Former Flintshire council leader Aaron Shotton set to appear before tribunal over alleged conduct breach

The former leader of Flintshire Council is set to appear before a tribunal over an alleged affair with a female member of staff. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The woman at the centre of the claims regarding Aaron Shotton was fired by the local authority in October after she was accused of ‘gross misconduct’, but the investigation into the Labour politician’s behaviour has been ongoing for more than a year. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales has confirmed it has now concluded its inquiries. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A report has been passed on to the Adjudication Panel for Wales, which will decide whether any sanctions will be imposed. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Referrals to the panel are usually made when the ombudsman believes evidence suggests that the council’s code of conduct has been breached. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A spokesman for the ombudman’s office said: “The Ombudsman has submitted a report on his investigation of this case to the Adjudication Panel for Wales, which now has responsibility for the matter.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The panel confirmed it had received the report, and while it has yet to set a date, Cllr Shotton’s tribunal has been listed on its website. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

He is alleged to have broken rules regarding not acting in a manner which could bring the authority into disrepute and not using his official capacity to “confer on or secure for yourself, or any other person, an advantage or create or avoid for yourself, or any other person, a disadvantage”. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Cllr Shotton is further said to have breached a rule which prevents members using council facilities improperly. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Connah’s Quay councillor stepped down from the top political role on the council in April following a row over the sacking of his deputy Bernie Attridge. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

He has since been replaced by Flint’s Ian Roberts and was recently appointed by his successor to the role of chair of the Clwyd Pension Fund committee. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Cllr Shotton said he was unable to comment because of the panel’s rules. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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By Liam Randall – Local Democracy Reporter (more here). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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