Vote of no confidence in Penmaenmawr's Mayor fails

At the same time Penmaenmawr town council called in the Ombudsman to investigate whether the former Mayor, Cllr Dafydd Lloyd-Borman, had broken the authority’s code of conduct.

It was alleged he had acted outside the rules by agreeing to buy a car park from Conwy County Borough Council when the town council did not have the money for the deal.

Cllr Lloyd-Borman won the vote of confidence at last week’s meeting of the town council, nevertheless the authority voted unanimously to call in the Ombudsman.

The decision to buy the car park was subsequently overturned by the town council.

Only a few weeks ago a report in the Pioneer stated the accounts of Penmaenmawr town council will be investigated by the Wales Audit Office.

The investigation has already started.

A member of the public had drawn the attention of the financial watchdog to the authority’s funding problems following an earlier story in the Pioneer, which said community initiatives in the town faced funding cuts as the town council had exhausted its financial reserves.

A report to the council had said: “Over the past four years, Penmaenmawr’s income has remained relatively static at approximately £135,000.

"During the same period expenditure has increased by almost £100,000. To fund the extra expenditure, monies have been withdrawn from the reserve account.”

Cllr Jason Edwards, chairman of Penmaenmawr’s finance committee, said: “At this point, due to the Wales Audit Office investigation, it is not appropriate to comment further.”

Cllr Lloyd-Borman said: “The reason I stepped down is the position of Mayor and chairman of the council is like a captain of a ship, and although I didn’t take personal responsibility for what has happened, I took collective responsibility as one of 13 councillors.

"So I thought it was right to step aside.

“The issue started four years ago and there have been a number of mayors before me, but I thought it right to step down because this came to our attention during my watch and I think it right and proper, as I was leading the council at the time, to step down.

"But I won the vote of confidence.

“I have referred the issue to the Ombudsman, which is normal procedure.

"There are two councillors who believe I breached the code of conduct, I don’t believe I breached it.

"They chose to highlight it in a public meeting because of their own agenda.

"It is about the issue of the car park purchase.”

A spokesperson for Penmaenmawr town council said: “Following on from recent revelations regarding the Penmaenmawr town council’s financial situation, the council confirms cllr Dafydd Lloyd-Borland has stepped down as Mayor.

"A vote of no confidence in cllr Lloyd-Borland, brought after his resignation as Mayor, was defeated. However, details of an alleged breach to the Code of Conduct by the councillor, which was the foundation for this vote, has been forwarded to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales to investigate.”