Powys Corrects Councillor Attendance Figures, Two Councillors Under Scrutiny

Errors in attendance data for Powys County Councillors have been rectified, revealing that Councillor Karl Lewis has surpassed the required attendance threshold of 60 percent. On October 13, 2024, the Standards Committee of Powys County Council will review an updated report detailing councillors’ attendance at meetings during the 2024/2025 civic year.

In a previous meeting held in June, it was disclosed that three councillors did not meet the attendance threshold between May 16, 2024, and May 14, 2025. During that session, the committee heard from Councillor Josie Ewing, who provided a written explanation for her lower attendance. In contrast, Councillors Karl Lewis and Sarah Williams did not submit their explanations at that time.

The attendance records indicated that Councillor Lewis, who transitioned from the Conservative Party to Reform UK earlier this year, had attended only 59 percent of the required meetings. Councillor Williams’ attendance was even lower, at 40 percent. Committee members expressed their discontent, deeming this performance “not acceptable,” and determined the two councillors should appear before the committee to provide justifications.

Clive Pinney, Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer, confirmed that a letter from Councillor Williams is currently under review by the committee’s Chair, independent member Stephan Hays, and Vice Chair, independent member Claire Moore. Pinney noted that Councillor Lewis identified an error in his records. He stated that his attendance had incorrectly reflected membership in the Public Service Board (PSB) Scrutiny Committee, a role he had already vacated. Furthermore, it was discovered that earlier attendance statistics had mistakenly included meetings from working groups.

With these corrections, Councillor Lewis’s attendance level has now been adjusted to 63 percent. The Standards Committee will take note of Mr. Pinney’s revised report during their upcoming meeting, marking a significant update in the ongoing scrutiny of councillor attendance and accountability in Powys County Council.