Powys councillors suspended after cattle identification prosecutions

Two county councillors in Powys have this month been suspended for breaches of the local authority’s code of conduct.

Cllr Gwynfor Thomas, who represents the Llansanffraid ward, was suspended from all county council business for four weeks following a hearing of Powys’ Standards Committee on March 15. Cllr Thomas was given 21 days to appeal against the decision.

The hearing, which was held before five independent people and two county councillors, ruled that Cllr Thomas, had breached paragraphs 6 (1) (a) of the Code of Conduct for Members - bringing his office or the council/authority into disrepute as a result of the breach.

The breach related to the prosecution in 2015 of Cllr Thomas under the Cattle Identification Regulations.

His suspension started on 19 April and will run until 8 May 2017.

A second councillor, Aled Davies, who represents the Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant/Llansilin ward and is leader of the Conservative Group, began a two-week suspension on 11 April. This followed a hearing of the standards committee on 13 March.

At a hearing the standards committee ruled that Cllr Davies, had also breached paragraphs 6 (1) (a) of the Code of Conduct for Members.

This breach related to the prosecution in 2015 of Cllr Davies under the Cattle Identification (Wales) Regulations 2007 and Animal By-Products (Enforcement) (Wales) Regulations 2014.

Members under suspension at Powys are not able take part in any form of business of the authority. In addition if they have been appointed by the council to an outside body, including appointment as a local authority school governor, they cannot act on that body during their suspension. During a period of suspension neighbouring councillors are asked to provide cover on behalf of ward residents.