A GWENT councillor escaped suspension at a disciplinary hearing after the local government ombudsman said he was "less than frank" at a teacher's employment tribunal.

Blaenau Gwent council's standards committee made the decision after considering an ombudsman's report that said councillor David Wilkshire, of the Rassau ward, wrongly sat on a teacher's appeals panel in 2004.

Councillor Wilkshire will be sent on a special training course instead.

The local government ombudsman, Alan Peat, concluded there is "sufficient evidence" to suggest councillor Wilkshire, who is chair of governors at Rhos Y Fedwen primary school in Ebbw Vale, knew too much detail of the teacher's dismissal to sit on the panel.

Councillor Wilkshire denies having a detailed knowledge of her case.

Today, he had a chance to address the committee before they came to a decision.

Councillor Wilkshire told them he was "extremely disappointed" with the ombudsman's conclusion but that he had no choice other than to accept it.

He drew attention to the fact that the ombudsman did not believe councillor Wilkshire had acted maliciously.

He also noted that another governor who sat on the appeals panel with him stated he acted "fairly."

Councillor Wilkshire said he "only ever had the school's best interests at heart" and acted in good faith.

The committee took more than an hour to discuss what action to take.

It had the power to suspend councillor Wilkshire from his duties for up to six months, but instead decided to censure him and send him on a training course on the role of governors.

The committee also recommended that other chairmen of governors and advisors to governors attend a training course on their roles.

Speaking after the meeting, councillor Wilkshire said: "This started four years ago so I'm grateful it's over.

He added: "I'm fine with doing the course, it's not a problem at all."