Former Towyn mayor suspended for failure to declare business interests

Jun 10 2010 by Ian Hughes, North Wales Weekly News

A COUNTY councillor has been suspended for three months after failing to declare business interests.

Conwy County Council standards committee suspended Geoff Corry, the Conservative member for Kinmel Bay, on Monday for what an investigation described as actions “wholly unacceptable”.

The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales found that the former mayor of Towyn and Kinmel Bay didn’t reveal his links with a company which received payment for services from the town council, on which he also serves.

Communications Solutions Ltd has had a number of dealings in a financial and advisory capacity with Towyn and Kinmel Bay Council from March 2004 to date.

Standards committee chairman Mike Mason referred to the Ombudsman’s report when delivering the verdict.

“The conclusion in the Ombudsman report states: ‘Cllr Corry appears to have failed to properly acquaint himself with the provisions of the codes of conduct to which he has agreed to be bound and has wholly neglected to avail himself of opportunities to correct this omission’. We agree with that statement.

“For each [offence] we will deliver a suspension of three months. The three suspensions would run concurrently, reflecting the seriousness of the case.”

He added that the committee came “perilously close” to a maximum six-month suspension.

Speaking before the decision, Cllr Corry apologised unreservedly.

“I wish to apologise for my actions and for the embarrassment I have caused,” he said. “I do not wish to add to what has been written but will accept whatever decision made.”

Two complaints were made last year over the actions of Cllr Corry. The Ombudsman confirmed that: “Enercomm [a trading name of Communications Solutions] receives payment from the town council for monthly phone charges following approval by the town council at meetings at which Cllr Corry is usually present.”

It noted Cllr Corry is no longer listed as a director of the company. He says he stopped being involved when he was elected, but that never showed up on official records.

Cllr Corry claimed he was unaware of the correct conduct in this matter, and to his knowledge was no longer affiliated with the company during his time as a councillor.