News

Firms vie for £37m school construction contract

Published

10 years ago

December 27, 2014

Tom Sinclair

County Hall

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has started pre-qualifying firms to build a secondary school and vocational centre.

The two-storey Pembroke Learning Campus building with a floor area of around 180,000 sq ft will include an autism centre and community learning zone.

The building programme is expected to run for three years. Works, which are expected to start in August 2015.

The Council have described the project as: “The construction of a new build secondary school, vocational and autism centre and community learning zone. The building is predominantly two storeys but also has a lower ground floor covering approximately 2750m2. The works will also include external work to include highways works, car parking, drainage, landscaping and sports pitch provision.”

Pembrokeshire County Council will be under considerable pressure to ensure the tender and documentation process is a transparent one. The Council’s extensive difficulties with holding fair tendering processes and efficiently monitoring projects have been under significant public scrutiny in relation to a number of publicly funded projects that utilised part-external funding.

In particular, the Council has been criticised by external bodies both for overstating the economic benefits of development and adopting opaque and confused management structures for dealing with external funding. Lessons that should have been learned from a comprehensive review of the Council’s mismanagement of Town Heritage Initiative projects conducted by researchers from Oxford Brookes University, were not reflected in the Council’s subsequent management of projects using external public funds.
The Council’s job is not made any easier in this instance by an insistence in the tender documentation that only tenders from Ceridigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire will be considered for acceptance. In addition, the tender will not necessarily go to the cheapest tendering developer.

With a lack of public scrutiny practically assured by the Council’s very restrictive interpretation of guidance about commercial confidentiality, the project could result in a massive payday for a builder/developer with a pre-existing relationship with the Council.

Firms have until January 12 to begin the tender process through the Sell2Wales website.

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9 Comments

Andrew Lye

December 27, 2014 at 4:48 pm

Only firms from Pembs, Carms and Ceredigion can tender?What a restrictive practise!How many could tender?What if a company from further afield could do it much better and cheaper?I thought we were in times of austerity….I don\’t have much confidence, I\’m afraid.miss as if someone is already lined up.
Andrew Lye

December 27, 2014 at 4:50 pm

Seems as if someone is already lined up.
(that’s what the last line should read)
tomos

December 27, 2014 at 10:57 pm

disagree andrew, good to see Pembs. supporting local businesses and local ppl – not sure it’s legal though after all seem to remember when HUGE contracts were given to foreign companies and ppl complained that these organisations were supporting foreig companies the defence was that it was EU Law to open the process to all and they were having to obey the law but when did PCC ever worry about obeying EU Law 🙂
Anthony griffiths

December 28, 2014 at 12:12 am

We are in austerity caused by these pathetic tories! The state has a moral obligation to provide an acceptable eduacational , modern complex! Down with these rotten tories! Rotten to the core!
John Hudson

December 28, 2014 at 9:25 am

My understanding is that our Councillors “got bounced” into supporting a successful £150m outline bid under the WG’s 21st Century Schools programme. PCC’s bid was the largest award of all Counties, and meant the Council had to stump up 50% of the total capital programme or £75m, subject to detailed projects.

The aim of the programme would appear to be driven by the demographic needs of the future school populations where fewer, larger “centralised” schools are required to avoid surplus places in existing out of date school buildings.

The 21st Century Schools programme is a priority of the Council and will be funded by contributions from the Council’s reserves, originally set aside to support other services, receipts from the sales of Council property assets, any surpluses arising at the end of the financial year, and borrowing.

While new capital school buildings may be “a good thing”, which the council may not have got grant aid for providing, all the processes are now aimed towards delivering the programme, mainly directed by the Welsh Government.

We have already seen a “consultation” in Hakin and Hubberstone where the council drew support from the divined views of future parents and children for a single school, as favoured by WG, which would not support a two school build.

This overall significant project was apparently approved without any real understanding of the financial implications at a time the Council was entering a period requiring severe financial reductions and restrictions in the delivery of its services.
Owen Llewellyn

December 29, 2014 at 7:34 am

With a reputation for self-serving backroom deals and the stench of corruption right through PCC I fear this will be another calamity that, considering the mediocrity of their combined wit, will be incapable of delivering without significant scandal. They are too busy feathering their own nests to think of the rest of us.
John Hudson

December 29, 2014 at 9:39 am

The Council’s Standing Orders relating to Contracts includes the following provision:-

Competitive Dialogue/Negotiated Procedure

The Directives of the EC allow the use of the Competitive Dialogue Procedure and the Negotiated Procedure in certain circumstances. A decision to use either procedure for procurement exercises over the EU Procurement thresholds can be made by the Director/Corporate Head of Service following consultation with the Head of procurement.

Is it right that unelected officers can make such decisions without any reference to or requirement for approval by Cabinet.

Yet another significant authority delegated to the Head of Paid Service conducted in secret.

How many contracts have been awarded in this manner?
Flashbang

December 29, 2014 at 11:57 am

This is way beyond the capabilities of PCC. All I see happening is a series of fiascos, scandals and cover ups from day one if it’s left in their hands. If they can’t even put a roof on a small building without the job being anything but what the contract stipulated then this is going to be the mother of all f***ups.
barry

December 31, 2014 at 11:56 am

That’s what you don’t want andrew lye firms doing it on the cheap thats when the influx of foreign labour comes into effect mate drive wages down and making fat cats fatter think about what your say mush.

Health

Critical incident declared by Welsh Ambulance Service due to demand

Published

4 hours ago

December 31, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A “CRITICAL INCIDENT” was declared by the Welsh Ambulance Service on Monday (Dec 30) evening due to significantly increased demand and extensive handover delays.

The service, which covers more than three million people across Wales, reported over 340 calls waiting to be answered at the time the incident was declared.

More than half of the ambulance vehicles were stuck outside hospitals waiting to hand over patients, resulting in some people waiting “many hours” for an ambulance and delays in answering emergency calls.

***Ambulances outside Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest (Image: Herald)***

Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, James Evans MS, said: “Another critical incident declared by the Welsh Ambulance Service with over 340 calls waiting, ambulances stuck outside hospitals, and patients waiting hours for care.

“This is not just a winter crisis, it is a symptom of long-term failures in Labour-run Wales. Patients and frontline workers deserve better.

“It’s time for real leadership to fix this problem once and for all.”

The public has been urged to call 999 only in the event of serious emergencies.

The Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust said it had implemented additional measures to ensure services could continue.

Stephen Sheldon, Head of Service, said: “It is very rare that we declare a critical incident, but with significant demand on our service and more than 90 ambulances waiting to hand over patients outside of hospital, our ability to help patients has been impacted.

“Regrettably, this means that some patients will wait longer for an ambulance to arrive and for their calls to be answered.

“For that, we are very sorry because this is not the level of service we want to provide.

“We understand that this is frustrating for patients, but can assure them that we are doing everything we can to relieve the pressure on our service.”

A critical incident is the highest alert level used by the NHS, allowing management to take immediate steps to create capacity.

Sheldon added: “The public can help by only calling 999 in the event of a life-threatening emergency – that’s a cardiac arrest, chest pain, breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness, choking, or catastrophic bleeding.

“If it’s not a life-threatening emergency, then it’s important you use one of the many alternatives to 999, starting with the symptom checkers on our NHS 111 Wales website, as well as your GP, pharmacist, and minor injuries unit.”

Earlier on Monday, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, which operates Walsall Manor Hospital, also declared a critical incident due to rising numbers of people needing urgent and emergency hospital care, predominantly for respiratory conditions.

News

Pembrokeshire County Councillor Andrew Edwards resigns suddenly

Published

15 hours ago

December 30, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE of PembroTHE CHIEF executive of Pembrokeshire County Council, Will Bramble, has released a statement announcing that Cllr Andrew Edwards has resigned for personal reasons. A notice of a casual vacancy will be published today (Dec 30).

The Pembrokeshire Herald contacted Cllr Edwards, who issued the following statement:

“Family matters have made my position as a county councillor untenable.

“I have therefore decided to resign from the council, as I feel unable to carry out my duties to the standard I would wish at this time.

“I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the staff and fellow councillors who have supported me during my tenure.

“I wish the very best to my successor, who I am confident will serve the community with dedication.

“This has not been an easy decision, but I believe it is in the best interests of those I represent.”

Edwards, a barber, has served on the council since May 2022.

In April 2023, the Conservative councillor referred himself to the Public Services Ombudsman following the emergence of a recording in which he appeared to make offensive remarks suggesting all white men should have a black slave. However, it was later suggested that the recording may have been artificially generated using AI to discredit him.

Health

Hospital visiting precautions in place ‘to protect patients’

Published

15 hours ago

December 30, 2024

Tom Sinclair

VISITORS to hospitals across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, and Pembrokeshire are being asked to only attend if they are free of any potential flu-like symptoms, or any sickness or diarrhoea. Additionally, they may be requested to wear face masks before entry to certain wards or departments.

Seasonal flu and winter vomiting viruses are affecting patients on several wards with infection prevention and control actions being taken, as necessary.

Visitors are asked to only come to see their loved ones if they are free of any infections, to wash hands before leaving home and clean hands on arrival at the hospital/ward using the hand sanitiser. Visitors may also be asked to wear face masks/coverings on the ward/department they are visiting. Masks will be available at the hospital entrance or can be provided on affected wards.

There are additional restrictions in place that limit visitors to:

Acute Medical Assessment Unit (AMAU) at Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli. Please discuss individual patient visiting arrangements at AMAU with the nurse in charge.
This arrangement will be reviewed daily, and restrictions will be lifted as soon as possible. The health board’s website will be updated daily with details of wards with enhanced restrictions on visiting.

Janice Cole Williams, Assistant Director of Nursing at Hywel Dda University Health Board
said: “Within affected wards, all staff are wearing masks and visiting is limited at Prince Philip Hospital’s AMAU to help stop spread of infection.

“Our local community can help us avoid outbreaks of infection by not visiting family and friends in hospital if they are feeling unwell themselves.

“Annual flu vaccination is also undoubtedly the best way to protect against catching or spreading flu. Not only can it prevent you from becoming very unwell, it can also help reduce your risk of secondary infections such as pneumonia, which can be dangerous if you are clinically vulnerable.”

Vaccination centres are open, with no appointment needed today (Monday), until 5.30pm and tomorrow, Tuesday, December 31 for all people eligible for flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. This includes children aged two years (on 31 August 2024) to those in year 11 who can access the nasal flu vaccine at the centres.

Drop in any time between 9.15am and 5.30pm to your nearest vaccination centre:

Aberaeron (Aberaeron Integrated Care Centre, Vicarage Hill, Aberaeron, SA46 0DY)
Llanelli (Unit 2a, Dafen Industrial Estate, Heol Cropin, SA14 8QW)
Neyland (Unit 1 Honeyborough Retail Park, SA73 1SE)
The following groups are eligible for vaccination:

Flu vaccination

Children aged two and three years on 31 August 2024 
Children in primary school from reception class to year 6 (inclusive)  
Children in secondary school from year 7 to year 11 (inclusive)   
People aged six months to 64 years in clinical risk groups   
People aged 65 years and older (age on 31 March 2024)   
Pregnant women  
Carers aged 16 and over 
People aged six months to 65 years who live with someone who has a weakened immune system   
People with a learning disability  
Frontline health and social care workers  
All staff working in care homes with regular client contact
Poultry workers at high risk
COVID-19 vaccination

People aged six months to 64 years with a long-term health condition (which includes pregnant women and people with a weakened immune system)
Residents in a care home for older adults
People aged 65 years and older (age on 31 March 2025)
Unpaid carers
Frontline health and social care workers
Staff working in care homes for older adults
If you have any questions about accessing the flu and/or COVID-19 vaccine, please phone the health board on 0300 303 8322 option 1 or email: [email protected]