Glastonbury council to challenge councillor over absences

By Laura Linham 20th Aug 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 20th Aug 2026

Glastonbury Town Council is to write to one of the town's two Somerset councillors after concerns were raised over her repeated absence from meetings.

Councillors agreed at their August meeting to contact Conservative councillor Susannah Hart, who represents the Glastonbury division at Somerset Council alongside Liberal Democrat councillor Ewan Cameron.

Councillor Jon Cousins raised the issue, telling the meeting that Councillor Hart had now missed more than eight meetings at which councillors had not received a report from her.

He said: "I'm sure I'm not the only councillor who is deeply disappointed by the fact that there's been over eight meetings now that we have not had our other unitary councillor here to give us a report.

"I wonder whether we could perhaps write to Councillor Hart and ask her if she would graciously attend our next meeting, as I'm sure she is doing some work on our behalf, but I have no idea what that is because she doesn't report it to us."

Councillor Cousins suggested the letter should also be copied to the chair of the Somerset Conservative Party and the chair of Somerset Council.

He added: "I know that Councillor Hart has attended meetings at Somerset, and she was last at Somerset full council meeting in May, so she clearly can attend meetings. And I would hope that she might then consider coming back and attending this meeting."

Somerset Council's published attendance records show Councillor Hart attended the authority's full council meeting on 20 May 2026. She submitted apologies for the subsequent meeting on 15 July.

The records also show she has attended several other Somerset Council meetings during the year, including Planning Committee - East meetings in May and July, while submitting apologies or being absent from others.

The concern raised in Glastonbury, however, centred specifically on her attendance at Glastonbury Town Council and the lack of regular reports back to town councillors.

Councillor Ewan Cameron attended Glastonbury Town Council's August meeting and provided councillors with a written report covering housing, highways and other Somerset Council matters.

Councillor Cousins' proposal to write to Councillor Hart was seconded and approved without any votes against, although two councillors abstained.

Councillor Hart has previously attended Glastonbury Town Council meetings and provided updates on Somerset Council business, including at meetings in 2025. The Town Council's own records show both Councillor Hart and Councillor Cameron attending its December meeting.

The council's next ordinary full council meeting is due to take place at 7 pm on Tuesday, 8 September at Glastonbury Town Hall.