Conwy Council Leader Charles McCoubrey & Deputy Leader Emily Owen, Undeclared personal relationships within the cabinet F.O.I Request!

 

Well, well, well! So I wonder what all this is about then? The Freedom of Information request is very clear, And I think to many this will be no suprise! But I wonder what else will come crawling out of the woodwork! I wonder if the council will answer it as they have a tendency to just ignore some of the requests.

Undeclared personal relationships within the cabinet, Dear Conwy County Borough Council,

We are writing to make a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

We seek disclosure of any information held by Conwy County Borough Council in relation to the recent resignations of Cllr Charles McCoubrey and Cllr Emily Owen, respectively Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council.

It has been publicly indicated that these resignations were connected to an undeclared personal relationship between the two cabinet members. In light of this, we request the following information:
1. Confirmation of whether the Council holds any recorded information indicating that an undeclared personal relationship between the two councillors was a factor in their resignations.
2. Copies of any records, emails, meeting notes, or internal reports held by the Council that refer to the handling of the resignations.
3. Details of any consideration, advice, or recorded discussion within the Council regarding whether such a personal relationship should have been declared as a potential conflict of interest under the Members’ Code of Conduct.
4. Copies of any correspondence held by the Council with the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales or the Standards Committee in relation to the resignations or to the issue of an undeclared personal relationship between the two councillors.
5. Confirmation of whether the Council holds any record of which members of the senior leadership team (officers and/or elected members) were made aware of the potential conflict of interest, and the dates on which they became aware.

Public Interest Justification

This request is made in the public interest for the following reasons:
• Transparency and accountability: Both councillors held the two most senior elected positions within the authority, with responsibility for major governance and decision-making. Their resignations have a direct impact on the stability of the Council.
• Conflict of interest: The Leader of the Council appoints Cabinet members and allocates portfolios. These appointments, made through the Leader’s discretion, carry significant responsibilities and publicly funded remuneration. An undeclared personal relationship between the Leader and Deputy Leader raises clear questions of impartiality in such appointments.
• Nolan Principles of Public Life: Councillors are bound by the Nolan Principles — selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership. Failure to declare relevant interests is contrary to these principles and risks undermining public trust.
• Members’ Code of Conduct: The Code requires councillors to declare personal and prejudicial interests that could, or could reasonably be perceived to, influence their decisions. Whether or not this occurred is a matter of legitimate public concern.
• Knowledge within leadership: If senior officers or members were aware of a potential conflict of interest, records showing how this was handled are essential to assessing whether governance standards were properly upheld.
• Use of public funds: Cabinet and senior councillor allowances are funded by taxpayers. The public has a right to understand whether appointments and remuneration were affected by an undeclared personal relationship.

For these reasons, we believe disclosure is strongly in the public interest and outweighs any exemption that might be claimed on grounds of personal data.

Yours faithfully,

Conwy Residents Association Os ydych yn gwneud cais am fynediad at wybodaeth o dan delerau Deddf

Rhyddid Gwybodaeth 2000 neu Reoliad Gwybodaeth Amgylcheddol 2004, byddwch
yn derbyn ymateb cyn pen ugain diwrnod gwaith.
Os yw’ch ymholiad yn ymwneud â galw’ch hawliau i rym fel y’u nodir yn y
ddeddfwriaeth Diogelu Data, byddwch yn derbyn ymateb cyn pen un mis.
If you are requesting access to information under the terms of the Freedom
of Information Act 2000 or the Environmental Information Regulation 2004
you will receive a response within twenty working days.
If your enquiry is related to invoking your rights as set out under Data
Protection legislation, you will receive a response within one month. Diolch am eich neges e-bost/ Thank you for your email.

Os ydych yn gwneud cais am fynediad at wybodaeth o dan delerau Deddf
Rhyddid Gwybodaeth 2000 neu Reoliad Gwybodaeth Amgylcheddol 2004, byddwch
yn derbyn ymateb cyn pen ugain diwrnod gwaith.

Os yw’ch ymholiad yn ymwneud â galw’ch hawliau i rym fel y’u nodir yn y
ddeddfwriaeth Diogelu Data, byddwch yn derbyn ymateb cyn pen un mis
calendr.

If you are requesting access to information under the terms of the Freedom
of Information Act 2000 or the Environmental Information Regulation 2004
you will receive a response within twenty working days.

If your enquiry is related to invoking your rights as set out under Data
Protection legislation, you will receive a response within one calendar
month.

show quoted sections

Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth yn y Gymraeg a’r Saesneg fel ei gilydd. Ni
fydd gohebiaeth yn yr un iaith na’r llall yn arwain at unrhyw oedi.
Mae'r neges e-bost hon ac unrhyw ymgysylltiadau yn gyfrinachol, ac wedi eu
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defnyddio’r neges e-bost hon ac unrhyw atodiadau, gweler
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We welcome correspondence in both Welsh and English. We will respond to
correspondence in either language without delay.
This email and any attachments are confidential and intended for the named
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