More guidance needed for new county councillors

Newly elected councillors in Powys could be given additional guidance on standards of behaviour and conduct following next May’s local government elections, amid concerns about changing political attitudes and the possibility of a major shake-up in the council’s membership.

Powys County Council’s Standards Committee has agreed to arrange a meeting with councillors elected next year to help them understand what is expected of them, including the boundaries of acceptable political debate and their responsibilities under the council’s code of conduct.

The local government elections in Wales take place next year on May 6, and if this year’s Senedd election results are anything to go by, the make-up of Powys County Council and other local authorities across the country could be radically different.

The role of the Standards Committee is to promote, monitor and maintain high standards of ethical conduct and behaviour among elected members of a local authority.

Powys Independents joint leader Cllr Beverley Baynham (Presteigne) wondered if it was “worth adding something in the diary” for the end of May so that councillors could meet the Standards Committee, which is made up of both councillors and independent lay people.

Cllr Baynham explained that this could help councillors understand the “expectations” of the Standards Committee when it comes to their conduct.

Cllr Baynham said: “We (councillors) get code of conduct training but it’s quite factual.

“We’ve all been new at some point and being new is daunting.

“I think it may be helpful for new members, following the election – it would be nice for you to meet them.”

Committee chairwoman and independent lay member Claire Moore agreed that this was a “good idea”.

Cllr William Powell (Liberal Democrat – Talgarth) said that he “strongly” supported what Cllr Baynham had suggested.

Cllr Powell said: “There could be a major churn of members, politics is turbulent at the moment and there’s all sorts of stuff that we may need to be aware of.”

He went on to add that he had seen political culture “radically change” during the last 20 years or so. In the early 2000s, you would have seen “rows of Christmas greetings from your county councillor” in the local newspapers.

Cllr Powell said: “That sort of role, and more family atmosphere, has been replaced by a more robust style of debating.

“You only need to look at the Senedd to see individuals testing boundaries and not accepting the accepted culture.

“A workshop to get an understanding of what is acceptable while allowing the full requirements of free speech would be helpful.

“And it may be much appreciated by whoever is the council chair and is left standing on this committee on May 6.”

The committee agreed to try to identify a date to meet new councillors.

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Service