Statement from Parish Council

Dear Residents of Seale & Sands,

On behalf of Seale & Sands Parish Council, I wish to apologise for recent failures in following our Standing Orders, the Code of Conduct for Councillors, and our Financial Regulations. We also recognise that the Council has not fully met its statutory obligations, including those set out in the Transparency Code for Smaller Authorities.

We acknowledge that these shortcomings have led to procedural errors and a lack of full compliance with governance requirements. As a public body, we have a duty to ensure that all council business is conducted lawfully, fairly, and transparently, and we regret that, on this occasion, we have not met those standards.

Steps We Are Taking to Address This:

Commitment to Full Compliance – The Council will ensure that all statutory rules and regulations are followed, not just the Transparency Code.

Financial Regulations Review – We will take immediate action to ensure that all financial processes and decisions align with legal requirements and best practices.

Training and Governance Improvements – Councillors will receive guidance and, where necessary, additional training on our Code of Conduct, Standing Orders, and Financial Regulations.


Improved Transparency – We will ensure that council decisions, financial records, and governance documents are published in line with statutory requirements.

We sincerely regret any concerns this may have caused and appreciate the community’s patience and engagement as we work to improve. We are fully committed to openness, accountability, and good governance moving forward.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Parish Clerk at clerk@saspc.info.

Thank you for your understanding.

Jason Butcher

Chairman