A councillor has been filmed driving while participating in a virtual planning meeting, with his phone propped in a cupholder. Dean Lewis, an independent councillor for Neath Port Talbot, was seen wearing a seatbelt and changing gear during a Microsoft Teams session with planning officials.
The incident occurred during a meeting in January, where Lewis discussed an application for holiday homes between two villages. He was also observed taking a sip from a drink while speaking. Lewis, who previously served a four-month suspension for drink-driving, described the situation as 'ridiculous' and 'blown out of proportion'.
He referred himself to the Public Service Ombudsman for Wales, but the body decided to take no further action. Lewis claimed he was driving on private land at work and had his phone in the cupholder as 'background noise'. He admitted the behaviour might be frowned upon but insisted it was not dangerous.
A council spokesman confirmed the Ombudsman's decision and noted that council procedures do not specify where members may join meetings remotely, though compliance with legal and safety requirements is expected. The incident echoes a similar case in 2023 involving Conwy councillor Andrew Wood, who also faced no action for driving during a virtual meeting.
