NO statement on the claims that a councillor was offered a nomination for an honour in exchange for support on the budget, was made at today’s Powys County Council meeting.

Opposition group leaders had urged Powys’ Conservative group leader Cllr Aled Davies, to make a statement on the issue following claims made by Cllr Gwilym Williams.

But, as the meeting agenda has been set several days ago, it is down to the council chairman, Cllr Gwynfor Thomas, (Llansantffraid – Conservative) whether a request of this kind is allowed or not.

At the meeting Cllr Thomas, said: “We are dealing with business today, and I remind members that we are in the pre-election period.

“Please be aware of that and don’t make any comments that will affect any of us in any way.”

Following the meeting, Cllr Davies who is the the council’s deputy leader and finance portfolio holder, said that he had “no comment” to make on the matter.

Cllr Thomas also explained why no statement had been made.

Cllr Thomas said: “Today a meeting was arranged to consider one specific item – the change that needed to be made to the constitution as a result of the requirements of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.

“We’re in a pre-election period, and it would not therefore have been appropriate to have considered any matters other than the items on the published agenda.”

In a joint statement opposition group leaders Cllrs. James Gibson-Watt (Welsh Lib Dem – Green), Matthew Dorrance (Welsh Labour), Jeremy Pugh (Action for Powys), Elwyn Vaughan (Plaid Cymru) and Liam Fitzpatrick (New Powys) said: “We are very disappointed that the leader of the Welsh Conservative Group did  not be provide a factual statement this afternoon to inform all members of the council and the general public about what has been going on.

“Cllr Davies needs to make a clear and unambiguous public statement about this issue to help restore public confidence in the integrity of the council and that councillors are making decisions free of such external pressure and inducements.”

In February, Cllr Williams left PCC’s Conservative group citing frustrations over council tax rises.

He joined the Action for Powys group but continued as president of the Brecon and Radnorshire Conservative Association.

Cllr Williams resigned from that role in April, and made the claim about the honours inducement in his resignation email to association chairman, Peter Weavers.

Cllr Williams claims it was suggested to him that he deserved an honour for all the work he had done for the party and to “stay in the group and vote for the budget”.