A Neath Port Talbot Councillor has been suspended from his council position after being convicted of drink-driving. Councillor Dean Lewis, representing the Resolven and Tonna ward of Neath Port Talbot Council, received a four-month suspension from the local authority in June 2024 following an investigation by the council’s standards committee.
Elected in May 2019 and re-elected in May 2022, Councillor Lewis faced the suspension after a referral by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales regarding his self-reported incident. The incident occurred in January 2023 when he was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol after leaving Resolven Rugby Club.
A report presented to the standards committee detailed the events leading to Councillor Lewis’ arrest, stating that he was found to have 54 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35 microgrammes. After pleading guilty in court in June 2023, he was disqualified from driving for 14 months and fined £691, with the option of reducing the disqualification period by completing a course.
The decision to suspend Councillor Lewis for four months was made by the Standards Committee under Regulation 9 of the 2001 Regulations. In response, Councillor Lewis took full responsibility for his actions, acknowledging the seriousness of the situation and committing to upholding the highest standards of conduct as a councillor.
Councillor Lewis expressed remorse for the incident and vowed to make better choices in the future while appreciating the support of his community. The suspension, effective from July 9, will last until November 8, 2024. For more Neath Port Talbot news, readers can sign up for the newsletter.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability and maintaining integrity in public office, reflecting the standards expected of elected officials in serving their constituents.