News

Questions to answer for Narberth Town Council

Published

9 years ago

March 13, 2015

MON MONTGOMERY, opinions editor, for OneNarberth, the independent community platform in the town writes: ‘News that five times mayor of Narberth Council, Colin Williams, admitted to theft from Narberth Football Club on February 18 at the start of proceedings at Swansea Crown Court, has put the spotlight on Narberth Town Council, where Mr Williams still serves as a councillor. Town Council minutes show that he is still presiding over decision making with regard to financial matters and the disbursement of money to organisations in the town’. One town councillor told us ‘there is no basis on which to question his role as a councillor, we have checked’.

There is, in fact, every basis on which to question the role of Colin Williams as a town councillor. There is a good argument to be made that it was last August when action should have been taken by Narberth Town Council to protect itself and the interests of the town. In the circumstances, it was for the corporate body of the council to consider the matter. The corporate body of Narberth Town Council is represented by the work of the clerk to the council, Caroline Coaker. Where will we find another example in Wales of a situation with regard to a pending criminal case, involving the theft of a large sum of money from a local organisation, in which a councillor continued to preside over matters related to the disbursement of monies to local organisations? There isn’t one: Or, at least, OneNarberth cannot find one.

There is probably a good reason why this is the case. The Good Councillor’s Guide, issued to all town councils in Wales by the Welsh Assembly in 2012, looks to these kinds of eventualities and its guidance is clear. The right thing, in these circumstances, would have been for the clerk, on behalf of the corporate body, to have advised councillors that Colin Williams should ‘step aside’ whilst proceedings were underway. This is particularly the case since the court case against him involved local monies and the question of theft. That did not happen.

The obvious question to ask is: Why not? Cllr Williams has participated in decision regarding the payment of monies to organisations in the town since the case against him became a matter of public record. That simply cannot be right, can it? There is every reason that the town council should have considered the situation with regard to the role of Colin Williams as a councillor. The relevant information is delivered in the Welsh Assembly Good Councillor’s Guide (2012). Part 2 (Due Care and Attention), 4.

The Rules, explains that community and town councils have an obligation to demonstrate ‘that they have identified and managed the risks to public money arising from their work’. An impending criminal court case against one of the town councillors involving an alleged theft of £6,000 from the football club in the town should have alerted the council to the possibility of some risk with regard to its decision making; particularly on financial questions. Since 2012 Narberth Town Council has made strides to see that it is conforming to the guidelines laid out under directives issued to councils in England and Wales. We now have minutes online, clearly delineated and easily accessible to local people.

Nobody can question the lead role that the council has taken in issues related to the closure of the swimming pool and the advent of a new era and the planned arrival of Sainsbury’s to the town. The statements with regard to the fact that there has been no public consultation of any description in relation to the developments planned for the Moor were clear and searching. They carried weight and continue to carry weight. Individual councillors also played a full role in making this point clear. Mayor Sue Rees, through her sheer guts and determination, was pivotal, along with the local team, in utilising her office to promote the share offer to see that Narberth Swimming Pool was taken into community ownership. This is the role of a pro-active, forward thinking town council that is a textbook example of what councils do best when they work.

Cllr David Norcross also has a steadfast, creditworthy record of service of long standing to the town. His role in arguing the case for community ownership of the site on the Moor was a sterling effort, for example, as was the role he played in ensuring that the voice of the town council was heard in relation to the development planned for the Moor. We should be grateful to have people that have the interests of the community at heart in their role as councillors and the ability and experience to deliver insightful decision making. A new generation of councillors is beginning to emerge, represented by people like Donna Hole. This new wave is adding energy to the organisation, which is beneficial. Caroline Coaker, as town clerk plays a full professional role. Her advice to the council, preparation of materials and dissemination of information about the activities of the council, is first class. Here though, there is a question of the council as a corporate body that is unanswered. Town clerk, Caroline Coaker, placed on the public record a view on behalf of the council that; ‘the town council is unable to make any comment at this stage’.

The town council as a corporate body is in a position to make a public comment now. There is a good argument to be put that it should be making a public comment now. Colin Williams has admitted to theft from a local organisation. This, as Judge Peter Haywood said, is a major breach of trust. Who could possibly argue now that Colin Williams should be allowed to continue to act as a councillor on behalf of the town? Having acknowledged his guilt and accepted that he stole £400 from Narberth Football Club, is it not now time for him to acknowledge that he cannot be a councillor for the town any longer? The time to ask why he did not step aside during the proceedings from his role as a town councillor has now passed, together with the question of why the town council as a corporate body, did not take steps to consider the matter.

But surely now residents in the town have the right to expect that something will to be said and done now with regard to questions about his continued role as a town councillor? Judge Peter Haywood said yesterday that Colin Williams was someone of previously good character. This may well be the case. To begin to repair his good character, Colin Williams could help the situation. It can be argued that it is in the interests of the town, and in his own interests, for him to offer his resignation from Narberth Town Council. This has been a rather sorry case. There is so much at stake in the town. Perhaps it is time that the minutes of the town council record that the matter has been resolved so that we can all move on with what is a full agenda.

Business

Largest Welsh port appoints communications and marketing director

Published

7 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE Port of Milford Haven has announced that Anna Malloy has been appointed as its first Communications and Marketing Director.

Anna is appointed to the Senior Management Team and this new role will be pivotal to the delivery of the Port’s long-term growth and diversification agenda and in ensuring that its obligations to coastal communities, future generations and to nature are honoured.

Tom Sawyer, CEO of the Port of Milford Haven, congratulated Anna and said: “Anna has a key role to play in our future and it’s doubly lovely to see ‘port-grown-talent’ flourish and for colleagues to progress up through our organisation.”

Anna will lead across the public affairs, marketing, sustainability, media relations, and community relations activities. She will therefore play a central role in the development of new and existing partnerships, including the Celtic Freeport, the Milford Haven Energy Cluster and the Celtic Collection; sitting alongside the delivery of major projects like Milford Waterfront and the Pembroke Dock Renewables Terminal.

“This is such an exciting opportunity. I am proud to be joining the Senior Management Team and look forward to delivering our ambitious strategy,” commented Anna Malloy, Communications and Marketing Director.

She added: “The Port of Milford Haven is playing a key role in the transition of South-West Wales’ economy to a decarbonised future. A beautiful place, with great people, that I am privileged to call my home.”

Community

First deadlines met following enforcement action at landfill site

Published

9 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE first set of deadlines for the completion of actions to tackle the ongoing odour issues at Withyhedge Landfill in Pembrokeshire have been met, one week on following the issuing of further enforcement action by Natural Resources Wales (NRW).

NRW issued site operator Resources Management UK Ltd (RML) with a further Regulation 36 Enforcement Notice on Thursday 18 April.

This outlined a series of actions to be completed by specified deadlines to address the ongoing odour and landfill gas emission issues at the site.

During the latest site inspection which took place yesterday (Thursday 25 April), NRW was able to confirm that three actions have been completed – two ahead of the imposed deadlines.

The operator has installed 24 pin wells, which have been driven into the waste in the lower section of the cell identified as causing the odour issues (Cell 8). These have also been connected to the landfill gas extraction system.

Capping material has been placed over the same area of the cell and welded to the basal liner to encapsulate gas in this area, allowing for extraction by the pin wells and four horizontal gas wells, which were previously installed.

While progress is being made, NRW officers detected strong landfill gas odours during an offsite assessment on Wednesday (24 April) in Poyston Cross and Crundale. Weather conditions this week appear to have led to a wider spread of landfill gas to surrounding areas, not solely linked to wind direction.

NRW odour assessments follow a set route around the landfill, with designated survey spots, identified to enable consistency of assessment and reporting. This is essential to ensure the regulatory and enforcement responses where there is offsite odour attributed to the landfill is robust.

The remaining Regulation 36 Notice actions will require significant effort by RML to ensure they are completed on time and NRW continues to closely monitor progress.

Clare Pillman, Chief Executive of NRW, met with representatives from NRW’s South West Industry Regulation Team and Pembrokeshire County Council during a visit to Pembrokeshire on Thursday 25 April.

Clare Pillman, Chief Executive, Natural Resources Wales, said: “While visiting the area surrounding Withyhedge Landfill with our regulatory team and partners from Pembrokeshire County Council this week, I was able to see and hear for myself just what people living and working in these communities have had to endure as a result of the odour issues from the site.

“What they have been experiencing is unacceptable and our officers have been working tirelessly alongside colleagues at Pembrokeshire County Council to ensure the operator gets this under control as quickly as possible. While it was clear that a lot of work has been done on site, there is still more to do to ensure they address all the actions set out in the enforcement notice.

“We want to make sure that happens, and are exploring every option together with Pembrokeshire County Council to ensure the operator works quickly to resolve the issues which are clearly affecting the quality of life of people in these communities.”

Huwel Manley, Head of South West Operations, said: “While we are reassured that action is being carried out by the operators at Withyhedge Landfill with a sense of urgency, we are continuing our regulatory presence on site to ensure the operator’s focus remains on tackling the issues that will address the continuing odour issues being experienced by surrounding communities.

“We will be closely monitoring progress over the coming days and weeks to ensure the operator complies with all the actions set out in Notice by 14 May. If they are not met, we will pursue additional enforcement action where appropriate.”

NRW requests that instances of odour from the landfill continue to be reported via this dedicated form: https://bit.ly/reportasmellwithyhedge or by calling 0300 065 3000.

Please report odours at the time of them being experienced, rather than historically. Reporting odours in a timely manner will help guide the work of partners more effectively, particularly in the further development of air quality monitoring.

These photos taken on 16 April and 25 April show the progress of capping works on cell 8. Pin wells are visible in both images. These have been connected to the landfill gas extraction system and are extracting gas from the waste mass.

Community

Milford Haven’s war memorial is 100 years old today

Published

9 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE Milford Haven War Memorial, a significant landmark commemorating the fallen heroes of World Wars and subsequent conflicts, marks its 100th anniversary today.

The memorial, which was inaugurated on April 26, 1924 by the Venerable the Archdeacon of St Davids, remains a poignant symbol of sacrifice and hope for peace.

Constructed from 1923 to 1924, the memorial consists of a striking assembly of pink granite and white marble statues that were sculpted in Italy.

Representing the Army, Navy, and Air Force, these life-size statues stand on an unpolished three-step plinth below a main pedestal. A soldier faces west and a sailor east, with an airman atop the central column, surveying the skies.

The names and inscriptions of the fallen are carved into the polished granite shaft, meticulously supervised by surveyor J.P. Morgan with contractor E. Jones of Llanybydder.

Located on Hamolton Terrace with views over the Milford Haven waterway, the memorial is a freestanding structure in an external, roadside setting. It features a serviceman/woman sculpture in marble and Portland stone, set on a concrete base surrounded by railings. Inscribed plaques honour those who served in the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War, and the conflict in Iraq from 2003 to 2009.

The memorial lists the names of 239 men who perished in the First World War on its polished grey granite faces. The Second World War claimed 157 lives from this community, whose names are recorded on bronze plaques around the base. Notably, the memorial also honours one serviceman who fell during the Korean War and another who was killed in Iraq in 2007.

The Milford Haven War Memorial stands not only as a historical monument but also as an enduring reminder of the costs of war and the community’s ongoing commitment to peace.

As the town reflects on a century of remembrance, the hope remains that future generations will continue to cherish and learn from the lessons of the past.