Welsh councillor suspended after responding to email in German

Gwynedd Council's Standards Committee has suspended a councillor after finding that her decision to respond to an email from a Welsh Language campaigner in German amounted to a breach of the local authority's Code of Conduct.

Councillors moved to suspend Cllr Louise Hughes for a month last week (18 April) after considering a report from the Ombudsman for Wales on the incident.

The report concerned a complaint that the councillor's reply in German was inappropriate.

Cllr Hughes had received a series of emails from a member of Cylch yr Iaith, a Welsh Language campaign group.

Speaking to Local Government Lawyer, Cllr Hughes said she initially responded in English and Welsh to explain she did not understand the email and to ask for a translation before later responding in German. She said she was not aware that the complainant was a prominent Welsh language campaigner.

"I had explained I don't read Welsh very well and that's why I asked for a translation," Cllr Hughes noted.

"Our council policy is to reply to emails in the language of the correspondent, which I did but with no response, on receipt of a subsequent email I replied politely in English explaining yet again that I don't read Welsh very well and could he send a translation or phone me – again with no response. So on receiving the final email I thought 'oh well, I'll try German'."

She added that she "would never knowingly offend anyone" and stated that she regrets the decision.

However, she believes the penalty to be too great and complained that she had not received enough support from the council during the complaints process.

The committee found that Cllr Hughes breached paragraphs 4(a), 4(b) and 6(1)(a) of the Code of Conduct.

Paragraphs 4(a) and 4(b) state that councillors must carry out their 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 (a), and must show respect and consideration for others (b).

Paragraph 6(1)(a) states that councillors must not conduct themselves in a manner which reasonably be regarded as bringing your office or authority into disrepute.

Cllr Hughes is required to attend training and provide a written apology to the complainant within three weeks, on top of the month-long suspension.

The committee also recommended that the council consider assisting councillors when they receive correspondence in a language they do not understand, either by utilising its own staff or by sign-posting the Member to a relevant translation service provider.

Cllr Hughes will have the right to apply to the Adjudication Panel for Wales for permission to appeal against the decision.

Responding to the committee's decision, the Welsh Ombudsman said: "As the purpose of the ethical standards framework in Wales is to promote high standards for councillors and to maintain public confidence in local democracy, the Ombudsman welcomed the decision to suspend the Councillor and thanked the members of the Standards Committee for their careful consideration of the case."

Adam Carey