A Pembrokeshire county councillor who spoke out in support of a friend’s planning application has been rapped over the knuckles by his bosses.

Narberth member Councillor Wynne Evans failed to follow the council’s code of conduct by not declaring a personal interest in an application relating to a tourist development at Herons Brook, as he was a friend of the owner.

The standards committee hearing followed an investigation by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales as a result of an allegation made by Tenby member, Councillor Michael Williams.

At the meeting, in February 2007, Cllr Evans spoke in favour of the proposal, by Mr and Mrs David John, for their former bird and animal park in Narberth.

The plan, involving creating two trout fishing lakes from the existing ponds and building ten timber lodges for holiday letting, was recommended for refusal by officers because the site was not well-related to the settlement of Narberth.

However, following a proposal by Cllr Evans, the plan was approved by the planning committee.

He made no secret of the fact he had known Mr John since childhood, and later told the council it did not enter his head at the time about what the public might think in relation to the code of conduct.

“I represent approximately 1,200 people and know 90% personally,” he said.

Last week the standards committee agreed to ‘formally censure’ Cllr Evans for the breach and insist he attends a top-up session on the code of conduct, which is being arranged by the county council’s monitoring officer.

Cllr Evans said afterwards: “This has highlighted to me and many of my colleagues a very grey area, and I urge them to take the extra training that is on offer.

“When you are born and brought up in a small community, you get to know many people on first-name terms.

“This has certainly made me think about discussing any further planning issues in my ward before seeking extra legal advice on each application.”