Minutes:
The
Standards Committee received a referral from the Public Service Ombudsman for
Wales (the “Ombudsman”) that Councillor Dean Lewis may have breached the Neath
Port Talbot Council (“the Council”) Member Code of Conduct following Councillor
Lewis having been found guilty of a charge of driving a vehicle whilst under
the influence of alcohol in January 2023.
Based
upon the undisputed facts in this case the Standards Committee felt that a
reasonable member of the public would consider that Councillor Lewis’ conduct
had brought his office of Councillor and the Council into disrepute and
therefore was satisfied that Councillor Lewis
had breached Paragraph 6(1)(a) of the Code of Conduct.
In
considering the sanction to be imposed upon Councillor
Lewis for his breach of the Code the Committee had regard to the
representations made on behalf of the Ombudsman and those made by Councillor
Lewis.
The
Committee followed the five stage process set out in
guidance issued by the Adjudication Panel for Wales.
Having
considered all the evidence and representations, the Committee.
RESOLVED That it would be
appropriate and proportionate to suspend Councillor Lewis for a period of 4
months and that he should undertake Code of Conduct refresher training within
the next 6 months. Cllr Lewis now has 21
calendar days to appeal this determination before it will take effect.
Further details of the
decision are attached to minutes.