MS calls on Ombudsman to review decision on former NPT Leader

MS Sioned Williams has called on the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales to review the decision which found that former Neath Port Talbot council leader Cllr Rob Jones did not breach the council’s Code of Conduct.

The comments were published on social media on March 5th 2021. The Ombudsman issued the decision on July 20th stating that Cllr Jones had not broken the code of conduct for members of local authorities in Wales.

Paragraph 7 (b) (v) of that Code, states that " members must not use, or authorise others to use, the resources of their authority improperly for political purposes", whilst paragraph 6 1 (a) states that "members must not conduct themselves in a manner which could reasonably have brought their office or authority into disrepute".

Plaid MS Sioned Williams stated:

“I have written to the Ombudsman calling on him to review his decision that Councillor Rob Jones has not broken the Code of Conduct.

“Having listened to the recording and read the Ombudsman’s published report, it is difficult to understand the conclusion.

“The Ombudsman’s decision notice states that he has investigated the claims and that he feels that paragraph 7 (b) (v) has not been breached.

“There is no doubt that his behaviour has undermined public confidence in the Council, and the Ombudsman's report has not restored Cllr. Jones’ reputation, nor the confidence of local people that the Council had been acting free of partisan influence. The decision needs to be reviewed.”