Latest news with #AdjudicationPanelforWales
Western Telegraph
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Neyland councillors to face code of conduct tribunal
The Adjudication Panel for Wales is an independent tribunal established under Part III of the Local Government Act 2000. The Panel's role is to form tribunals to consider whether elected members or co-opted members of county, county borough and community councils, fire and national park authorities in Wales have breached their authority's statutory code of conduct. Neyland town councillors Brian Rothero and David Devauden are alleged to have breached various parts of the code of conduct. In the case of Cllr Rothero, who recently left the council, it is alleged he has breached paragraphs 4(b), 4(c), 6(1)(a), and 6(1)(d). In the case of Cllr Devauden, he is alleged to have breached paragraphs 4(b), 4(c), 6(1)(a), 6(1)(d) and 6(2). Paragraph 4 (b) deals with 'When undertaking your role as a member, you must show respect and consideration for others,' 4(c) covers 'You must not use any bullying behaviour or harass any person including other councillors, council officers (the Clerk or Proper Officer) or members of the public'. 6(1) (a) covers 'You must not behave in a way which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office or authority into disrepute at any time,' while 6 (1) (d) covers 'You must not make vexatious, malicious or frivolous complaints against other members or anyone who works for, or on behalf of, your council'. Finally, 6 (2) covers co-operating with investigations. Further details of the hearings will be released at a later date. Both Mr Rothero and Cllr Devauden have been contacted for a response. A retrospective application by Mr Rothero to extend his pub, the Foresters Arms public house, with a function room was approved earlier this year despite strong opposition by his own town council, unanimously objecting to the proposal.
Wales Online
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Wales Online
Politician did send racist voice note that said white men should be allowed black slaves
Politician did send racist voice note that said white men should be allowed black slaves An adjudication panel has banned former Pembrokeshire councillor Andrew Edwards after finding he did sent a racist voice note sent to his then partner Former councillor Andrew Edwards (Image: Copyright Unknown ) A councillor has been banned from serving on local authorities for four years after an adjudication panel found he had breached a code of conduct after it said he sent a racist message. Andrew Edwards was a Pembrokeshire ward councillor for the Haverfordwest Prendergast ward. In 2023, it was reported that he said on a recorded audio clip, sent via mobile phone messaging app WhatsApp: "Nothing wrong with the skin colour at all. I think all white men should have a black man as a slave, or black woman as a slave, you know. There's nothing wrong with skin colour, it's just that they're lower class than us white people, you know." Mr Edwards released a statement at the time which read: "I am aware of such serious allegations being made against me. This is why I have self-referred to the public services ombudsman for an independent evaluation. "It is now in the hands of legal experts and the ombudsman. It would be unfair on the process for me to comment now." A case tribunal has now been held by the Adjudication Panel for Wales, which found that Mr Edwards did send the voice note and had breached the authority's code of conduct. A notice of decision published by the panel read: "The Adjudication Panel for Wales (the tribunal) received a referral from the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales in relation to allegations made against former councillor Edwards. Article continues below "The allegations were that he had breached the authority's code of conduct by firstly, recording a racist voice note that he sent to his then partner via the WhatsApp messaging application and secondly, that he shared information relating to council business alongside disrespectful comments about members of the public to his then partner via WhatsApp. "He, thereby, demonstrated a failure to show respect to others and by so doing, brought his office and/or that of the authority, into disrepute. "The case tribunal determined its adjudication by way of written representations at a meeting on June 18, 2025 which was held by way of remote video-conferencing. Article continues below "The case tribunal unanimously found that the former councillor had acted in breach of the code. "The case tribunal concluded by unanimous decision that the former councillor Edwards should be disqualified from acting as a councillor for any authority for a period of four years in respect of all matters concurrently."
BBC News
18-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Haverfordwest: Councillor made racist slave comment
A former councillor was the voice in an audio recording of someone making racist comments, an ombudsman investigation has found. Political opponents identified Andrew Edwards on a 16-second audio recording of someone saying white men should have a black Edwards, who represented the Haverfordwest Prendergast ward on Pembrokeshire County Council before stepping down in December 2024, told the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales he was the victim of a "deep fake". But Michelle Morris said "the investigation found, on balance, that it was the former member's voice on the voice recording". In the recording, the person can be heard saying: "Nothing wrong with the skin colour at all."I think all white men should have a black man as a slave or black woman as a slave, you know. "There's nothing wrong with skin colour, it's just that they're lower class than us white people."Mr Edwards, a former Conservative council member, referred himself to the ombudsman. In an interview during the investigation, he claimed the voice recording was a "deep fake", created with malicious intent by someone using an algorithm to make it seem her report, Ms Morris said it probably was his voice on the recording and that it had been sent as a voice note to his partner via WhatsApp."The content of the voice note was considered racist," she wrote. Mr Edwards did admit sharing information about council business alongside disrespectful comments about members of the public via WhatsApp with his partner. He explained he was under personal pressure at the time and was "venting" to his Morris found his conduct "could reasonably be considered as disreputable and was capable of seriously undermining public confidence in the council and the office of member".She referred the matter to the Adjudication Panel for Wales, which considers alleged breaches of local authority codes of conduct.
