Ex-mayor suspended from town and county council for conduct breaches

A former Mayor of Caernarfon has been suspended as both a county and town councillor.

The decision follows an Adjudication Panel for Wales tribunal which found Cllr Roy Owen guilty of three code of conduct breaches.

As a result Mr Owen, who represents the Seiont ward on both Gwynedd and Caernarfon Town councils, will be forced to sit out the remainder of his term as May’s local elections fall before the end of his intended nine month suspension.

The case tribunal had unanimously found him guilty of the following breaches:

■ Making vexatious, malicious or frivolous complaints against another member.

■ Failing to comply with requests of the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, in connection with an investigation conducted in accordance with his statutory powers.

■ Using or attempting to use his position improperly to create a disadvantage to another person.

While the full report has not yet been published, a spokesman for Gwynedd

Council confirmed that Cllr Owen would remain suspended until May.

Cllr Owen, who formed and led the Gwynedd United Independents group on Gwynedd Council, has also been the Mayor of Caernarfon on two occasions.

A county councillor since 2004, he hit the national headlines in 2018 after becoming so fed up with potholes in his ward that he decided to fill them himself, thanks to his experience as a highways technician.

The panel’s decision notice went on to note, “The Case Tribunal concluded by unanimous decision that the respondent should be suspended from acting as a member of Caernarfon Royal Town Council and Gwynedd Council for a period of nine months or, if shorter, the remainder of his term of office, with effect from the date of this notice.”

A spokesman for Gwynedd Council said: “We can confirm that Councillor Roy Owen (Seiont - Caernarfon) has been suspended from being a member of both Gwynedd and Caernarfon Town Council in accordance with the decision of the Adjudication Panel for Wales.

“He is suspended for the remainder of the current council term (May 9).”

Seiont, a multi-member ward which includes the castle and the southern part of Caernarfon town centre, will continue to be represented on Gwynedd Council by Cllr Cai Larsen of Plaid Cymru.

Cllr Owen, who could appeal against the decision via the High Court, has been approached to comment.