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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED to exclude the public for the following item of business on the grounds that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information under category 8 of The Council’s Access to Information Rules.
There were no apologies for absence.
There were no declarations of interest.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to exclude the public for the following item of business on the grounds that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information under category 8 of The Council’s Access to Information Rules.
RESOLVED to exclude the public for the following item of business on the grounds that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information under category 8 of The Council’s Access to Information Rules.
Preliminary issues The Standards Community Sub-Committee decided two preliminary issues on the 16 September 2025 – the admissibility of witness statements and to hold the meeting in private, due to the confidential nature of information regarding witnesses and their personal data. Stage 2 - Findings of Fact The Standards Committee considered the Deputy Monitoring Officer’s covering report, the report of the Ombudsman and representations from Councillor Pritchard and Counsel for the Ombudsman. The Committee also heard from four witnesses. The Committee considered each disputed fact and decided after careful deliberations, based on the evidence before them that each fact was found to have occurred. Stage 3 - Code of Conduct for Members The Committee found on balance of probabilities that the Member’s conduct had breached the following paragraphs of Welshpool Town Council’s Code of Conduct for Members namely paragraphs: • 4(b) – You must show respect and consideration for others; • 4(c) – you must not use bullying behaviour or harass any person; and • 6(1)(a) – you must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing his office or authority into disrepute. Stage 4 - Action/Sanction In accordance with Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Rules, the press and public were re-admitted to the meeting for announcement of the decision. The Standards Community Sub-Committee decided after careful consideration that a sanction was appropriate. The Sub-Committee decided that no action was not an appropriate response. The Sub-Committee considered the APW Sanctions Guidance, which states that the sanctions system: · provides a disciplinary response to an individual member’s breach of the Code; • places the misconduct and appropriate sanction on public record; • deters future misconduct on the part of the individual and others; • promotes a culture of compliance across the relevant authorities and • foster public confidence in local democracy • upholds standards of conduct in public life • maintains public confidence in local democracy. In considering the appropriate sanction, the Standards Community Sub-Committee came to the following conclusion that a sanction was appropriate. The Standards Committee accordingly decided to exercise its power under Regulation 9 Local Government Investigations (Functions of Monitoring Officers and Standards Committees) (Wales) Regulations 2001, as amended, that Councillor Phil Pritchard should be censured.
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.
The council hasn't recorded attendance for this meeting.
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