(Title Image: © Copyright Jaggery and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence BY-SA-2.0)
At the moment it seems like barely a week goes by without another set of bad headlines for Bridgend’s town and community councils.
Maesteg Town Council is/was under investigation by Audit Wales and South Wales Police over financial irregularities several years ago, but town councillors were recently left with no choice but to refer themselves to Audit Wales for a second investigation after a van was purchased on the council’s behalf “unlawfully” (draft minutes – pdf).
The task of making a final decision on what van to buy and how – which will be used for maintenance work – was delegated to a special finance subcommittee. However, the correct procedure wasn’t followed.
Under the Local Government Act and the council’s own rules (standing orders) the full council has to vote on minutes and decisions of a subcommittee (to authorise purchases).
This didn’t happen. Also, as the two other members of the subcommittee left the decision meeting early (edit: apparently in protest because their views weren’t being taken into account), the Chair of the Committee – Cllr. Ceri Reeves (Lab, Maesteg West) – approved the purchase by herself:
“When the two other members of the delegated committee left the decision making WhatsApp group – I considered it as if I was in a meeting and was the only one left – in which case I would have to carry on with the job that needed to be completed. The other members appeared to have left me to it.”
– Cllr. Ceri Reeves
Common sense would suggest that a committee meeting ends when you’re the only person left.
In her defence, Cllr. Reeves believed the purchase was an urgent matter as the maintenance officer couldn’t work otherwise. Also, as buying a van had already been agreed in principle by the council all she had to do was rubber stamp it.
While apologetic, she blamed the Clerk and Mayor for not making it clear that she had no authority to make a purchase by herself. Other town councillors called on “more experienced members” (as far as I know Cllr. Reeves has been a town councillor for several years and a borough councillor for at least five) to share their knowledge and expertise.
The council retrospectively approved the purchase by 11 votes to 1 with 3 abstentions. If they hadn’t it would’ve cost them a 10% deposit. It’s unclear at this moment in time how much was spent, but brand new vans in particular are usually pricey.
Later on, the council unanimously voted to refer the matter to Audit Wales. A further vote – a vote of no confidence in the Chair of the Finance Committee (Cllr. Reeves) – was approved by 10 votes to 3 and she subsequently resigned under protest.
Cllr. Reeves and fellow town councillors Cllr. Richard Collins (Lab, Maesteg West) and Cllr. Phil White (Lab, Caerau) voted against the motion of no confidence.
While on the surface of it the purchase does seem to be “unlawful” that doesn’t mean it was criminal. It’s more a very embarrassing cock-up than anything malicious, but it raises yet more questions about how some community councils are being run in Bridgend with less than a year to go until the next round of local elections.
Asking for help or clear guidance is fine, but to suggest that “more experienced members” should carry other councillors suggests that politics – even community council politics, which is hardly glamorous or high-stakes – may be beyond the abilities of some sitting members and that’s worrying. It makes the argument for community council mergers, a change in the electoral system (to eliminate safe seats and time-serving) and a cut in councillor numbers all the more convincing.
