The Adjudication Panel for Wales, its members and decisions is an independent body established under Part III of the Local Government Act 2000. The tribunal is funded by the Welsh Government but the tribunal, the members and decisions of the Adjudication Panel for Wales, are independent of Government. Statistical information and an annual account of activities is provided in the Annual Report for the Adjudication Panel for Wales.
The Adjudication Panel for Wales is an independent tribunal. Our function is to determine alleged breaches by elected and co-opted members of Welsh county, county borough and community councils, fire and national park authorities, against their authority’s statutory code of conduct.
President and Deputy President of the Adjudication Panel for Wales
The Judicial Appointment Commission (JAC) is conducting a recruitment exercise to appoint a legal member who will also be appointed as President to the Adjudication Panel for Wales and a legal member who will be appointed as Deputy President of the APW.
These appointments present an important opportunity to lead and administer the work of a small, independent tribunal.
The Panel has two statutory functions; to form ‘case’ tribunals to consider reports from the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales following investigations of allegations that members failed to comply with their authority’s code of conduct and to consider appeals by members against a determination of a breach of their authority’s standards committee code of conduct ensuring that decisions are made dispassionately.
The closing date is 1pm on 19 October 2023.
Tribunal office arrangements
The tribunal continues to work remotely with limited access to items delivered by post. If possible, please ensure that any documents required by the tribunal (including application forms and written submissions) are sent by email to adjudication.panel@gov.wales.
If this is not possible, please contact the tribunal office on 0300 025 2777 for alternative arrangements.
The tribunal is listing hearings as normal. However, please note that in the majority of cases hearings are being listed virtually using the Tribunal's cloud video platform.
References from the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW)
Cases of alleged breaches by elected and co-opted members of an authority’s statutory code of conduct are referred, by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales to the Adjudication Panel for Wales, for determination. The Ombudsman will carry out its own investigation into allegations of breaches before deciding whether to make a referral.
Appeals against standards committee decisions
Elected and co-opted members can make an appeal to the Adjudication Panel for Wales against a decision, by an authority’s standards committee, that the member has breached the authority’s statutory code of conduct.
Decisions
All decisions made by the Adjudication Panel for Wales are available to view online.
Upcoming tribunals
Tribunal hearings are usually open to the public to attend. A list of tribunal hearings, including details of upcoming tribunals, is available to view online.
Information for witnesses
Witnesses can be asked to attend the tribunal hearing to provide evidence. The Adjudication Panel for Wales also has the power in certain circumstances to summons witnesses to attend the tribunal hearing.
Information videos
Watch more videos about how the Adjudication Panel for Wales works and its processes.
Our background
Please contact us if you have any questions or cannot find what you are looking for.