Concerns have been raised in Merthyr Tydfil over the handling of council meeting minutes and recordings after it was discovered that 26 minutes were omitted from a recent meeting. The Independent group at Merthyr Tydfil Council brought attention to the omission, which occurred during the full council meeting on March 5. Councillor Andrew Barry, of the Independent group, highlighted that when the electronic version of the meeting was initially released, 26 minutes of the recording were edited out. This raised questions about the council’s compliance with the Local Government and Elections Act, which requires any omissions to be accompanied by a report. Despite these concerns, no omissions report was provided, prompting Cllr Barry to inquire if the executive had approved the omissions.
In response to the concerns, a council officer explained that the omission was due to an administration error and that the correct minutes and recording have since been made available on the website. Carys Kennedy, the council’s head of legal and monitoring officer, acknowledged the error and expressed willingness to apologise for any confusion caused by the omission. However, Cllr Barry emphasised that recordings of public meetings should not be altered in any way, stating that the Independent group was dissatisfied with the situation. The leader of the Independent group, Cllr Geraint Thomas, further pointed out that crucial details, such as debates on director pay rises and budget votes, were removed from the recording between March 7 and March 10.
Cllr Thomas highlighted that the editing of the broadcast breached the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 and the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. He also raised concerns about the lack of transparency in broadcasting meetings, citing a recent planning meeting where the minutes were received but the broadcast was missing. This discrepancy was seen as a violation of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021, which outlines regulations for public meeting broadcasts. In light of these issues, Cllr Thomas announced that the Independent group would be lodging a formal complaint with the ombudsman and auditor general for an independent investigation.
The Independent group expressed a lack of confidence in the council’s administration and leadership regarding the handling of meeting minutes and broadcasts. Cllr Thomas stressed the importance of restoring public confidence through an open and transparent investigation into the council’s practices. He clarified that the Independent group would only support meeting minutes in which their members were involved and would not take responsibility for meetings they did not participate in. This decision was made to uphold the integrity of public meetings and hold the council accountable for its actions.
As concerns mount in Merthyr Tydfil over the handling of meeting minutes and recordings, residents are looking to local authorities to address these issues promptly and transparently. The call for an independent investigation reflects the community’s desire for accountability and adherence to regulations governing public meetings. The outcome of this investigation will be crucial in rebuilding trust between the council and the residents of Merthyr Tydfil, ensuring that transparency and integrity are maintained in all future meetings and recordings.