Last week’s Chronicle reported on Cllr Jonathan Hawkins’ statement to Kingswear Parish Council.

He said: “I was requested to apologise for two items:

“Firstly, to apologise to the council for not using standing orders appropriately at a meeting. My apology to Kingswear Parish Council I believe did this, I had a new clerk who was inexperienced and was not able to offer advice to me.”

This is not an apology. It is a statement in the form of an apology that does not express remorse.

I am surprised that Cllr Hawkins, a very long-serving parish councillor and now both a district and county councillor, felt he needed to have the advice of a parish clerk.

Also he mentioned he was prevented from reading his statement at an earlier meeting. He does not say when or why.

The incident occurred after the parish council meeting had closed on January 9 this year. Cllr Payne and I felt compelled to stop him in view as the complaints procedure is confidential and had not been completed at that time. The decision notice was not published until late March, early April.

Elizabeth Essex

Hillhead, Kingswear