Over the past six months, Somerset councillors have accepted a variety of gifts and hospitality, ranging from first-class rail tickets to cream teas and cultural event tickets. Somerset Council has now published its latest gifts and hospitality register, detailing all items valued at £50 or more either gifted directly to councillors or received as part of official events.
In accordance with the council’s constitution, councillors are required to declare any such gifts within 28 days and notify the monitoring officer to avoid potential conflicts of interest in decision-making processes.
The most valuable gift recorded was a first-class any-time return ticket on Great Western Railway (GWR), valued at up to £300. Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, accepted the ticket in September 2025 and used it to attend a Network Rail event about the future of the Wales and Western railway section.
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Several councillors experienced hospitality at Yeovil Town Football Club during August 2025. Nicola Clark, Federica Smith-Roberts, Mike Rigby, and Jeny Snell received tickets and hospitality, each valued at £64. Additionally, Clark and Smith-Roberts were treated to cream teas and flower show tickets in Taunton, worth £30 each.
Cultural engagements included Councillor Mike Best and his wife attending Yeovil’s mayoral charity ball, with tickets valued at £100 total, and Councillor Hazel Prior-Sankey attending a VIP night of The Nutcracker ballet valued at just under £50.
Councillors also accepted hospitality at public sector events. Councillor Theo Butt Philip enjoyed drinks and tapas during networking sessions at the Local Government Association conference in June 2025. Meanwhile, Councillor Sarah Wakefield accepted two dinners—each around £80—at the National Children’s and Adults’ Social Care Conference in Liverpool, sponsored by Newton and Impower.
In a notable gesture, Councillor Peter Seib accepted overnight accommodation worth £150 and a £50 evening meal from the South West Audit Partnership in Bristol, commemorating their 20th anniversary. He cited the late finish and lack of public transport as reasons for accepting the stay.
The council leader Bill Revans and deputy leader Liz Leyshon were guests of the CCLA investment firm at a dinner in Taunton in October 2025, recognizing the council’s significant investments with CCLA.
Councillor John Cook-Woodman, who recently joined Reform UK, accepted a meal hosted by the fire safety charity Electrical Safety First at the Houses of Parliament in July 2025, though the value was not disclosed.
Lastly, Councillor Kathy Pearce experienced a 30-minute flight in a light aircraft during a civic twinning visit to Uherske Hradiste, Czechia, which she accepted in good faith.
This transparent register highlights the council’s commitment to ethical governance while providing insight into the range of gifts and hospitality engaging Somerset’s elected officials.