A POWYS county councillor will be suspended from all council duties for three months for breaching the Members’ Code of Conduct.
At a hearing of the Standards Committee in November 2016 the committee decided that Councillor Gary Price, who represents the Llandrindod Wells North ward, should be suspended from all county council business for five months.
Councillor Price appealed against the decision to the Adjudication Panel for Wales (APW). The appeal was dismissed but the APW recommended reducing the suspension period from five months to three months.
The APW recommendation was considered by the council’s Standards Committee today (May 26) and decided that Cllr Price would be suspended for a period of three months
The original hearing, which was held before four independent people and two county councillors, ruled that Councillor Price had breached paragraphs 4(b) and 6 (1) (a) of the Code of Conduct for Members in relation to correspondence he had sent which incorrectly and unfairly portrayed the content of a Grievance Appeal Hearing - bringing his office or the council/authority into disrepute as a result of the breach.
Councillor Price's suspension will begin on May 27 and run until August 26, 2017.
Members under full suspension are not able take part in any form of business of the authority. In addition if they have been appointed by the council to an outside body, including appointment as a local authority school governor, they cannot act on that body during their suspension.
During a period of suspension neighbouring councillors will be asked to provide cover on behalf of ward residents.
Anyone from Councillor Price’s constituency who wants to contact the council during the suspension should contact Member Support on 01597 826430.