Neyland Town Council was responsible for nearly two thirds of all code of conduct complaints about town and community councils in the county lodged with the Ombudsman, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Standards Committee has heard.

At the October 2 meeting, members received the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales annual letter for 2024/25, which said 30 code of conduct complaints had been received during the year, seven relating to county councillors and 23 to town and community councils.

County councillor code of conduct complaints saw one discontinued, not in the public interest to pursue; five no prima facie evidence of breach; and one referred to adjudication panel.

Of the 23 town and community code complaints, Fishguard & Goodwick Town Council and Haverfordwest Town Council had one complaint each that was not in the public interest to investigate; Hundleton Community Council, Tenby Town Council, and Manorbier Community Council had one case each of no prima facie evidence of breach; Martletwy Community Council having one case each of not in the public interest to investigate and no prima facie evidence of breach; Saundersfoot Community Council had one case of discontinued, not in the public interest to pursue.

By far the largest number of cases were for Neyland Town Council, which had one not in the public interest to investigate, four no prima facie evidence of breach, three no evidence of breach, and seven referred to adjudication panel, for a total of 15 out of the 23 complaints received about town and community councils in the county, representing just over 65 per cent of the 23.

The report also mentioned 47 general county council complaints, some carried over from the previous year, made up of 15 decision not to investigate complaint, seven early resolution, 12 matter out of jurisdiction, one non-public interest report issued: complaint not upheld, 11 premature, and one voluntary settlement.

Members noted the annual letter and will present it to the Cabinet and to the Governance and Audit Committee.

Committee chair David Parsons told members there were “still matters ongoing” in the case of Neyland, suggesting the committee offers help when those were resolved.

Members had earlier learnt that an Ombudsman investigation into a former Neyland town councillor over four separate code of conduct complaints had been discontinued, but could have been referred to a tribunal if the member hadn’t resigned.

It was alleged that the former member had failed to treat others in the council with consideration and respect; had made vexatious complaints about other members; had bullied and harassed the clerk and had brought the council and office of councillor into disrepute.

The evidence gathered during the investigation demonstrated a concerning picture of poor behaviour, over a substantial period of time, which had affected others, which engaged the rights of others, and “was not indicative of the high standards of behaviour expected of members in public life.”

After the member ‘retired’ from the town council ‘on grounds of ill health’, it was considered no longer in the public interest to complete the investigation.