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‘Scandalous’ and ‘appalling’: Leighton Andrews

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Bryn's Porsche targeted again: Leighton Andrews.

Bryn’s Porsche targeted again: Leighton Andrews.

WELSH Public Services Minister has announced his intention to crackdown on Chief Officer pay in local government.

Citing the provision to Mr Parry-Jones of a Porsche Panamera, reported in The Herald last May, as ‘appalling’, Mr Andrews went on to state that stories about the pay and pay-offs offered to council chief executives were ‘scandalous’.

The comments formed part of a biting critique of the quality of local government leadership across Wales, which Mr Andrews condemned as reactionary and not doing enough to head off crises in key services councils deliver.

Asking why councils seemed satisfied to wait for inspectors to point out ‘major failings’ in ‘big services areas like education and social services’, rather than tackle problems themselves, the Minister went on to say that it was “time for action” on local government in Wales.

Speaking ahead of an address to the Institute of Welsh Affairs on Tuesday (Jan 20), Mr Andrews repeated his determination to reduce the £25m annual cost of senior council officers’ pay ‘very significantly’.

Mr Andrews’ view followed hot on the heels of Plaid Cymru Leader Leanne Woods’ statement regarding senior officer pay, which showed that Pembrokeshire’s Chief Officer received fifteen and a half times the pay of the council’s lowest paid employee.

Responding on the question of pay ratios, Council Leader, Jamie Adams, said: “We do not have a Chief Executive at present and the table does not reflect the current position as regards to the Acting Head of Paid Service. It is still to be established whether or not the Authority appoints a new Chief Executive and therefore the issue of the salary level is still to be decided.”

Mr Andrews’ comments form part of an aggressive campaign by the Welsh Government to shake up local government and public services in Wales. It is known that the Health Minister Mark Drakeford is considering plans to further streamline the structure of health-care provision in Wales, with an emphasis on bringing the few recalcitrant Community Health Council’s into line. While Mr Andrews’ reputation as a political bruiser is demonstrated by the brutal way he dealt with Cardiff Metropolitan University while Education Minister.

The use of local government as a political football is not, however, confined to politicians from Cardiff Bay. Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb has attracted criticism for his comments about the travails of Pembrokeshire County Council, with Cllr Mike Stoddart saying that the MP’s intervention is ‘a belated attempt to jump on the anti-IPPG bandwagon’.

Mr Stoddart goes on to challenge Stephen Crabb to produce evidence of his public pronouncements on the subject during the last ’well over ten years’; saying that this should not be difficult as he has been ‘saying this for a long time’.

BBC Wales have reported that the council is shortly to reveal just how much it paid in monthly instalments for the former Chief Executive’s Porsche Panamera, having failed in an attempt to conceal it.

 

2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. tomos

    February 5, 2015 at 3:01 pm

    The porsche story has really caught the public imagination but surely it\’s just the final straw that broke the camels back.It\’s a pity that the story of the whistle blower raising her concerns 10 years ago about a paedophile and was sacked or that it took 10 years before the guy came to court wasn\’t reported more – where were dyfed powys police in all this? that\’s bad,indeed some councillors still slating the woman off and suggesting she wasn\’t telling the truth.the fact the 2nd guys name who had an unlawful payment given to him wasn\’t reported in the press – all these things should be subject to a judicial review just like rotherham but I guess justice is just for the rich 🙁

  2. Flashbang

    February 5, 2015 at 11:02 pm

    Please shake up this council of dysfunctional incompetents and sack the lot of them. Another Jamie Adams non response to the question asked speaks volumes about his culpability in the last fiasco re BPJ.

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Crime

Two arrested after Tenby station stabbings released on bail

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Investigation continues after four teenagers were injured in late-night railway station violence

TWO people arrested after four teenagers were stabbed during violence at Tenby railway station have been released on bail while police continue their investigation.

British Transport Police are leading the inquiry into the incident, which happened at around 9:50pm on Tuesday (Apr 7). Officers were called to reports of disorder involving a group of youths at the station.

Four teenagers, aged between 13 and 17 and all from the Pembroke area, suffered stab wounds and were taken to hospital for treatment. Police have since confirmed that their injuries were not life-threatening or life-changing, and that all four have now been discharged.

A 16-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. Both have now been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Police said they believe the incident was isolated, but there will be an increased officer presence in the area to reassure the public.

Detectives are urging anyone who witnessed the violence, or saw what happened in the lead-up to it, to get in touch. They have also asked members of the public not to speculate online or share footage while the investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 916 of Apr 7.

 

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News

Plaid Cymru sets out childcare, NHS and child poverty pledges in 2026 manifesto

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Rhun ap Iorwerth’s party says plan is radical and fully costed as it bids to lead next Welsh government

PLAID CYMRU has launched its manifesto for the 2026 Senedd election, setting out a programme focused on childcare, health, education and tackling child poverty as the party seeks to convince voters it is ready for government.

With opinion polls suggesting Plaid could be in contention for its strongest ever Senedd result, the party is presenting itself as a serious alternative administration under leader Rhun ap Iorwerth.

Rather than putting major constitutional change at the centre of the campaign, Plaid’s manifesto concentrates heavily on public services and living standards. While the party continues to support Welsh independence, it is not proposing an independence referendum during a first term in government.

Instead, Plaid says it would establish a national commission for Wales, with a budget of £500,000, to examine future constitutional options including further devolution and the foundations for a future white paper on independence.

On education, Plaid is promising to widen access to free school meals. The party says it would extend free meals to year seven to 11 pupils in households receiving Universal Credit, with no income cap. It is also pledging new incentives to attract teachers and says it wants to strengthen Welsh-medium education.

However, questions remain over whether enough Welsh-speaking staff could be recruited to support the scale of expansion Plaid is proposing across childcare and education.

The party is also promising a review of the Curriculum for Wales, alongside clearer guidance for teachers, in what appears to be an acknowledgement of continuing concern about how the reforms are working in practice.

In health, Plaid says it wants to cut waiting times, although the manifesto itself does not contain a detailed overall target. Rhun ap Iorwerth has said that under a Plaid-led government no-one would be waiting two years for treatment within the first year, with wider waiting lists brought back to pre-pandemic levels by the end of a Senedd term.

The manifesto also says Plaid would consider “all options” for reforming Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in north Wales, leaving open the possibility of structural change at Wales’ largest health board.

On higher education, Plaid says it would prioritise a review of universities and their funding amid growing financial pressure in the sector. The party says it wants to ensure more Welsh government spending on higher education remains in Wales.

The manifesto also proposes refocusing the Seren programme towards Welsh universities and boosting participation from disadvantaged communities. Critics, however, may argue that such a move risks narrowing options for the most academically able students.

Housing and tourism policy also feature prominently. Plaid says it will review the effectiveness of current second homes and self-catering holiday let rules, including the controversial requirement for holiday lets to be rented out for at least 182 days a year to avoid being treated as second homes for council tax purposes.

That rule has been defended by those concerned about housing shortages in tourism hotspots, but it has come under strong criticism from tourism operators who say it is harming local businesses.

Plaid is also proposing to explore a Welsh child payment of £10 a week for children under six in families receiving Universal Credit. The idea would begin as a pilot scheme aimed at addressing child poverty.

But there are doubts over how easily such a scheme could be delivered, given that Wales does not have the same benefits powers as Scotland, where a similar payment already exists. Any full rollout could depend on cooperation from the UK government.

Taken together, the manifesto suggests Plaid Cymru is trying to broaden its appeal beyond its traditional base, offering a platform centred less on constitutional change and more on bread-and-butter issues such as health, schools, housing and family finances.

Whether that approach is enough to persuade voters Plaid is ready to run Wales may prove one of the defining questions of the 2026 election campaign.

 

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Charity

Drive care forward: Help keep end-of-life care moving in Pembrokeshire

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PAUL SARTORI Hospice at Home is calling on the community to help keep end-of-life care moving across Pembrokeshire as it launches an urgent appeal to fund a replacement for its essential Equipment Loan Van.

The appeal, which went live on Friday, April 10, 2026, will run until December 1, 2026, with the aim of raising £40,000 to replace the vital vehicle and safeguard the future of the service.

Every day, families across the county face some of the hardest moments of their lives while living with terminal illness or saying goodbye to a loved one. Paul Sartori Hospice at Home believes everyone deserves dignity, comfort and choice at the end of life, and its Equipment Loan Service plays a crucial role in making that possible.

At the heart of this service is the charity’s van, which delivers essential equipment free of charge directly to people’s homes. From hospital-style beds and wheelchairs to commodes and pressure-relieving mattresses, these items enable patients to remain in familiar surroundings, close to the people they love.

The service often responds on the same day, ensuring urgent needs are met quickly. By providing the right equipment at the right time, the team helps prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and supports faster hospital discharges, giving people the chance to spend precious time at home.

Beyond deliveries, the team also shows families how to use the equipment, supports safe transfers where needed, and fills critical gaps that statutory services are unable to meet. For many people, this service provides something truly invaluable: dignity, independence and comfort during end-of-life care.

However, the current Equipment Loan Van is now reaching the end of its working life, putting this lifeline service at risk. To continue operating safely and efficiently across Pembrokeshire, the charity urgently needs to replace it with a reliable, roadworthy vehicle.

Pat Coombs, Clinical Coordinator and Equipment Facilitator at Paul Sartori Hospice at Home, said: “This van is essential to the care we provide. Every day, we see the difference it makes, helping people return home from hospital, supporting families to care for loved ones, and making sure patients can remain where they feel most comfortable.

“It is not just about delivering equipment; it is about delivering dignity and choice at the end of life. Without a reliable van, we simply cannot respond as quickly or effectively as people need us to.”

The charity is encouraging individuals, businesses and community groups to get involved and support the appeal. Donations of all sizes will help ensure that no one in Pembrokeshire has to face the end of life without the care and equipment they need.

To support the campaign and help fund a new Equipment Loan Van, visit: www.justgiving.com/campaign/equipmentloanvan

 

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