'My fury at being blown out of council wind farm debate'
AN angry Swansea councillor claimed he was pressured to walk out of a key wind farm debate.
Rob Speht, who works in the wind energy industry, wanted to speak and vote in Thursday's debate about the Mynydd y Gwair application.
He had declared a personal interest at a previous planning meeting about the scheme because of the nature of his work, which didn't involve the developer or application in question.
Declaring a personal interest allowed councillor Speht to take part and vote in the discussion, and he intended to do the same at Thursday's debate.
But he was told beforehand that another councillor had submitted "evidence" suggesting he ought to declare a prejudicial rather than personal interest, which would preclude him from debating or voting.
Councillor Speht described this evidence as inaccurate, but said he was torn whether to participate in the debate and risk a complaint being lodged, or reluctantly declare a prejudicial interest and bow out. He chose the latter.
The Lib-Dem member claimed a "can of worms" had been opened, potentially leaving councillors blocked from debates, and alleged his predicament was a result of a recent Adjudication Panel for Wales decision regarding Swansea councillor Mary Jones and a third party.
"It always used to be up to the individual councillor to decide if they had a prejudicial interest — never a third party," he said. "If you want to take someone out of a debate, you tell the legal officer that you perceive they have a prejudicial interest."
But the council said its code of conduct for members hadn't changed.
The code says councillors must report to the monitoring officer and Ombudsman if another councillor is going to participate in something when they believe he may be in breach of the code.
Councillors who behave in a "malicious or frivolous way" about reporting another councillor can be reported themselves.
A spokesman said: "If an issue about a personal or prejudicial interest is reported, the monitoring officer will discuss it with the councillor, and it is for the councillor to decide whether or not to declare an interest."
He added the council was still waiting for the full decision of Adjudication for Wales regarding Councillor Jones.
9 Comments
by Liberated Demo-crat, Swansea
Tuesday, January 26 2010, 1:32PM
“Rob Speht was bound to support the Mynydd y Gwair wind farm application, given his close ties with the industry! With thousands of people against this project, it would appear that Rob Speht was quite happy to go against the Democratic flow of the Protesters! If Rob wants to earn his right to serve at Westminister as an MP, then he has to learn the ability to listen to the Electorate as he appears to have have gone Deaf!”
by Philip, swansea
Monday, January 25 2010, 7:49PM
“When electricity prices sky rockets because russian decides it wants to raise the price again, I wonder who'll be complaining about us not investing in alternative power sources.
The SW EP readers I imagine.”
by Mrs R, Swansea
Sunday, January 24 2010, 11:12PM
“Councillor Rob - How good of you to find the time to turn up to a meeting to discuss wind farms, but don't other to show your face in public meetings held by your electorate. Voted for you last time, but you can forget it this time. Complete and utter waste of space and just another one of our 72 councillors taking decent people's rate payments! For shame!!!”
by Newt., Bog Land.
Sunday, January 24 2010, 4:11PM
“The Ospreys are getting as bad as Swansea City Council for not declaring certain thing's ?
(16 in a pack)? HO HO HO !”
by Justicia Prudent, Landore
Sunday, January 24 2010, 3:04PM
“It is obvious that THREE Cabinet members are labouring under the apprehension that THEY are the sole arbiters of whether they BREAK the code or not.
The so called can of worms opened in the Marriot case for the benefit of these re calcitrants is simple.
1 The ULTIMATE decision to speak and vote is the Councillor and the Councillor alone.
2 Taking legal advice only reduces the eventual penalty when found in BREACH of the Code.
3 Apparent Bias in decision making is alive and kicking after the Marriott airing of the legal issues.Meaning both censure or praise of a Councillor could be seen as impinging on their impartiality and service of the Public Interest.
The Monitoring Officer has a particular interpretation which is circulated for due consideration explaining that if you Stay ,Speak,Vote and Do not declare an interest .Then a Breach occurs ,you will get reported ,you will be found guilty ,you will receive a hefty suspension ,or mere Public censure as in the Maryiott case.
One wonders with this state of ignorance ,what exactly have these Councillors been doing with respect to Declaration of Interests in numerous other matters put before this Local Authority?
The Ombudsman says CCS [Crazy Codes Syndicate] is probably our best customer,may it forever be so whilst feathering nests,hanging on to allowances and going on Tax payer jollies is the order of the day or hob nobbing with Corporates in the Dragon are de rigeur ..Strange thing is there were not more referrals to the Standards Committee and Ombudsman in light of the Shambles @ Swansea project so admirably pioneered by this mish mash administration!!”
by Jonathan, north wales
Sunday, January 24 2010, 8:39AM
“The big difference between wind power and conventional power sources, ie coal, gas etc is that with wind power the energy used to make the turbine is paid back ( energy balance) usually within 6 to 8 months depending on the wind resource / load factor. With fossil fuels you are forever producing more carbon ! The UK has 40% of the European wind resource, the best in Europe, like it or not, wind power, both on and offshore must and will play a key role in our energy mix. Wind power is clean, green and truly sustainable - Bring it on !”
by Teifion, LLandovery
Sunday, January 24 2010, 8:11AM
“Climate change scientists are already going back on a heck of a lot of their science and are having to apologise.
A point all these pious do gooders seem to forget is the CO2 produced in making and maintaining these huge machines - another report said the Jeep was the greenest car as people kept them for years, no new model every few years, no chemicals mined in the california wilderness and shipped to Japan etc etc
Most of these green pop stars and celebs fly around the world in private jets and they want to ban my plastic bag?”
by Micky O'Mouse, Swansea
Sunday, January 24 2010, 3:17AM
“What part of Conflict of interest did Councillor Speht not understand?
The fool shouldn't be in the building let alone the meeting and the thought of voting only shows the stupidity of the man. I hope his local electorate see him for what he is.”
by carl, swansea
Saturday, January 23 2010, 10:45PM
“No wind farms ...not even in the sea...”