Promotion of equality & respect : Llanelli Town Council

The Ombudsman’s office received a complaint that a Member (“the Member”) of Llanelli Town Council (“the Council”) had breached the Code of Conduct.

It was alleged that the Member had behaved inappropriately during an interaction with other members.

The investigation considered whether the Member failed to comply with the following provisions of the Code of Conduct:

• 4(a) – You must carry out your duties and responsibilities with due regard to the principle that there should be equality of opportunity for all people, regardless of their gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, age or religion.
• 4(b) – You must show respect and consideration for others.
• 4(c) – You must not use bullying behaviour or harass another person.
• 6(1)(a) – You must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office or authority into disrepute.

Witness accounts were obtained from 5 individuals, including both members of the public and members of the Council.  The investigation found that the evidence suggested that the Member had used discriminatory language towards other members on 9 February 2021.  The Ombudsman concluded that the Member’s behaviour was suggestive of a breach of paragraph 4(a) of the Code of Conduct.

The Ombudsman considered that the Member’s comments and use of offensive language was an attempt to intimidate and undermine the members.  She considered that the Member’s behaviour was also suggestive of a breach of paragraph 4(b) of the Code of Conduct.

The Member denied that his actions had breached the Code of Conduct.  The other members said they were upset, sad and “shook up” following the incident.  A witness described one of the other members as visibly shaking and upset.  On balance, the Ombudsman considered that the Member behaved in a way that was suggestive of a breach of paragraph 4(c) of the Code of Conduct.

The Ombudsman was also of the view that it would be reasonable to regard such conduct as capable of bringing the Member’s office or authority into disrepute and was therefore also suggestive of a breach of paragraph 6(1)(a) of the Code of Conduct.

The report on the investigation was referred to the Monitoring Officer of Carmarthenshire County Council for consideration by its Standards Committee.

The Standards Committee concluded that the Member had breached paragraphs 4(a), 4(b) and 6(1)(a) of the Code of Conduct.  Accordingly, the Standards Committee decided that the Member should be suspended for 1 month and be required to attend Code of Conduct training.