Agenda and decisions

To introduce each of the members of the Standards Committee, the Member (Councillor Ieuan Williams), the Investigating Officer and any other Officers present and to summarise the procedure of the hearing in accordance with the Procedure for Local Standards Hearings.

To receive apologies for absence, including notifications of any changes to the membership of the Committee.

To receive any declaration of interest (personal or prejudicial) from a Member or Officer regarding any item of business.

To confirm that the Standards Committee is quorate.

To outline the procedure which will be followed in determining the matter.

To determine whether the Hearing will exclude the press and public from all or

part of its consideration of the matter.

(a)   PRESENTATION OF PRE-HEARING SUMMARY REPORT

 A report by the Legal Advisor, in particular highlighting any points identified by

 the Member where there is disagreement with any finding of fact on the

 Investigating Officer’s report.     

(b)   ADMISSION OF NON COMPLIANCE

To ask the Member whether they admit to failing to comply with the Code of Conduct.

(c)   DETERMINATION

To determine whether there has been a failure to comply with the Code of

Conduct.  

(a)   CHAIR’S INDICATION OF THE ORDER OF SANCTION

The Chair to set out the order of sanction which is considered appropriate.

(b)   MEMBER’S REPRESENTATIONS AS TO SANCTION

To invite the Member to make representations on sanction.

(c)   INVESTIGATING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIONS AS TO

       SANCTION     

To invite the Investigating Officer to make representations on sanction.

(d)   STANDARD COMMITTEE TO CONFIRM WHETHER THEY HAVE

        SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO FORM A VIEW ON SANCTION

To allow for questions to be addressed to the Member and/or Investigating Officer.

 In accordance with the Procedure for Local Standards Hearings paragraph 10.8(b).

Hearing of the Isle of Anglesey County Council’s Standards Committee into allegations relating to the conduct of Councillor Ieuan Williams of the Isle of Anglesey County Council

Public Services Ombudsman for Wales Case Reference 202302251.

Decision of the Isle of Anglesey County Council’s Standards Committee with written reasons

1. Introduction

1.1 A Hearing of the Isle of Anglesey County Council’s Standards Committee (“the Standards Committee”) was held on 16/05/2025 to consider allegations that Councillor Ieuan Williams of the Isle of Anglesey County Council had breached the Code of Conduct for members and to give Councillor Williams (“the Member”) the opportunity to make representations in respect of those allegations.

1.2 Councillor Williams referred himself to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (the “PSOW”) after commenting in a meeting “bod angen saethu pob Tory” (“that all Tories should be shot”) at a Current Developments Programme Board meeting on 12/06/2023.

1.3 The PSOW had arranged for the allegations to be investigated, pursuant to her powers under section 69 of the Local Government Act 2000, and produced a Report on the investigation. The PSOW concluded that evidence was found suggesting breaches of paragraphs 4(b) and 6(1)(a) of the Code of Conduct for Members of the Isle of Anglesey County Council.  The PSOW referred her Report to the Monitoring Officer of the Isle of Anglesey County Council (“the Council”) with a direction that the matter be referred to the Standards Committee.

1.4 A Standards Committee meeting was held on 26/02/2025 for an initial determination of the complaint referred by the PSOW to the Committee. In accordance with the Council’s Procedure for Local Standards Hearings (the “Procedure”) the Standards Committee resolved, at the initial determination stage that:

• The matter be referred to a local hearing of the Committee to enable the relevant Member to make representations, orally or in writing, in respect of the findings of the investigation and any allegation that the Member has failed, or may have failed, to comply with the Code of Conduct.

• The Monitoring Officer conducts the Pre-Hearing process in accordance with the Procedure.

1.5 The Standards Committee Hearing was arranged for the 16/05/2025. The Hearing was held in accordance with the Procedure. This Hearing was required to determine, on the balance of probabilities, whether the Member had or had not failed to comply with the relevant paragraphs of the Code of Conduct. In the event of a finding of a breach of the Code of Conduct, the Hearing was required to determine any sanction and / or recommendation to the Council.

1.6 Councillor Williams attended the Hearing on 16/05/2025. Councillor Williams was not legally represented.

1.7 Ms Llinos Lake and Ms Annie Ginwalla from the PSOW’s Office attended the Hearing on 16/05/2025 and made representations on behalf of the PSOW.

1.8 No witnesses were asked to attend the Hearing.

1.9 The Hearing was held in public save for the exclusion of the press and public owing to the disclosure of personal and sensitive information in Councillor Williams’ personal  ...  view the full decision text for item 9.