Press Statement: Councillor David Jones Steps Down As Cabinet Member For Merthyr Tydfil CBC

I very much regret to announce that I have offered my resignation today to the Leader, Councillor Brendan Toomey and will step aside forthwith from my Cabinet portfolio for Neighbourhood Services and Public Protection. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following a genuine mistake I made during 2015/16, I failed to pay my Council Tax on time. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

My decision to resign,was made in view of the fact that Councillors must be open and transparent at all times. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

I accept that my resignation is necessary because of my inadvertent action in respect of the Council Tax. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

However, I wish to state for the record that the Council Tax was paid in full for that financial year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

I have no wish to cause the Leader, Cabinet colleagues or my Labour group any embarrassment. A full investigation is currently underway and until this is concluded, it would be wrong of me to continue in my role as Cabinet Member. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

I was not aware of the implications of my actions in 2015 until it was brought to my attention recently. Following this, I have sought advice from the Chief Executive and the Monitoring Officer and as a result I have taken the decision to stand down to ensure that my integrity and that of the Council is fully upheld. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Merthyr Tydfil CBC is a fantastic Council to serve and I remain fully committed as a Merthyr Tydfil CBC Councillor and will work as hard as always for the benefit of not only the residents within my ward, but also for all residents in the County Borough. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​