The Standards Committee of Carmarthenshire Council met on Monday 1 September 2025 to consider several requests for dispensations from councillors who had declared personal interests in various council matters. The committee unanimously granted dispensations to several councillors, allowing them to speak and, in some cases, vote on matters concerning community halls, solar farm projects, and renewable energy issues, subject to specific conditions and durations. The committee also received and noted reports on code of conduct training, code of conduct data, and the annual report of the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.

Dispensation Requests Granted

The committee considered multiple applications for dispensations under the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001. These requests were made by councillors who had declared personal interests that could potentially conflict with their duties.

Councillor Claire Louise Thomas of Henllanfallteg Community Council was granted a dispensation to speak and make written representations, but not vote, on matters pertaining to the Llanfallteg Millenium Hall. This was granted under Regulations 2(2)(d), 2(2)(e), and 2(2)(h) and is valid until the end of the current electoral term. The committee considered that her participation would not damage public confidence, the interest was common to a significant proportion of the public, and the business related to the finances or property of a voluntary organisation of which she is a member.

Councillor Peter Caunt, also of Henllanfallteg Community Council, received a similar dispensation to speak and make written representations, but not vote, on matters concerning the Henllanfallteg Community Association and its management of the community village hall. This dispensation, granted under Regulations 2(2)(d), 2(2)(e), and 2(2)(h), is also valid until the end of the current electoral term.

Councillor Keith Harding of St Ishmael Community Council was granted a dispensation to speak and make written representations, but not vote, on matters concerning access to the beach at Ferryside. This was granted under Regulations 2(2)(d), 2(2)(e), and 2(2)(f) and is valid until the date of the next Standards Committee meeting, currently scheduled for 25 November 2025. The committee noted that his participation was justified by his particular role or expertise.

Councillor Meinir James, a County Councillor and Llandyfaelog Community Councillor, was granted a dispensation to speak and make written representations on council business concerning renewable energy issues that could affect Ynni Sir Gâr Community Interest Company. This was granted under Regulations 2(2)(d) and 2(2)(f) and is valid until the end of the current electoral term. Her participation was considered justified by her particular role or expertise, and it was deemed not to damage public confidence.

A group application was considered on behalf of 12 councillors from St Ishmael Community Council: Paul Stephens, Janae Holliday, Alan J Batte, Peter Thomas, Philip George, Hywel Gibbon, Keith Harding, Lena Siddall, Alicia Dalton, Davinia King, Dawn Afzal, and Scott Wyld. They were granted a dispensation to speak, make written representations, and vote on council business regarding the Heol Ddu Solar Farm. This was granted under Regulations 2(2)(a), 2(2)(d), and 2(2)(e), acknowledging that at least half of the relevant authority members had an interest, their participation would not damage public confidence, and the interest was common to a significant proportion of the public.

Another group application was considered from 10 Llandyfaelog Community Councillors: Nicola Jones, Eifion Jones, Jenny Jones, Shan Rees, Carys Thomas, Rheinallt Jones, Janet Knott, Elfyn Williams, Viv Davies, and Meinir James. They were granted a dispensation to speak, make written representations, and vote on community council business regarding the Heol Ddu Solar Farm project. This was granted under Regulations 2(2)(a), 2(2)(d), and 2(2)(e), for similar reasons to the St Ishmael councillors, noting that at least half of the members had an interest, their participation would not damage public confidence, and the interest was common to a significant proportion of the public.

Code of Conduct Training and Data

The committee received a report on the code of conduct training session held for Town and Community councillors on 10 July 2025. The session was delivered remotely via Zoom, with 32 delegates identified as attending out of 49 who registered. The session was recorded, and materials were shared with all councils. The committee extended its gratitude for the training provided.

A report on the annual exercise to collate code compliance data from Town and Community Councils was also received. Out of 72 councils asked, 58 responses were received. The data indicated a generally good awareness and compliance with the code of conduct among councillors. However, the committee noted that two councils had consistently failed to respond to the survey over the last three years, and it was resolved that reminder letters would be issued to councils that failed to respond, with specific written representations to be made to Cwmamman Community Council expressing disappointment in its failure to provide data for three years. The committee also resolved to make written representations to community councils to increase awareness of the Civility and Respect pledge.

Ombudsman Reports

The committee considered the Annual Report of the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW) for 2024/25. The report detailed the Ombudsman's activities, including code of conduct complaints, maladministration complaints, and initiative investigations. It was noted that while the number of code of conduct complaints against Carmarthenshire Council members was relatively high, none had been upheld or resulted in action. The committee welcomed recommendations from an independent review regarding the recording of political affiliations and the notification process for accused members.

The committee also considered a report detailing recent Adjudication Panel and Ombudsman decisions. These decisions were presented as points of learning for the committee when implementing the code and providing training to councillors. The report included summaries of decisions concerning Former Councillor Freya Bletsoe of Bridgend Town Council and Former Councillor Andrew Edwards of Pembrokeshire County Council.

Exclusion of the Public

The committee resolved to exclude the public from the following item due to the report containing exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. Following the application of the public interest test, it was resolved not to publicise the content of the report, which related to an Ombudsman's Decision Notice concerning a code complaint against a councillor, as it contained exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of a particular person. The committee unanimously resolved to note the Decision Notice.