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.