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.

Community

Public reminded to stay away from Ward’s Yard and Criterion Quay

Published

13 hours ago

July 26, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PORT of Milford Haven is reminding members of the public to stay away from Ward’s Yard in Milford Haven and Criterion Quay (sometimes known as the offshore jetty) in Pembroke Dock due to concerns over public safety. 

Despite significant security measures, people continue to access the sites illegally, ignoring and sometimes damaging the onsite signage and fences.

Niall Yeomans, Head of Health, Safety and Security at the Port of Milford Haven said: “Safety is our key priority. Members of the public are continuously putting themselves and members of our team at risk of serious harm by trespassing in these areas.”

“Both Ward’s Yard and Criterion Quay are unsafe for public access. They are isolated areas next to deep water and are susceptible to slips, trips and falls.”

Both sites are owned by the Port of Milford Haven and are private property. Anyone found onsite without consent is trespassing, and any criminal damage could result in prosecution.  

Anyone who sees any suspicious activity at Ward’s Yard or Criterion Quay is asked to contact Dyfed Powys Police on 101 urgently.

Crime

‘Sophisticated’ organised crime gang trafficked cocaine and cannabis to Aberystwyth

Published

16 hours ago

July 26, 2024

Tom Sinclair

FIVE people have been found guilty or admitted to conspiring to supply cocaine and cannabis as Dyfed-Powys Police continues its efforts to dismantle organised crime gangs.

Officers seized cocaine with a street value of more than £400,000 from gang members, who continually changed tactics to avoid arrest.

Six defendants have appeared in court in the latest phase of Dyfed-Powys Police’s Operation Burleigh, which sought to disrupt the trafficking and onward supply of class A and B drugs into Aberystwyth, with all but one admitting their charges or being found guilty by a jury.

This brings the total number of people awaiting sentence under the operation to 15.

The court heard that officers from Dyfed-Powys Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Team and Ceredigion Priority Policing Team led the investigation into the OCG, which was described as ‘sophisticated, well-organised and evolving’.

Detective Sergeant Steven Jones said: “This conspiracy operated on a County Lines model, where controlled drugs are trafficked into a smaller rural town from a larger city, and the operation is controlled by one or more ‘drugs lines’.

“In this case there were a total of four lines controlling the supply of cocaine and cannabis within Aberystwyth.

“The conspirators frequently evolved their actions to frustrate the authorities and evade capture.”

The OCG embedded members were mainly asylum seekers brought to Aberystwyth by Toana Ahmad and another man who remains outstanding, with the sole purpose of dealing drugs. The drug lines were initially based in Swansea, and later in areas of Birmingham.

Three properties – on Terrace Road, Alexander Road and Parc Graig Glas – were identified early in the investigation as being used to house the OCG members embedded in Aberystwyth. Substantial amounts of cash, controlled drugs and weapons were recovered from these properties, and from the people found inside.

When arrests were made, the gang changed its tactics. Drugs began to be supplied from vehicles, and OCG members stayed in guest houses to avoid detection.

DS Jones added: “Trusted couriers were employed to transport drugs to Aberystwyth and cash back to Birmingham or Swansea. A number of vehicles, including taxis, were used as the gang attempted to avoid detection along the route, while trains were also taken when courier cars were stopped by officers.”

In June 2023, two vehicles travelling from the West Midlands towards Aberystwyth were stopped by police on consecutive days. A black sock was uncovered in the engine of the first car, which was found to contain 82g of high purity cocaine divided into 169 grip seal plastic bags.

Davinder Singh, who previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A and class B drugs, was the driver of the second vehicle, which was a taxi. A blue plastic bag was seen falling out of his shorts, which contained over 81g of high purity cocaine divided into 167 grip seal bags.

DS Jones said: “On the basis that the amounts of cocaine transported over the 37 couriers over the course of the conspiracy period were similar, over 3kg of cocaine would have been conveyed to Aberystwyth from Birmingham.

“This equates to class A drugs with a potential street value of over £308,950. In addition to this, class A drugs were seized from individuals and addresses with a potential street value of £103,445, along with cash totalling £11,687.

“A number of teams and departments across Dyfed-Powys Police, from analysts, CCTV operators and priority policing teams, to CAB, the Technical Support Unit, Economic Crime Team and Force Intelligence Bureau all assisted in dismantling the OCG from top to bottom.

“Their dedication and relentless efforts have assisted in making Aberystwyth a safer place to live without the threat and harm of drugs being made easily available on the street.”

After a seven-week trial at Swansea Crown Court earlier this year, the following three defendants were found guilty for their parts in the conspiracy:

Toana Ahmad, aged 33, of Lee Gardens in Smethwich, West Midlands
Barzan Sarhan, aged 31, of no fixed address
Ahmed Piro, aged 26, of no fixed address

The jury failed to reach a verdict on two defendants during the earlier trial. They have been subject to a retrial starting on July 1, with the following outcomes:

Hawre Ahmed, aged 35, of Pinderfields Road, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, was found guilty by the jury of conspiracy to supply Class A and B controlled drugs.
Diar Yousef Zeabari, aged 35, of Flat 5, 41 Bryn Road, Swansea, was found not guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A and B controlled drugs.

Karwan Karim, aged 39 of 125 Griffith John Street, Swansea, also stood trial, and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B controlled drugs on day three.

In addition to the OCG members found guilty during the most recent trials, the following have previously pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to supply class A and class B drugs under Operation Burleigh:

Davinder Singh, aged 36, of Huntingdon Road, West Bromwich
Daban Khalil, aged 23, of Streetly Road, Birmingham
Kastro Omar, aged 30, of Junction Road, Northampton
Karwan Jabari, aged 26, of Weedon Close, Northampton
Walid Younis Abdal, aged 34, of St Anne’s Road, Doncaster
Saman Aziz, aged 41, of Kirk Road, Merseyside
Adel Mustafa, aged 39, of Hubert Road, Newport
Charlotte Roberts, aged 21, of Sutton Hill, Telford

The following have previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs:

Akasha Smith, aged 24, of Third Avenue, Aberystwyth
Luqman Jarjis, aged 21, of Wake Green Road, Birmingham

News

Community asked for views on allocation of new St Davids homes

Published

16 hours ago

July 26, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE FIRST phase of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Glasfryn housing development in St Davids is progressing well with the second phase also underway.

The development being built by GRD Homes Ltd, began in November 2023, with a first phase completion date of Winter 2024 looking hopeful, ahead of the scheduled plans.

The first phase consists of seven properties, including a mixture of one and two bedroom bungalows

As completion draws closer the properties will be advertised via Pembrokeshire Choice Homes.

Ahead of this, the Council’s housing team will be holding community engagement on the 13th August 2024 at the Ty’r Pererin Centres, Quickwell Hill, St Davids, SA62 6PD, 5pm-7pm.

This will be a chance for officers to liaise with the local community about the allocation process for these properties.

Glasfryn’s second phase is well underway, with the initial groundwork already completed. This phase includes a further 11 two bedroom bungalows, with a completion date in late 2025.

These bungalows will meet the latest Welsh Government’s Development Quality Requirement, and will be energy efficient, built to EPC A specification and include solar panels to help tenants with running costs.

The Glasfryn development is funded in partnership with Welsh Government.

Cabinet Member for Housing Cllr Michelle Bateman said: “We are really keen to work with the community on a local lettings policy for these new properties, as we have done for our developments in other parts of the County.”

If you have any queries please email the Customer Liaison Team on [email protected], phone them on 01437 764551, or visit Housing’s Facebook page.