A councillor has been caught driving during a video-call meeting – but will not face any punishment.
Dean Lewis, a councillor on Neath Port Talbot Council, referred himself to the Public Service Ombudsman for Wales after he was seen behind the wheel of a car during the meeting on Microsoft Teams.
Footage shows the independent councillor putting on his glasses, drinking water, changing gears, and wearing his seatbelt – all while his fellow councillors discuss an application to build 120 holiday lodges between two villages in South Wales.
However, he will not face any form of punishment after the ombudsman decided not to continue with its investigation.
Mr Lewis later said he was driving on private land during parts of the meeting, before leaving his phone in a cup holder to listen in on the talks as “background noise”.
He told The Telegraph the incident had been “blown out of proportion”.
“The reason why it hasn’t gone any further is because when I was driving, I was driving on private land at work,” he said.
He added that he was sitting down in a car park and not driving for “90 per cent” of the meeting.
Mr Lewis was seen drinking from a bottle of water while driving during the meeting
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NEATH PORT TALBOT COUNCIL
Mr Lewis said he then decided to drive to “the clock-in station” as he was near the end of his shift at work.
A hands-free system on his phone was used and he did not enter a public road until the meeting was over, the councillor said.
He said: “I didn’t go on the public road until my part in that meeting was completely done.
“The phone was in a cup holder of my car – I didn’t leave the meeting, but I had nothing else to do with that meeting. It was just basically background noise.”
The councillor was seen wearing a seatbelt, drinking water, shifting gears, and putting on glasses during the planning meeting
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NEATH PORT TALBOT COUNCIL
He acknowledged the incident might be “frowned upon” and decided to refer himself to the ombudsman after the meeting.
Mr Lewis had previously been suspended from the Neath Port Talbot council for four months in 2024 following a conviction for drink-driving.
He has served on the council since 2019.
A council spokesman said it was “aware “of the footage from the planning committee meeting held on January 20 “and the matters that have been raised”.
The investigation for the Neath Port Talbot council will not move forward
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WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
“The ombudsman has now completed their consideration and has notified the council that they will not be undertaking any further investigation.
“Council meetings are conducted in accordance with the council’s constitution and relevant procedural rules.
“The council’s arrangements allow for remote participation by members, and the procedures do not include specific provisions relating to the location from which a member may join a meeting.
“Participation in meetings remains subject to compliance with applicable legal and safety requirements.”