THE Public Services Ombudsman for Wales has dismissed a complaint made about three Barry Town Councillors, in relation to meetings held about the 'incinerator' on Barry docks.

A complaint, by Victoria Roberts - who stood as a Conservative candidate for Baruc in May's local election - was made about Plaid Cymru councillors Nic Hodges, Shirley Hodges and Steffan Wiliam.

Another complaint was also made about Barry Town Council calling an extraordinary meeting within the ‘purdah’ period and hiring an expert – Capita – to commission a report.

The town council commissioned the expert to help it respond to Natural Resources Wales’ (NRW) public consultation regarding Biomass UK No.2 Ltd’s application for an operating licence at its ‘gasification’ plant in Barry.

This complaint was referred back to the town council for internal investigation where "no case to answer" was concluded.

The complaint against the three councillors was dismissed by the Ombudsman.

A BTC spokeswoman said: “A complaint was received by BTC raising concerns with the council’s actions during the pre-election or ‘purdah’ period, specifically considering the extraordinary council meetings called within the period and the commissioning of a report in order to respond to a Natural Resources Wales public consultation.

“The Proper Officer called all BTC meetings in this period within the legislative requirements and fully adhering to the council’ standing orders.”

She said BTC was a statutory consultee on planning and licensing matters.

She said: “As a public body the council can choose whether to respond to consultations based on their significance to the local area.

“The decision to commission a consultant’s report was to enable the council as a corporate body, to meaningfully respond to NRW’s consultation on the environmental permit application that had been submitted for the wood gasification facility in Barry.

“Securing expert advice is not outside of the council’s powers and the council, as a corporate body, was entitled to vote on and make this decision to commission a report.

"All decisions to fund the reports were agreed unanimously by the council and the expenditure was delegated to and undertaken by the proper officer in accordance with the council’s standing orders and financial regulations.

“Council decisions are corporate decisions and all decisions in relation to expenditure and further actions concerning this issue were unanimously agreed by Barry Town Council. BTC now considers this complaint closed.”

Cllr Shirley Hodges said she was “shocked” when informed of the extremely serious allegations that councillors had misused public money to get a consultant’s report.

She said: “The ombudsman rightly agreed with us and said that we acted in the interests of the community.”

Cllr Wiliam added: “We will not be frightened off from campaigning against the granting of a permit for this incinerator.

"We must not forget that this is the real issue here and we owe it to the people of this town to continue the fight.”

Ross England, a spokesman for the Vale Conservative group said: "The former candidate has acted in this matter without the knowledge or support of the Conservative Party.

"Alun Cairns and the local Conservatives are opposed to the incinerator. Indeed, the newly elected Conservative group on Barry Town Council has been clear in its support for the decision to commission the Capita report into the incinerator.”