Call for leading councillor's resignation

The former chairman of Powys County Council planning committee has been urged to resign after allegations that he has avoided paying business rates for years.

Councillor David Price (pictured top) gained retrospective planning permission for his caravan park from the council last month but today the Western Mail revealed he had not paid business rates on the site for all the years it had operated illegally.

Councillor Price is an Independent councillor, is still a member of the planning committee and is the current High Sheriff of Powys.

The story prompted calls for his resignation from Councillor Elwyn Vaughan, Plaid Cymru leader on Powys Council (pictured bottom).

Cllr Vaughan said: “In today's Western Mail, it seems a prominent Powys Councillor has now avoided business rates for years, payable to the very authority he's a member of.

“At a time of austerity when services are cut all the time surely this can't be justified. I have stated since last October that he should not be a member of planning. I further think he should now do the honourable thing and resign as this makes a mockery of the council.

“Councillor Price, who was until recently Chair of planning and is still a committee member, made an out of court settlement earlier in the year with Welsh Water following an illegal connection at his Dan yr Eglwys holiday cottage.

“In July he applied for planning permission after it became clear he had run a caravan site and converted buildings without planning for 16 years,” added Councillor Vaughan.

 "Plaid Cymru candidates stood for Powys Council last year with a specific agenda of having a positive, dynamic, strategic thinking Powys which could be respected and moving away from an image of self-interest, self-serving and parochialism - that is why this matter is important and it's imperative that Powys Council has listened, is seen to listen, and is clear that they want change and will act acordingly.

“Hence Powys Council leaders enough is enough, take action and remove this councillor otherwise the culture hasn't changed and it makes a mockery of everyone.

“As the saying goes, ‘wrth eu gweithredoedd yr adnabyddir hwy’  ‘It’s through their actions people are known’. Well it’s time for Powys to act.”