Upon hearing the news that Cllr Goronwy Edwards, Caerhun, has resigned from the Cabinet of Conwy County Borough Council, calls have been made for him to resign as a councillor on three councils so to trigger by-elections.
Cllr Edwards stood as an independent in 2022, but has now admitted that he has been a member of an undisclosed major political party since January 2025. He also serves on Conwy Town Council and Henryd Community Council.
The Code of Conduct – for members of local authorities in Wales has principals, including:
- “Honesty: Members must declare any private interests relevant to their public duties and take steps to resolve any conflict in a way that protects the public interest”;
- “Integrity and Propriety: Members must not put themselves in a position where their integrity is called into question by any financial or other obligation to individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their duties. Members must on all occasions avoid the appearance of such behaviour”;
- “Accountability: Members are accountable to the electorate and the public generally for their actions and for the way they carry out their responsibilities as a member. They must be prepared to submit themselves to such scrutiny as is appropriate to their responsibilities.”
Calling for by-elections, Janet said:
“I am shocked that Cllr Goronwy Edwards, whose considerable experience of local government cannot be doubted, didn’t declare that he has joined a political party.
“Serving as an independent councillor without even disclosing membership of a party appears as a clear breach of the Code of Conduct for local authorities in Wales. Indeed, the actions show a total lack of honesty, lack of integrity and propriety, and lack of accountability.
“Whilst I trust that there will now be a formal investigation into the conduct of Cllr Edwads, there is no doubt that residents of Caerhun, Conwy town, and Henryd, should be given the opportunity to vote.
“Due to his actions, and switching from being an independent to a member of a political party, Cllr Edwards should resign from Conwy County Borough Council, Conwy Town Council, and Henryd Community Council.
“He should show some backbone too by disclosing which party he joined earlier this year.
“I hope that, unlike the two Reform UK councillors in Llandudno, Cllr Edwards accepts accountability, and gives residents the opportunity to vote”.
ENDS
Ar ôl clywed bod y Cynghorydd Goronwy Edwards, Caerhun, wedi ymddiswyddo o Gabinet Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy, mae galwadau arno i ymddiswyddo fel cynghorydd ar dri chyngor er mwyn sbarduno isetholiadau.
Safodd y Cynghorydd Edwards fel aelod annibynnol yn 2022, ond mae bellach wedi cyfaddef ei fod wedi bod yn aelod anhysbys o blaid wleidyddol fawr ers mis Ionawr 2025. Mae hefyd yn gwasanaethu ar Gyngor Tref Conwy a Chyngor Cymuned Henryd.
Mae gan y Cod Ymddygiad – ar gyfer aelodau o awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru, restr o egwyddorion gan gynnwys:
- “Gonestrwydd: Rhaid i aelodau ddatgan unrhyw fuddion preifat sy'n berthnasol i'w dyletswyddau cyhoeddus a chymryd camau i ddatrys unrhyw wrthdaro mewn ffordd sy'n gwarchod budd y cyhoedd";
- "Dilysrwydd a phriodoldeb: Ni ddylai aelodau roi eu hunain mewn sefyllfa lle mae eu dilysrwydd yn cael ei gwestiynu gan unrhyw oblygiad ariannol neu arall ar unigolion neu sefydliadau a allai geisio dylanwadu arnynt wrth iddynt ymgymryd â'u dyletswyddau. Rhaid i aelodau, ar bob achlysur, osgoi unrhyw ymddygiad o'r fath";
- “Atebolrwydd: Mae aelodau'n atebol i'w hetholwyr a'r cyhoedd yn gyffredinol am eu gweithrediadau ac am y ffordd y maent yn ymgymryd â'u cyfrifoldebau fel aelod. Rhaid iddynt fod yn barod i gyflwyno eu hunain i'r fath graffu sydd yn briodol i'w cyfrifoldebau."
Wrth alw am isetholiadau, dywedodd Janet:
“Dwi wedi'n synnu nad yw'r Cynghorydd Goronwy Edwards, sydd â phrofiad helaeth o lywodraeth leol, wedi datgan ei fod wedi ymuno â phlaid wleidyddol.
“Mae gwasanaethu fel cynghorydd annibynnol heb hyd yn oed ddatgelu aelodaeth o blaid yn ymddangos fel achos amlwg o dorri'r Cod Ymddygiad ar gyfer awdurdodau lleol Cymru. Yn wir, mae hyn yn dangos diffyg gonestrwydd, diffyg dilysrwydd a phriodoldeb, a diffyg atebolrwydd llwyr.
“Er 'mod i'n hyderus y bydd ymchwiliad ffurfiol yn cael ei gynnal i ymddygiad y Cynghorydd Edwards, does dim amheuaeth y dylid rhoi cyfle i drigolion Caerhun, tref Conwy, a Henryd bleidleisio.
“Oherwydd ei weithredoedd yntau, a'r newid o fod yn aelod annibynnol i fod yn aelod o blaid wleidyddol, dylai'r Cynghorydd Edwards ymddiswyddo o Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy, Cyngor Tref Conwy, a Chyngor Cymuned Henryd.
“Dylai ddangos rhywfaint o asgwrn cefn hefyd trwy ddatgelu pa blaid yr ymunodd â hi yn gynharach eleni.
“Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y Cynghorydd Edwards yn derbyn atebolrwydd, yn wahanol i'r ddau gynghorydd Reform UK yn Llandudno, ac yn rhoi cyfle i drigolion bleidleisio”.
DIWEDD
