Ashley Richards, inset. has resigned from Yeovil Town Council. Pictures: Google/YTC

Yeovil Town Councillor resigns over “fiscal irresponsibility” at authority

Paul JonesOctober 1, 20250 Comment0

A YEOVIL councillor has resigned over what he called “fiscal irresponsibility” and “systemic failures in governance and transparency” at the authority.

Former Liberal Democrat councillor for Wyndham, Ashley Richards, announced the move on social media in a statement slamming the town council.

“This decision has not been made lightly,” he said. “However, I can no longer remain part of a council or local party that refuses to confront the serious financial and governance failings that have become evident in Yeovil Town Council.

“To stay silent would be to betray the public trust placed in me.”

He cited two main reasons for the decision – “fiscal irresponsibility” and “systemic failures in governance and transparency”, and highlighted the proposed financing for the redevelopment of the Octagon theatre.

“The council’s commitment to a £15 million redevelopment project, financed in part by a £3.3 million loan from the Public Works Loan Board, is reckless given the council’s own internal audit has exposed a near-complete breakdown of financial control,” he said.

“Burdening taxpayers with 20 years of additional costs while the council cannot perform basic accounting is indefensible.”

The move comes amid controversial plans for the town council to fund the revamp of the Octagon – with residents facing an increase in their council tax bills.

Meanwhile, concerns over the failures in governance and transparency come after external auditors were unable to complete review work in time to publish required documents.

Though the council submitted required documents before a September 30 deadline, the work could not be completed in time, a document issued by the authority stated – published below this article.

As a result, the town council and the external auditor could not agree it had “maintained an adequate system of internal control including measures designed to prevent and detect fraud and corruption and reviewed its effectiveness”.

It could also not sign off to confirm “we provided proper opportunity during the year for the exercise of electors’ rights in accordance with the requirements of the Accounts and Audit Regulations”.

The external auditor said it did not “certify completion” of the audit because “we have not been able to complete our review work in time to enable the smaller authority to publish the required documentation in line with statutory requirements”.

Mr Richards added: “Misleading reports, unreconciled accounts, and unexplained suspense balances are not minor mistakes – they are symptoms of systemic failure.

“These breaches undermine the Localism Act 2011 and violate the Nolan Principles of Public Life, which demand integrity, accountability, and openness from those in office.

“I want to make absolutely clear that my decision relates only to the local party and its conduct. I continue to support the values, principles, and wider work of the national Liberal Democrat party, and it remains my intention to contribute positively to that work in future.

“My disagreement is not with Liberal Democrat ideals, but with the failure of local leadership to uphold them in practice.

“As councillors, our duty is not to our political party or politics, but to the residents we serve. When transparency and accountability collapse, so too does public confidence. I cannot and will not be complicit in that failure.

“I step down in the hope that my resignation underscores the seriousness of these issues and sparks the action needed to restore integrity and responsibility to Yeovil Town Council.”

Yeovil Town Council has been contacted for a response to Mr Richards’ decision.