WHY WERE THE WARD COUNCILLORS ALLOWED TO STAY WHEN THE PUBLIC WERE KICKED OUT?

2 November 2025

There has been much talk and discussion over the last two years about the ‘Shiptonthorpe Parish Charity’. For those who are new to this topic the aim of the charity is to promote charitable purposes for the general benefit of the inhabitants of the parish of Shiptonthorpe.

If this is the case, why is it that local residents were asked to leave last weeks council meeting when the charity was about to be discussed, but the ward councillors were allowed to stay.

Surely local residents have more right to know what decisions are being taken in their name than the ward councillors who have no formal role within the parish council and are not trustees of the charity.

The council often states that:

“Under Sections 139 of the Local Government Act, trustee meetings are by default closed to the public. These meetings will address compliance matters, charity commission requirements, and possible future management options for the parish charity”.

However, the trustees can allow non trustees to attend, as they did last week when they allowed access to the ward councillors. So why not the press and public?

You will note that there is often mention of the ‘Charity Commission’ but readers should be aware that the charity is no longer registered with the Charity Commission.

What was so sensitive that it had to be kept secret from the potenital beneficiaries of the charity – the residents of Shiptonthorpe.

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