Towyn and Kinmel Bay Town Council considers action

Jun 24 2010 by Ian Hughes, North Wales Weekly News

A TOWN council has considered requesting an investigation in to comments made on a County Councillor’s blog.

The Towyn and Kinmel Bay Town Council has taken issue with a statement by Cllr Jason Weyman. There was a meeting last night (June 23) to decide whether to refer Mr Weyman to the Local Government Ombudsman.

The row concerns comments he allegedly made that Towyn and Kinmel Bay Town Council is being ‘investigated’ by the Wales Audit Office.

Clerk Dave Cowans, of Towyn and Kinmel Bay Town Council, confirmed that it had called a Special Meeting in Kinmel Bay Community Centre to discuss whether to take action.

Mr Cowans said beforehand: “The councillors are meeting to discuss Cllr Weyman’s blog. There’s a perception that inflammatory and incorrect comments have been made on it. They want to discuss whether to refer that to the Ombudsman.”

Cllr Weyman had wrongly written on his blog that the Wales Audit Office was investigating Towyn and Kinmel Bay Town Council.

That comment was later withdrawn by the author.

The situation has left Cllr Weyman confused – speaking on his blog he stated: “I almost cannot believe that this is actually occurring.”

“I do not have a copy of the report associated with the agenda item but I'm assuming it relates to posting to the news that Cllr Geoff Corry had been given a three-month suspension.”

“I have not made any personal comments about the case or Cllr Corry.”

Mr Weyman was asked by the town clerk to remove comments – which he duly did.

He added: “I think the only error in the original posting was the word "investigation" as this refers to a special action in relation to the Audit Office. As far as I know there is no ‘formal investigation’.”

Mr Cowans confirmed: “It is untrue that the Wales Audit Office is investigating Kinmel Bay Town Council.”

The Wales Audit Office said it had received a letter about Towyn and Kinmel Bay Town Council.

But the WAO said it couldn’t reveal who sent it or what it was about because of its ‘duty of confidentiality’.

The WAO said: “We have received correspondence about the town council. We have forwarded it to appointed auditors UHY Hacker Young in Chester for consideration.”

There will be an update on the decision in next week’s Weekly News.

ian.hughes