Councillor set to be removed after failing to attend meetings

A CONTROVERSIAL Covid-denying councillor is set to be removed from his position after failing to attend a council meeting for a whole year, writes Martin Shipton.

Cllr Gavin Williams, who represents Penrhiwceiber on Rhondda Cynon Taf council, has continued to pick up his council pay of more than £13,000 a year.

In 2017 he was the only member of the Cynon Valley Party to be elected to the authority.

Last October the council served an improvement notice on Cllr Williams because a takeaway food van he runs was in breach of Covid regulations.

The Grandslam Grill at the Lletty Turner lay-by, near Mountain Ash, was said to pose a health risk to the public.

No signs were being displayed on the mobile unit advising customers of the two metre social distancing rule and the need to observe it.

Customers were also seen queuing in front of the mobile unit and not observing social distancing.

Six people not from a single family were seen sitting around a patio table provided by Cllr Williams and not observing social distancing.

There was no hand sanitiser available for customers to sanitise their hands if they wanted to.

Cllr Williams was photographed wearing a teeshirt that read: “The media, the government, the banks, and big pharma are the virus.”

A report to next week’s full meeting of the council states: “Since the commencement of virtual meetings attendance records show that Councillor Gavin Williams has not attended a council meeting for over six months and has not had a reason for his non-attendance approved by council within that period.

“The member has also not requested officers to present a report to full council asking that it considers a reason (or reasons) for his non-attendance.

“The member last attended a meeting of the council on March 4, 2020.

“Members are advised that reasonable efforts have been made to contact the member.

“The member has received written correspondence offering support and assistance to enable and, if necessary, support his attendance at virtual meetings.

“The Member has also been telephoned by Democratic Services to enquire if there were any barriers preventing his attendance at meetings but they were not able to make contact.”

We were also unable to make contact with Cllr Williams, whose mobile phone was not accepting voicemail messages.