The deputy leader of Somerset Council, Councillor Liz Leyshon, has been officially cleared of any conflict of interest relating to the troubled Life Factory regeneration project in Glastonbury.
The Life Factory, housed within the Red Brick Building on Morland Road, has undergone extensive refurbishment as part of the £23.6 million Glastonbury town deal. The project aims to transform the previously derelict ‘Building C’ into a versatile community hub with event spaces, offices, and additional facilities.
However, the initiative faced significant setbacks. In January 2024, the council paused government grant funding, although some funds were later allocated to apprenticeships. Meanwhile, Beckery Construction Company Ltd., the contractor managing the £2.89 million project, went into liquidation in early November.
Following critical findings from Grant Thornton’s audit, which described the project’s governance as “wholly inadequate,” Duncan Sharkey, the council’s chief executive, publicly apologized for the council’s handling of the Life Factory development.
Councillor Leyshon, who has played an active role in the Glastonbury town deal from the start, was investigated by the council’s monitoring officer after a complaint from local resident David Orr. Orr, a persistent critic of the council’s financial management, alleged Leyshon had failed to disclose a relevant interest when participating in council discussions regarding the Life Factory.
All councillors are required to declare their interests publicly, including property ownership, business directorships, or memberships of relevant organisations. Leyshon’s register includes her membership on the Glastonbury town deal board and the Friends of Brides Mound, another regeneration initiative linked to the town deal.
Orr argued that Leyshon’s participation breached principles of public life—such as integrity, openness, and accountability—and risked undermining public confidence given the project’s substantial public funding. He also suggested councillors should have recused themselves from debates and votes related to any governance failures.
The Grant Thornton review observed that while town deal board members declared their interests, the council failed to rigorously assess these declarations or seek advice on their implications, marking a serious lapse in governance oversight.
Alyn Jones, the council’s monitoring officer, conducted an independent review alongside legal and governance heads. He clarified that the Glastonbury town deal board serves only an advisory and communication role, established by national government, with 15 members and several agency observers.
Jones confirmed that Councillor Leyshon has never been a board member nor shareholder of the Red Brick Building Centre Ltd., the direct grant recipient responsible for the Life Factory project. Her appointment to the town deal board came from Somerset Council, which retains ultimate accountability for the funding and delivery.
Importantly, Jones concluded that Leyshon’s involvement does not constitute a prejudicial interest under the Local Government Association’s code of conduct, and she did not breach any rules by engaging in council meetings on the project.
Leyshon was contacted for comment by the Local Democracy Reporting Service but chose not to respond to the findings.