The Ombudsman received a complaint that a Member (“the Member”) of Powys County Council (“the Council”) breached the Code of Conduct. The behaviour complained about took place when the Member had been elected to both the Council and Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority (“the Authority”). The investigation was extended to include consideration of this role on the Authority, the Member subsequently resigned from this position.
Our finding, under section 69 of the Local Government Act 2000, was that our report on our investigation be referred to the respective Standards Committees of the Council and the Authority. Those bodies both elected to refer the matter under relevant regulations to Ceredigion County Council’s Standards Committee, for their consideration. The Committee found that the Member had failed to comply with the Code of Conduct, in respect of both the Council and the Authority. The Committee determined that it was appropriate to censure the Member in respect of the breaches found in respect of both the Council and the Authority’s Codes of Conduct. Additionally, the Committee made training recommendations.
The Committee’s decision is available here https://powys.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s90124/Pwyllgor%20Safonau%20a%20Moeseg%20-%20Ethics%20and%20Standards%20Committee%20Cyngor%20Sir%20Ceredigion%20County%20Council%20-%20.pdf.