Councillor's Cabinet position questioned

Newtown's former mayor and now a Powys County Council Cabinet member has said being disqualified as a company director does not prevent him from keeping undertaking his council role.

Cllr David Selby, a Cabinet member responsible for economic development in the Liberal Democrat ruling group on the council, was re-elected to his Newtown ward last month.

He was disqualified as a company director in 2017 for five years following the liquidation of Rosemex Tradiung Ltd in the south of England in 2014.

It has also emerged that another Newtown county councillor and Liberal Democract, Adam Kennerley, has also been ruled by the Charity Commission to have committed misconduct as a trustee of the Cwm Harry Land Trust in Newtown.

The Charity Commission said in 2020 that the charity had failed to file financial information between 2016 and 2019.

It is udnerstood a letter has been sent to Cllr James Gibson-Watt, Liberal Democrat Leader of Powys County Council, from the council's solicitor, Clive Pinney, highlighting concerns raiseed by a "number of members of the public."

It is understood that the letter has questioned the suitablilty of Cllr Selby holding the economic development portfolio when he cannot be a company director.

Cllr Elwyn Vaughan, Plaid Cymru, has also written to the Leader.

Today, Cllr Selby issued a statement to MyNewtown. He said: "This relates to an unfortunate and difficult part of my life, which I regret. It does not affect my current role working hard for the area I represent on the Council and my new role as a member of the Cabinet."

Cllr Kennerley has ben asked to comment.