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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12, 13 and 18(c) of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act; and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information in relation to Paragraphs 12 and 13. The Committee then retired to carefully consider the matter. Following deliberations the Committee resumed in open session and the Chair advised that the Committee had been convened to consider whether there had been a breach of the Code of Conduct under paragraph 6(1)(a) which states that “you must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office or authority into disrepute”. The Chair advised that the Committee had carefully considered all of the evidence and submissions in this matter. Former Councillor Twigg absented himself voluntarily from the meeting, which he communicated in writing, in advance of the meeting. The Committee formally resolved in relation to the two disputed facts that:- 1. The clerk did not tell Councillor Twigg at the MES Committee meeting on 1st March 2022 that he was a member of a football club and should declare an interest. 2. That former Councillor Twigg raised his voice when he called the Clerk ‘a liar’ at the MES Committee Meeting on 5th April 2022. The Chair advised that they would now move to Stage two of the Hearing and resolved that both Stage two and three would be heard in private session as there were no parties present. Moved by Mr Nick Watt; Seconded by Mr Paul Richardson The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12, 13 and 18(c) of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act; and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information in relation to Paragraphs 12 and 13. The Committee then retired to carefully consider the matter. Following deliberations the Committee resumed in open session and the Chair advised of the decision of the Hearing. RESOLVED That Former Council Twigg had breached the Code of Conduct, in calling the clerk a liar on two occasions on 5th April 2022 in a raised voice and that he asked that it be recorded in the minutes of the meeting and that he has breached the following paragraphs of the code:- Paragraph 4(b) which states that a Member must show respect and consideration for others Paragraph 4(c) which states that a Member must not use bullying behaviour or harass any person Paragraph 6(1)(a) which states that a Member must not conduct themselves in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing their office or authority into disrepute The Committee has considered the representations from the Ombudsman in relation sanctions. Under the Standards Committee Procedural Rules s.4.8.2(c) the Councillor should have the last say, however Councillor Twigg has voluntarily decided not to attend the hearing, so we have no representations from him on sanctions. The Committee has resolved that former Councillor Twigg should be censured in relation to those breaches, this is the maximum sanction available to the Committee. Had former Councillor Twigg not resigned, the Committee would have considered suspension during their discussions as to the appropriate sanction. A fully reasoned report of the committees decisions will be published in due course.
There were no declarations of interest received.
The Committee felt that as all of the information regarding Former Town Councillor Twigg was already in the public domain, the matters to be discussed did not reach the standard for the public to be excluded and the meeting therefore continued in public session.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12, 13 and 18(c) of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act; and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information in relation to Paragraphs 12 and 13. The Committee then retired to carefully consider the matter. Following deliberations the Committee resumed in open session and the Chair advised that the Committee had been convened to consider whether there had been a breach of the Code of Conduct under paragraph 6(1)(a) which states that “you must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office or authority into disrepute”. The Chair advised that the Committee had carefully considered all of the evidence and submissions in this matter. Former Councillor Twigg absented himself voluntarily from the meeting, which he communicated in writing, in advance of the meeting. The Committee formally resolved in relation to the two disputed facts that:- 1. The clerk did not tell Councillor Twigg at the MES Committee meeting on 1st March 2022 that he was a member of a football club and should declare an interest. 2. That former Councillor Twigg raised his voice when he called the Clerk ‘a liar’ at the MES Committee Meeting on 5th April 2022. The Chair advised that they would now move to Stage two of the Hearing and resolved that both Stage two and three would be heard in private session as there were no parties present. Moved by Mr Nick Watt; Seconded by Mr Paul Richardson The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12, 13 and 18(c) of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act; and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information in relation to Paragraphs 12 and 13. The Committee then retired to carefully consider the matter. Following deliberations the Committee resumed in open session and the Chair advised of the decision of the Hearing. RESOLVED That Former Council Twigg had breached the Code of Conduct, in calling the clerk a liar on two occasions on 5th April 2022 in a raised voice and that he asked that it be recorded in the minutes of the meeting and that he has breached the following paragraphs of the code:- Paragraph 4(b) which states that a Member must show respect and consideration for others Paragraph 4(c) which states that a Member must not use bullying behaviour or harass any person Paragraph 6(1)(a) which states that a Member must not conduct themselves in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing their office or authority into disrepute The Committee has considered the representations from the Ombudsman in relation sanctions. Under the Standards Committee Procedural Rules s.4.8.2(c) the Councillor should have the last say, however Councillor Twigg has voluntarily decided not to attend the hearing, so we have no representations from him on sanctions. The Committee has resolved that former Councillor Twigg should be censured in relation to those breaches, this is the maximum sanction available to the Committee. Had former Councillor Twigg not resigned, the Committee would have considered suspension during their discussions as to the appropriate sanction. A fully reasoned report of the committees decisions will be published in due course.
The Chair addressed the Committee in respect of the Hearing into an alleged breach of the Code of Conduct by former Town Councillor Jonathan Twigg of Haverfordwest Town Council. The Chair advised that former Councillor had been given the opportunity to attend and answer questions and had indicated that he wished to attend. However, on 6 June 2023, former Councillor Twigg had resigned as a Town Councillor and no representations had been received. She advised that Stage One of the hearing would be for a formal finding of the facts and, in the absence of anyone presenting the case, invited the Deputy Monitoring Officer to review the allegations. The Deputy Monitoring Officer outlined the three stages of the Hearing and presented the case and moved to private session in order for Stage One of the Hearing process to commence. Moved by Mr Nick Watt; Seconded by Mrs Sian Vaughan The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12, 13 and 18(c) of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act; and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information in relation to Paragraphs 12 and 13. The Committee then retired to carefully consider the matter. Following deliberations the Committee resumed in open session and the Chair advised that the Committee had been convened to consider whether there had been a breach of the Code of Conduct under paragraph 6(1)(a) which states that “you must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office or authority into disrepute”. The Chair advised that the Committee had carefully considered all of the evidence and submissions in this matter. Former Councillor Twigg absented himself voluntarily from the meeting, which he communicated in writing, in advance of the meeting. The Committee formally resolved in relation to the two disputed facts that:- 1. The clerk did not tell Councillor Twigg at the MES Committee meeting on 1st March 2022 that he was a member of a football club and should declare an interest. 2. That former Councillor Twigg raised his voice when he called the Clerk ‘a liar’ at the MES Committee Meeting on 5th April 2022. The Chair advised that they would now move to Stage two of the Hearing and resolved that both Stage two and three would be heard in private session as there were no parties present. Moved by Mr Nick Watt; Seconded by Mr Paul Richardson The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12, 13 and 18(c) of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act; and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information in relation to Paragraphs 12 and 13. The Committee then retired to carefully consider the matter. Following deliberations the Committee resumed in open session and the Chair advised of the decision of the Hearing. RESOLVED That Former Council Twigg had breached the Code of Conduct, in calling the clerk a liar on two occasions on 5th April 2022 in a raised voice and that he asked that it be recorded in the minutes of the meeting and that he has breached the following paragraphs of the code:- Paragraph 4(b) which states that a Member must show respect and consideration for others Paragraph 4(c) which states that a Member must not use bullying behaviour or harass any person Paragraph 6(1)(a) which states that a Member must not conduct themselves in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing their office or authority into disrepute The Committee has considered the representations from the Ombudsman in relation sanctions. Under the Standards Committee Procedural Rules s.4.8.2(c) the Councillor should have the last say, however Councillor Twigg has voluntarily decided not to attend the hearing, so we have no representations from him on sanctions. The Committee has resolved that former Councillor Twigg should be censured in relation to those breaches, this is the maximum sanction available to the Committee. Had former Councillor Twigg not resigned, the Committee would have considered suspension during their discussions as to the appropriate sanction. A fully reasoned report of the committees decisions will be published in due course.
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.
Lists the council's current councillors only. Co-opted members, officers and former councillors aren't shown.