News

Council ‘is doing its best’

Published

11 years ago

February 24, 2015

‘WE are still doing our very best with a very tight budget’.

That was the message from Cllr Sue Perkins at Monday’s Cabinet meeting as councillors discussed cuts to the Learning Pembrokeshire service.

The service, which provides essential skills and support for adult learners, has seen a huge drop in funding over the last couple of years.

In January 2015, the Welsh Government notified authorities that the funding would be reduced by £85,600 from April 1 this year with the possibility of a further cut for 2016/17.

The council has therefore been forced to reduce its learning provision and a plan has been put in place to maintain the service.

Cllr Sue Perkins said: “As you can see, last year the Learning Pembrokeshire grant was cut by 25% by the Welsh Government and this year there have been further reductions.

“Our Adult Education has had a huge amount of money removed from it so what we are trying to do is to provide all the adult education that we do now without cutting courses in the best way possible.

“We are trying to manage with the cuts we have had to make. We’ll still provide the basic skills courses and the courses that help in areas of deprivation like Spirngboard. So we are still doing our very best with a very tight budget.

“To move this forward we have two phases. In phase one, we are talking about rationalising the central part in Haverfordwest, we’re moving the education facility in Pembroke Dock to another location that is only 200 yards away. In Fishguard we are talking about relocating the delivery into other community venues.

“In phase two, we’re talking about ceasing to maintain the centres in Haverfordwest and Tenby. In Tenby it will have a knock on effect with the library and the youth centre so it’s going to take a lot longer.

“We’re trying to provide these facilities in a very shrinking budget”.

Cllr Pat Davies had also emailed members of Cabinet about her concerns for the Fishguard area and the Head of Performance and Community, James White, was asked to comment.

He said: “The maintenance and custodial costs of the four buildings total just over £170,000. If the money was to be saved then the only other option within Learning Pembrokeshire would be to stop doing the courses. To stop doing £170,000 worth of courses would have a major impact on the opportunities that we offer.

“In terms of the Fishguard building itself, the cost there is just over £25,000 and so there is a significant amount tied up in maintenance of these buildings.

“Until this paper is agreed we haven’t done anything in terms of conversations with stakeholders or the head teacher at Bro Gwaun School or anything like that, we didn’t have clearance to do that. Clearly, Councillors will be aware that consultation is about to start following a decision of full council about the future of education provision and changes that are being consulted on in the Fishguard area and it may well be that the future of the building there would probably be considered as part of that”.

Council Leader Jamie Adams said: “We either maintain the service or if we carry on as we are, the service will fall apart. There may be other areas in the community that would benefit from an element of service provision”.

James White added: “Learning Pembrokeshire is the second largest deliverer of adult learning after Cardiff in terms of the council. The Council runs/provides just over 80% of the totality of adult learning in the county. We’re very close to the point where Learning Pembrokeshire costs the council nothing. If you think that putting Learning Pembrokeshire somewhere else will save money then it won’t”.

Cllr Huw George said: “Let’s make sure that the services are out there, what the people want, it doesn’t matter who does it but now is the time to have that look”.

Cllr Keith Lewis said: “The Public consultation meeting we held in Fishguard in November (2014), one of the points that came up was that the people of Fishguard felt that they would prefer to maintain the services but that if building had to be rationalised they would go along with that. People do appreciate the situation we are, if it means we can maintain the service by moving and perhaps getting rid of some, I think that’s a good way forward”.

James White concluded: “Although the location of the youth centre may well change, we will still have a youth club in Tenby”.

Community

Craig Flannery appointed as new Chief Fire Officer

Published

3 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Tom Sinclair

MID AND WEST WALES FIRE SERVICE LEADERSHIP CHANGE

MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has announced the appointment of Craig Flannery as its new Chief Fire Officer, with effect from Monday, December 15, 2025.

Mr Flannery has served with the Service for more than twenty years, progressing through a wide range of middle management and senior leadership roles across both operational and non-operational departments.

During his career, he has been closely involved in strengthening operational delivery, risk management and organisational development. His work has included leading innovation in learning and development, overseeing the Service’s On-Call Improvement Programme, and driving investment in key enabling functions such as workforce development and information and communication technology.

The appointment followed a rigorous, multi-stage recruitment process led by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority. Candidates were assessed through structured interviews, strategic leadership exercises and scenario-based assessments designed to test operational judgement, organisational vision and the ability to lead a modern fire and rescue service.

External professional assessors were also engaged to provide independent scrutiny, ensuring the process met high standards of fairness, transparency and challenge.

Mr Flannery emerged as the strongest candidate, demonstrating clear strategic leadership capability, detailed organisational knowledge and a strong commitment to community safety and service improvement.

Councillor John Davies, Chair of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “Craig brings a deep understanding of our Service and a clear vision for its future. His appointment will strengthen our ability to innovate, support our workforce and deliver high-quality protection for the communities we serve.

“As we navigate a rapidly changing landscape, Craig’s experience in driving innovation and organisational development will be invaluable in helping us adapt and transform for the future.”

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Flannery said: “It is a privilege to lead this outstanding Service. I am committed to supporting our people, strengthening partnerships and building on the strong foundations already in place.

“As the challenges facing fire and rescue services continue to evolve, we must modernise and innovate, ensuring we have the skills, technology and capability needed to meet the needs of our communities. I look forward to working with colleagues and partners across Mid and West Wales to deliver a resilient, progressive Service that keeps people safe and places our staff at the heart of everything we do.”

Health

Resident doctors in Wales vote to accept new contract

Published

9 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

RESIDENT doctors across Wales have voted to accept a new contract, with 83% of those who took part in a referendum backing the agreement, according to BMA Cymru Wales.

The contract includes a four per cent additional investment in the resident doctor workforce and introduces a range of reforms aimed at improving training conditions, wellbeing and long-term workforce sustainability within NHS Wales. The BMA says the deal also supports progress towards pay restoration, which remains a central issue for doctors.

Key changes include new safeguards to limit the most fatiguing working patterns, measures intended to address medical unemployment and career progression concerns, and reforms to study budgets and study leave to improve access to training opportunities.

Negotiations between the BMA’s Welsh Resident Doctors Committee, NHS Wales Employers and the Welsh Government concluded earlier this year. Following a consultation period, a referendum of resident doctors and final-year medical students in Wales was held, resulting in a clear majority in favour of the proposals.

Welsh Resident Doctors Committee chair Dr Oba Babs Osibodu said the agreement marked a significant step forward for doctors working in Wales.

He said: “We’re proud to have negotiated this contract, which offers our colleagues and the future generation of doctors safer terms of service, fairer pay, and better prospects so that they can grow and develop their careers in Wales.

“This contract will help to retain the doctors already in training, and also attract more doctors to work in Wales, where they can offer their expertise and benefit patients.”

Dr Osibodu added that the BMA remains committed to achieving full pay restoration and acknowledged that challenges remain for some doctors.

“Whilst this contract sets the foundations for a brighter future for resident doctors in Wales, we recognise that there are still doctors who are struggling to develop their careers and secure permanent work,” he said. “We need to work with the Welsh Government and NHS employers to address training bottlenecks and underemployment.”

The Welsh Government has previously said it recognises the pressures facing resident doctors and the importance of improving recruitment and retention across NHS Wales, while also highlighting the need to balance pay agreements with wider NHS funding pressures and patient demand.

The new contract is expected to be phased in from August 2026. It will initially apply to doctors in foundation programmes, those in specialty training with unbanded rotas, and new starters, before being rolled out to all resident doctors across Wales.

Crime

Swansea man jailed for online child sex offence dies in prison

Published

9 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A SWANSEA man who was jailed earlier this year for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child has died while in custody.

Gareth Davies, aged 59, of the Maritime Quarter, was serving an 18-month prison sentence after being convicted in May of sending sexually explicit messages to what he believed was a 14-year-old girl. The account was in fact a decoy used as part of an online safeguarding operation.

The court heard that Davies began communicating with the decoy between November and December 2024 and persistently pursued the individual, later attempting to arrange a face-to-face meeting. He was arrested after being confronted by the decoy operators.

Davies had pleaded not guilty but was convicted following a trial. At the time of sentencing, police described the messages as extremely concerning and said his imprisonment was necessary to protect children.

It has now been confirmed that Davies died at HMP Parc on Wednesday (Nov 27) while serving his sentence.

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has launched an independent investigation into the death, which is standard procedure in all cases where someone dies in custody. No cause of death has been released at this stage.

A coroner will determine the circumstances in due course.