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Tory councillor accused of misconduct

Friday, 26 July 2024 12:05

By Ted Peskett - Local Democracy Reporter X @TedPeskettNews

A Vale of Glamorgan councillor has been accused of breaking a code of conduct for a number of reasons, including failing to provide the council with accurate information in a business grant application.

Cllr Vince Driscoll, a Conservative member for the Dinas Powys ward, will face the local authority's standards committee on Monday.

Following an investigation, the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW) also alleges that Cllr Drsicoll broke the members’ code of conduct by failing to include two properties in his register of interest.

Other alleged breaches of the members’ code include that Cllr Driscoll used his council email address for private business matters and acted improperly in sending emails for the benefit of his and his wife’s personal business interests.

Cllr Driscoll said he would be vigorously defending himself.

The Ombudsman alleges that Cllr Driscoll failed to comply with paragraphs 6(1)(a), 7(a), 7(b)(i), 7(b) (iv), 7(b)(vi), 15(1)(b) and 15(2) of the members’ code adopted by Vale Council in its constitution.

The council’s standards committee report states that one alleged breach is to do with Cllr Driscoll’s conduct in relation to two applications he made for Covid-19 business grants.

In the PSOW investigation report, it states: “The council’s internal audit investigation concluded that the member failed to provide the council with accurate information, attempted to gain grant funding when it was apparent claims were not justified, failed to inform or update the council in respect of the occupancy and therefore business rates liability for particular properties, provided contradictory information when applying for grant funding, made enquiries for grants and misled the council, and caused an eligible company to miss out on a grant to which it was entitled."

“The ombudsman considered that the serious and concerning findings of the council’s internal audit investigation gave rise to concerns about the member’s conduct which appears to have been contrary to the principles which govern the conduct of members, which required the member to act with selflessness, honesty, integrity and in the public interest.”

According to the council’s procedure for dealing with allegations made against councillors and referred to the standards committee, there are a number of possible outcomes where a member is given the opportunity to make a representation.

It states the committee will convene and must determine either that: 

  • There is no evidence of any failure to comply with the code of conduct and that therefore no action needs to be taken;
  • The member has failed to comply with the code of conduct but that no action needs to be taken in respect of that failure;
  • The member has failed to comply with the code of conduct and should be censured;
  • the member has failed to comply with the code of conduct and should be suspended or partially suspended from being a member or co-opted Member of his/her authority for a period not exceeding six months

Vale Council’s standards committee will convene for the hearing at 10am at the earliest.

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