Councillor failed to declare interest
A SWANSEA councillor has been rapped for failing to declare an interest in a planning application.
Lib-Dem councillor Rob Speht had opportunities to declare an interest at two separate planning meetings, but didn't.
He said he is keen to receive training on the new code of conduct for councillors.
"I have requested training on the new Code of Conduct several times, not just since this ruling," said councillor Speht.
He insisted the complaints about him were politically motivated.
The application concerned car park and playground work at Plasmarl Primary School, where the Landore councillor served as chairman of the board of governors.
The council's standards committee said councillor Speht failed to declare an interest at meetings in October 2007 and January 2008, when he addressed fellow councillors about the application and, in the second meeting, voted in favour of it.
Complaints were subsequently made by two members of the public, both known to councillor Speht.
He told the ombudsman that he didn't think he needed to declare an interest because the application had been submitted by the council, not the school.
The ombudsman took this into account, but said it was reasonable to conclude that he did have a personal interest, because the development was for the benefit of the school and he was a councillor and chairman of the governors.
Councillor Speht told the standards committee that he had acted in good faith.
The committee concluded he had breached the Members' Code of Conduct, but that no action should be taken because the breach was not sufficiently serious.
However, it warned him of the importance of declaring personal interests, and suggested all councillors had training on the new Code of Conduct, which came into force last May.
Councillor Speht said the planning application, which was passed by councillors, had improved safety for children at the school.
4 Comments
by hugh parsons, marina swansea
Saturday, January 10 2009, 8:45PM
“I think this once again highlights a wider problem with the current rules about declarations of interests that we have seen before in Swansea. Rules that were quite properly brought in many years ago to prevent fraud have now been so extended to include so widely defined 'non - pecuniary interests' that it may make it very difficult for a decent ward councillor to do their job. We have reached a dangerous situation where a councillor can be elected but because they are involved in/ or speak for their community, they can be muzzeled. Thats not just a restriction on councillors, but on eveyone of us who has a vote.”
by anon, carm
Saturday, January 10 2009, 2:59AM
“i know there are councillors in carm's that are failing to declare an interest in some areas. they know who they are.
they should under the code of conduct...? BUT,”
by Nubbo, West Glam
Friday, January 09 2009, 9:13PM
“In the interest of transparency and acountability, perhaps the Councillor under sanction, could explain the background to his declaration of interest on planning number (2008/1857:-item 12), where he had to withdraw from recent Council planning meeting due to some on-going court case.?”
by Nick, swansea
Friday, January 09 2009, 6:14PM
“Just another councillor caught out , and pleading ignorance, really its an admission that they are not up to speed with their jobs,because it suits the situation, if a brain surgeon wasnt up to speed with his job he would be straight out, so the same thing should apply to councillors who benefit by being suposedly oblivious to the rules. councilors now need to be totally transparent, and if they are not, one strike and out. End of. not knowing their job is no excuse. I for one am fed up of people who do not practice what they preach.its always the same old story sorry when they are caught out .Like ( OH! i forgot i had a half a million donation Etc.
Off with their heads I say”