements breached”

We demand full valuation reports, consultation records, and decision notes for every land transfer since 2023 — held by Somerset Council.
📑 SECTION 3: PROJECT DISCLOSURES & AUDIT TRAILS

3.1 Project 8 (Funding Allocation):
We request a full financial breakdown of the £1.46M allocation and an audit trail of any re‑profiling or reallocation decisions made by Somerset Council. Specifically, why funds earmarked for “Enabling Infrastructure” for the Non‑Bricks & Mortar community were diverted while residents remained displaced or without secure land access.

3.2 RBB Rental Income Transparency:
We request a clear accounting of rental income generated by Buildings A & B and how this revenue is being allocated — collected and controlled by Somerset Council.

3.3 Asset Register:
We request the official Asset Register for the “Green Initiative” portacabins and equipment purchased with public funds, their current location, and who holds control/ownership — held by Somerset Council.

3.4 Land Use & Asset Protection:
We demand full disclosure of leasehold restrictions on all Town Deal land — controlled by Somerset Council. The community requires a written guarantee that no public land will be re‑designated for private housing or commercial use in the event of project insolvency.

(b) Community Displacement Inquiry:
We require an explanation for instances where land earmarked for community projects (including social housing) was declared 'surplus' and sold to private entities — decisions made by Somerset Council.

3.5 The "Ghost Build" & "Zombie Payment" Inquiry:
We demand an explanation for the payments totaling £2,295,512 under Project 5 — authorised and paid by Somerset Council:
• 70–90% paid BEFORE any work commenced or planning permission was granted
• NO formal contract found between Council and Beckery Construction Ltd
• £420,000+ continued to be paid AFTER the project was officially “PAUSED” Jan 2024 AND AFTER the company entered liquidation Nov 2025

We require the names of the Officers/Executive at Somerset Council who provided ‘positive project assurance’ while these red flags were ignored, and a full audit trail of every transaction.

3.6 Bride’s Mound / Project 6 Facts:
• £716,122 spent from the same £23.6M Town Deal fund — authorised by Somerset Council
• Site is a LEGALLY PROTECTED SCHEDULED MONUMENT
• 2012 Planning Inspector ruled: “NO DEVELOPMENT — outside development boundary”
• Promised: “Sanctuary, eco‑path, heritage preservation”
• Delivered: Industrial access road, drainage, metal fencing, commercial signage
• NO public consultation, NO proper heritage consent, NO community notification — all bypassed by Somerset Council
• Residents displaced; alternative sites promised not available until 2027

We demand all consent files, emails, heritage assessments, displacement records, and proof works were lawful — all held by Somerset Council.

3.7 Conflict of Interest — PROVEN DOCUMENTED:
• Dr Lynne Sedgmore CBE = Chair of Town Deal Board + Chair of Red Brick Building Centre Ltd — appointed by Somerset Council
• Her husband — JOHN CAPPER = Sole Owner / Director of Beckery Construction Ltd — the company paid £2.39M of public money
• Conflict of interest WAS declared in early 2024 documents → DELETED / REMOVED from all later published versions by Somerset Council
• Beckery Construction Ltd is 100% subsidiary of Red Brick Building Centre Ltd — same board controlled both sides of the contract.

We demand full list of all familial/business links between Board, officers, and paid companies, and explanation of why this declaration was removed — held by Somerset Council.

3.8 Project 11 / Food Hub Facts:
• Sold to public as: “Community asset, community owned”
• Transferred to: PRIVATE LIMITED COMPANY — Glastonbury Food & Regenerative Farming Centre Ltd — transfer approved by Somerset Council
• Directors include former Council officers and family members
• No community shareholding, no community control, no public benefit guarantee.

We demand full ownership records, declarations, and proof of actual community benefit — or admit misrepresentation.
⚖️ SECTION 4: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST & RESTITUTION

4.1 Disclosure of Connections:
We demand full disclosure of all familial and business connections between the Town Deal Board, Somerset Council officers, and the directors of companies receiving funds (specifically Beckery Construction and Red Brick subsidiaries).

4.2 Restitution Strategy:
We demand a formal ‘Restitution Strategy’ from Somerset Council for the 26 local tradespeople left unpaid following the liquidation of Beckery Construction Ltd, who are owed £686,000 with only £4,800 in assets recovered.
🛡️ SECTION 5: ACCOUNTABILITY & WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION

5.1 Whistleblower Safeguards:
We demand a formal ‘Whistleblower Amnesty’ and the waiving of all Non‑Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) for staff and contractors — imposed or enforced by Somerset Council — to ensure they can speak freely for the purpose of this audit.

5.2 The 'Proper Officer' Responsibility:
We request the ‘Professional Advice’ records provided by the Town Clerk / Proper Officer to Somerset Council Executive regarding the approval of payments to Beckery Construction, to ensure their statutory duty to warn of financial risks was fulfilled.

5.3 Witness Evidence:
The residents' group has received credible testimony regarding the deliberate de‑prioritization of community land and housing projects in favour of commercial or council‑preferred schemes by Somerset Council. The identity of witnesses will remain confidential until an independent disclosure platform is established.
📜 SECTION 6: FIDUCIARY DUTY & THE NOLAN PRINCIPLES

6.1 Duty of Care:
We remind the Somerset Council Executive that they hold a fiduciary duty of care — personal legal responsibility for every decision, every payment, every assurance given to government or public.

We request confirmation of whether ‘Director’s and Officer’s’ (D&O) insurance has been reviewed following the SR3 Recommendation, and whether personal liability has been assessed given the proven governance failures within their authority.

6.2 The Nolan Principles:
We demand Somerset Council demonstrate adherence to the Seven Principles of Public Life:
• Selflessness — Private interest must not influence public decisions
• Integrity — No outside influence or obligation
• Objectivity — Decisions based on merit and evidence
• Accountability — Answerable to public for decisions
• Openness — Transparency unless lawful exemption applies
• Honesty — Truthful statements and conduct
• Leadership — Uphold standards by example

We request formal explanation of how these were applied in relation to Projects 5, 6, 8, 11 and asset sales.
📎 ADDENDA

ADDENDUM A: THE "GHOST BUILD" & GRANT FRAUD NOTICE
We formally put SOMERSET COUNCIL on notice regarding the £2.29M expenditure on Project 5 (The Life Factory) and the £1.46M failure of Project 8.
• Violation: Drawing down central government funds (DLUHC) for projects identified as “undeliverable” or “unviable” in internal reports, while failing to deliver promised infrastructure, raises serious questions of misrepresentation and breach of grant conditions — by Somerset Council.
• Demand: We demand an immediate stay on all further Town Deal payments to external “Consultancy Firms” until the National Audit Office (NAO) has verified the “Value for Money” of all funds spent to date.

ADDENDUM B: THE "HUMAN RIGHTS SHIELD" (ARTICLE 8 & EQUALITY ACT)
Somerset Council’s history of using PSPOs (Public Space Protection Orders) and evictions without offering a viable alternative is a violation of Article 8 of the ECHR (The right to a home and private life) and the Equality Act 2010 duty of care.
• Legal Warning: Any attempt to use an Injunction or Police force to obstruct the community use of Bride’s Mound will be met with an immediate High Court Challenge for Judicial Review — against Somerset Council.

ADDENDUM C: THE "PERSONAL LIABILITY" CLAUSE (LIFTING THE VEIL)
We are moving away from “Corporate Complaints” to Personal Accountability of Somerset Council decision‑makers.
• This Ultimatum is served to the individuals within Somerset Council who held ultimate authority, sat on boards, and authorised payments.
• Under the Nolan Principles of “Openness” and “Honesty”, you are personally responsible for the “Positive Project Assurances” sent to Government.
• If evidence confirms decisions were taken knowing risks were concealed, funds were misdirected, or people would suffer as a result, we reserve the right to pursue all legal remedies including complaints for Misfeasance in Public Office.
🎯 THE DEMANDS & OUTCOMES

TO: SOMERSET COUNCIL — ULTIMATUM:

1. Full Disclosure: Complete unredacted release of all financial decisions, audit trails, board papers, and contracts relating to Town Deal projects — held entirely by you.

2. Restitution Strategy: Clear recovery plan and compensation framework for the 26 affected local contractors and creditors.

3. Independent Review: External, independent inquiry into financial oversight, governance, and conflict of interest management within Somerset Council structures.

4. Stewardship: Formal recognition of Avalon Community Land Trust as the management body for Bride’s Mound and future community assets — returning control to local level.
📩 RESPONSE REQUEST:

We request a formal written response to these forensic inquiries by 26 May 2026 (14 days).
Failure to respond will be treated as a “Willful Default” on your Statutory Duties and will result in immediate escalation to the National Audit Office (NAO), Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, and the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman.
📌 SUBMISSION:

This petition and ultimatum will be formally delivered directly to Somerset Council Headquarters once sufficient signatures are gathered, to ensure it is received by the decision‑makers with full legal standing.

 Document reference: GTU‑2026‑06‑14
Version: 1.0 — 14 June 2026
Prepared by: Glastonbury Transparency Project
Circulation: Somerset Council, NAO, DLUHC, Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman
Classification: Public / For formal response
Confidentiality note: Contains protected personal & witness evidence in annexes not published online