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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Councillors 'past it' row inquiry | Councillors 'past it' row inquiry |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| The public services ombudsman for Wales is investigating a Swansea councillor who claimed that some members of the council aged over 60 were "past it". | The public services ombudsman for Wales is investigating a Swansea councillor who claimed that some members of the council aged over 60 were "past it". |
| Conservative group leader Rene Kinzett was reported by councillors Mary Jones and Wendy Fitzgerald for allegedly breaching the council's conduct code. | |
| Mr Kinzett said he made his comment to a newspaper when arguing the councillors were unrepresentative. | Mr Kinzett said he made his comment to a newspaper when arguing the councillors were unrepresentative. |
| Mr Kinzett, who represents Mayals ward, said: "I'm happy to defend my views." | Mr Kinzett, who represents Mayals ward, said: "I'm happy to defend my views." |
| He maintained that his remark sprang out of a political debate between himself and Ms Jones, a Liberal Democrat, and Ms Fitzgerald, an independent. | He maintained that his remark sprang out of a political debate between himself and Ms Jones, a Liberal Democrat, and Ms Fitzgerald, an independent. |
| He described their decision to report him to the ombudsman as "farcical". | He described their decision to report him to the ombudsman as "farcical". |
| By any stretch of the definition, Swansea council is absurdly unrepresentative of the city and county of Swansea Rene Kinzett | By any stretch of the definition, Swansea council is absurdly unrepresentative of the city and county of Swansea Rene Kinzett |
| Mr Kinzett said: "It all stems from the councillors who run Swansea council who said that because I work outside Swansea and because I miss meetings every now and then I am useless. | Mr Kinzett said: "It all stems from the councillors who run Swansea council who said that because I work outside Swansea and because I miss meetings every now and then I am useless. |
| "My counter-attack was that the council was being run poorly because it was unrepresentative of the city it represents." | "My counter-attack was that the council was being run poorly because it was unrepresentative of the city it represents." |
| In a recent blog entry, Mr Kinzett, who is also a parliamentary candidate for Swansea West, explained his view. | In a recent blog entry, Mr Kinzett, who is also a parliamentary candidate for Swansea West, explained his view. |
| He wrote: "By any stretch of the definition, Swansea council is absurdly unrepresentative of the city and county of Swansea in terms of age profile, gender. | He wrote: "By any stretch of the definition, Swansea council is absurdly unrepresentative of the city and county of Swansea in terms of age profile, gender. |
| "Out of the 72 councillors, only eight are aged under 40. | "Out of the 72 councillors, only eight are aged under 40. |
| It's now up to the ombudsman to pass comment on whether he thinks the attack by Rene on people because of their age is justifiable Chris Holley, Swansea council leader | It's now up to the ombudsman to pass comment on whether he thinks the attack by Rene on people because of their age is justifiable Chris Holley, Swansea council leader |
| "In terms of Swansea's population, those aged 18-59 represent just over 55% of the general public, whereas the number of councillors under 60 equates to just under 39% of the total council. | "In terms of Swansea's population, those aged 18-59 represent just over 55% of the general public, whereas the number of councillors under 60 equates to just under 39% of the total council. |
| "The number of councillors aged over 60 is a whopping 61.1% or 44 members out of 72! The figures for the general public show that only 21.36% of the population are aged between 60 and 84 (we do, I believe, have a 79-year old councillor)." | "The number of councillors aged over 60 is a whopping 61.1% or 44 members out of 72! The figures for the general public show that only 21.36% of the population are aged between 60 and 84 (we do, I believe, have a 79-year old councillor)." |
| In the blog Mr Kinzett added: "Well, judging from the public reaction... the two councillors who reported me seem to have rather misjudged the mood of the public on this one." | |
| 'Party political' | 'Party political' |
| With regard to the ombudsman's decision to investigate the affair, he commented: "I am happy to defend my views in any democratic forum, the court of public opinion or in the worst case scenario, Her Majesty's courts if a defamation action were ever brought against me. | |
| "However, what I cannot fathom in this instance is what on earth the ombudsman is doing in investigating a case which clearly falls in the 'party political' bracket." | "However, what I cannot fathom in this instance is what on earth the ombudsman is doing in investigating a case which clearly falls in the 'party political' bracket." |
| A spokeswoman for the public services ombudsman for Wales confirmed: "We have received a complaint in respect of Mr Kinzett and we are investigating it." | A spokeswoman for the public services ombudsman for Wales confirmed: "We have received a complaint in respect of Mr Kinzett and we are investigating it." |
| Swansea council leader Chris Holley said: "It's now up to the ombudsman to pass comment on whether he thinks the attack by Rene on people because of their age is justifiable." | Swansea council leader Chris Holley said: "It's now up to the ombudsman to pass comment on whether he thinks the attack by Rene on people because of their age is justifiable." |