Councillor caught on camera driving during planning meeting

A councilor was caught driving while attending a planning meeting via video call.

Major Dean Lewis was seen apparently wearing a seatbelt and changing gear as he remotely attended Neath Port Talbot Council’s planning committee meeting on January 20.

The independent councillor, who represents the Resolven and Tonna area in the south-west Wales local government, had a scenic image of an orchestra stage, greenery and a tower as his virtual backdrop as he attended a meeting discussing an application to build 120 holiday homes in the borough, but he was actually behind the wheel.

The council spokesman said Independent Major Lewis referred himself to the Public Service Ombudsman for Wales after the issue was identified.

The local authority said the ombudsman would not investigate further.

Major Lewis told Telegram He said he drove on private land for parts of the meeting, used a hands-free system, and put his phone in the cup holder to follow the rest of the session.

He said: “I think it’s ridiculous. The whole thing has been blown out of proportion.

“The reason it didn’t go any further was because I was driving on private land at work when I was driving.

“For 90 percent of the meeting, I sat in a parking lot instead of driving. Towards the end of my shift, I thought, well, okay, I’ll go to the entrance station.”

He said he did not enter the public road until he had completed his contribution to the meeting.

He added: “I did not go out on the public road until my part in that meeting was completely finished.

“The phone was in the cup holder in my car; I didn’t leave the meeting, but I had no other involvement in that meeting. It was basically background noise.”

A Neath Port Talbot Council spokesman said: “Council is aware of the footage of the Planning Committee meeting held on 20 January 2026 and the issues raised.

“Following the identification of the issue, it was referred by Major Dean Lewis to the Public Service Ombudsman for Wales as the appropriate body to conduct the investigation. The Ombudsman completed its assessment and advised the Council that they would not be investigating further.”

“Council meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the Council Constitution and relevant procedural rules.

“The Council’s regulations allow Members to participate remotely and the procedures do not contain specific provisions regarding where a Member can attend the meeting.

“Attendance at meetings remains subject to compliance with applicable legal and security requirements.”