Two councillors in Vale of Glamorgan are being investigated over alleged code of conduct breaches, according to a council report published recently.

Vale of Glamorgan Council's standards committee was presented with the information, published in a draft annual report, ahead of a meeting that took place on Monday, June 10.

Vale Council's report states the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW) is investigating a Vale of Glamorgan councillor and a town or community councillor.

We have approached Vale of Glamorgan Council and PSOW for more details about the investigation, but they said they cannot provide any further information until the hearings are concluded.

The council report states: "During 2023-24 two reports following an investigation by the PSOW have been received, one in relation to a Vale of Glamorgan councillor the other in relation to a TCC councillor with hearings by the standards committee to be arranged prior to the council's August recess."

The Local Democracy Reporting Service also understands these matters will be dealt with in public by the council's standards committee unless a member satisfies the committee there is good reason for the meeting to take place in private.

In the draft annual report, reference was also made to independent members' observations of county council and town and community council meetings.

The observation of meetings by independent members of the standards committee is something that is done during each municipal year with a view to promoting and maintaining standards of conduct.

Findings for 2023-24 presented to the standards committee showed there were tensions between some members at "one or two meetings" that were viewed, a lack of understanding relating to decelerations of interest and a lack of clarity with regard to recommendations.

The findings, originally from a lessons learned report published in February 2024 following visits to all 26 town and community councils, also goes on to say "on the whole such comments were only attributed to one or two councils".

Independent members of the standards committee mainly reported favourable comments about how meetings were managed and run.

The report adds: "Most meetings it was noted had been managed very well with clerks providing advice as appropriately required and not usurping the role of the member.

"Many chairs had also managed their meetings well with decisions being clearly relayed during the meetings for all to understand."