A COUNCILLOR facing suspension has joined the council's Conservative group, it has been confirmed.

Councillor Gary Price - who is facing a one month ban from public office over allegations he leaked confidential information - had been a member of the Shires Independent Group (SIG).

Last month he was sacked by council leader, David Jones, who is also the leader of the SIG, from the council's ruling cabinet.

Cllr Price contested the 2011 Welsh Assembly elections for Plaid Cymru and earlier that year became the only Plaid county councillor in Powys.

But by the time of last May's council elections, Cllr Price had quit Plaid and stood as an independent.

He was returned to the council, defeating a sitting Conservative county councillor after choosing not to defend his Llandrindod East/West ward and contesting the town's North ward instead.

Announcing his decision, Cllr Price said in a statement, released by the local Conservative party: "Since the council elections last year the Conservatives in Powys have emerged as the only political group with the ideas and drive to take the council forward and improve Powys for all residents.

"Ultimately I made my decision on what I feel is best for the residents of Llandrindod Wells. It is the local Conservatives who fought to freeze council tax to help hard working families and pensioners.

"It is the local Conservatives who are fighting to scrap business rates for small businesses to help create new jobs. It is the local Conservatives who are fighting to prevent further wind farms in this beautiful part of Wales.

"By joining the Conservative council group, I can now help them in their fight to deliver a fairer and more prosperous Powys for all."

Chris Davies, Conservative county councillor for Glasbury and also the Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Brecon and Radnorshire said: "We are very pleased to welcome Cllr Gary Price to the Conservatives. He is a highly respected individual and hard working councillor who always puts the people of Llandrindod first. He is a great addition to our campaign team and I am very much looking forward to working with him."

Cllr Price has yet to say whether he intends to appeal a one month suspension imposed after the council's standards committee found he breached the council's code of conduct.

He is accused of revealing confidential information about a decision to close the Lakeside Restaurant in Llandrindod Wells in a letter to a newspaper. The ban will only take effect once the appeal process has concluded.