ALLEGATIONS of "bullying" at meetings and bad language on social media are among the complaints made against Flintshire councillors over the last year, according to a report.

Flintshire Council's Standards Committee will meet on Monday to discuss a report about ethical complaints which have been submitted to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW) in 2022/23.

The report gives details about three of the alleged breaches which are being investigated by PSOW, as well as a number which the watchdog did not investigate.

All three of the complaints which remain under investigation relate to the same councillor - referred to simply as "B."

One of those complaints was submitted by a councillor, one by a member of the public and another by a town councillor - with alleged breaches including "slur" against a fellow councillor on social media, "bullying" and "failure to disclose interest."

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A further complaint against councillor B, which PSOW did not investigate due to the evidence not being suggestive of a breach of the code, came from a member of the public regarding there being "no formal email received to an e-mail requesting help."

The following complaints were not investigated by PSOW, but are compiled in the report to the Standards Committee:

County councillor A, by a member of the public: alleging a failure to make a declaration on a register of interest.

The report stated it was: "Satisfied that the Cllr has made the necessary declaration."

Community councillor C, by a member of the public: alleging ignoring a policy regarding the election of a chair/vice-chair.

The report explains: "The act complained of was the action of the council, not an individual."

Town Councillor D, by a member of the public: alleging inappropriate posts on social media including "use of bad language."

The report states: "Swearing in the Facebook post was not directed at any specific person and was an attempt to raise awareness of a community issue. Post was therefore protected political expression."

Community Councillor E, by a member of the public: alleging "bullying" at a meeting towards a member of the public. The report states it was alleged the incident involved the councillor in question speaking to a complainant in a "disgusting and degrading manner" and acting "like a terrorising bully."

The report states: "The alleged remarks can reasonably be said to fall within the realms of freedom of expression, and whilst they may have been unpleasant and may have caused offence to the complainant and others, the evidence does not suggest language or behaviour which is likely to amount to a breach of the Code or to lead to a sanction being imposed."

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County Councillor F, by a member of the public: alleging "interference with the planning process and putting pressure on the planning officer to refuse an application and making false statements."

The report explains: "The councillor is entitled to have a view on the application, no evidence they would benefit from this view. No evidence to suggest the comment put any pressure on the Planning Officer."

The Standards Committee will be asked to note the number and type of complaints.