News

Calamity as joint committee cancelled

Published

11 years ago

March 19, 2015

A ROW between councillors and officers has escalated this week after a meeting intended to scrutinise the decision to close

Truth seeker: Jacob Williams

Community Learning Centres was postponed at the eleventh hour.

The proposed joint meeting of the Older Persons’ Health & Well Being and the Children & Families Overview and Scrutiny Committees was called by Head of Legal Services, Claire Incledon. Her decision followed a call-in of the Cabinet’s decision to shut Community Learning Centres in Fishguard and Pembroke Dock by members of the Older Persons’ Committee.

Due to meet on Wednesday (Mar 3) the meeting was cancelled late on Tuesday (Mar 2).

The Pembrokeshire Herald became aware of a potential difficulty when preparing its preview of the joint committee meeting. The council’s constitution provides only for the Head of Legal Services to summon one committee to consider a call-in request.

We put our detailed observations on the point to the council. A council spokesperson told us subsequently that: “The Head of Legal and Committee Services has provided advice to members in relation to the call-in The advice clarifies that it is not a Joint Committee (or ‘new’ Committee) that has been created and that the calling of both committees to sit concurrently is not unconstitutional.”

A lengthy explanatory note from Ms Incledon, which The Herald has seen, was emailed to councillors at noon on Tuesday. That note maintained the position that the meeting was constitutional, but appeared to suggest that both committees would sit as two separate committees in the same room at the same time to discuss the same subject.

That note received a strong response from Cllr Mike Stoddart. Cllr Stoddart pointed out the express provision of the constitution and pointed out that: “The constitution does not allow the head of legal services to declare it a dead-heat and call a meeting of both committees.”

Ms Incledon’s advisory note also states that calling the meeting in the way would save ‘on officer and member time and unnecessary duplication, and ensures consistency in consideration of the matter; and provides a sensible and reasonable way forward’.

The Herald understands that the decision to cancel the meeting was reached following an intervention from Acting Head of Paid Service Ian Westley, citing ‘further consideration of Procedure Rules’.

The subsequent council statement read: “It was felt that procedurally the meeting would have been overly bureaucratic.”

After the publication of that statement, Cllr Jacob Williams said: “I think the public deserves to know the truth – that, as councillors have pointed out, the handling of this vital call-in was hopelessly flawed and the meeting, had it gone ahead, would have been unconstitutional.”

Responding, soon-to-depart Monitoring Officer Laurence Harding wrote: “The reason for the cancellation is not related to the fact that there was to be concurrent meetings of the O&S committees but due to perceived difficulties in the procedure for such a meeting.”

Mr Harding – whose role as Monitoring Officer was subject to a vote of no confidence following his interference in the debate on Bryn Parry-Jones’ future held on February 14 2014 and who has had a prickly relationship with some councillors – denied there were any problems with the constitutional position.

Undeterred, Jacob Williams wrote to the Monitoring Officer stating that Mr Harding’s rationale lacked credibility. He said: “I think that just about sums up the total reluctance to hold hands up at County Hall.”

Cllr Williams continued: “It would have been better to have said nothing at all than to have tried to spin the meeting’s cancellation on the claim that it would have been ‘overly bureaucratic.’ To expect anybody – let alone members – to believe that, especially when they are fully aware of the background and prior reluctance to accept that the matter was handled wrongly just insults our intelligence.”

The last word on the matter was given by Cllr David Simpson: “Mr Harding’s advice which members received yesterday seems to imply that the constitution can be interpreted anyway he, or the head of legal services, likes.”

He continued: “The way forward is to admit that a mistake was made in calling for a joint meeting and to refer this matter to Older Persons O&S as soon as possible.”

Cllr Simpson concluded: “Many members and the public have been hoping for a new dawn in Pembrokeshire, unfortunately it seems that while some of the players have changed the culture remains the same.”

Charity

Angle RNLI launch to stricken yacht in 42-knot gale as skipper swept overboard

Published

15 seconds ago

February 5, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Lifeboat crew battle six-metre seas after lone sailor loses engine, sail and takes on water west of Skokholm

ANGLE RNLI lifeboat volunteers carried out a dramatic rescue after responding to a broken Pan Pan call from a 28ft yacht in severe conditions, with winds gusting to 42 knots and waves reaching up to six metres.

At 10:56am on Tuesday (Feb 3), the crew were already afloat on a navigation pass-out exercise in Dale Roads when they overheard the distress transmission from a yacht west of Skokholm Island. Moments later, HM Coastguard tasked the lifeboat to respond while further information was gathered.

While making best speed to the scene, the crew were told the yacht, carrying one person, had suffered engine failure, blown out its sail and was taking on water from an unknown source.

The casualty vessel was located around three miles west of the island. After assessing the situation, the crew decided conditions were too dangerous to place a lifeboat volunteer aboard, and the safest option was to establish a tow.

With a south-easterly gale and a very rough sea state, the tow was rigged and the yacht began a slow passage towards Milford Haven.

However, shortly after the tow commenced, a large wave threw the skipper overboard. Although tethered to the yacht by his safety harness, he was dragged alongside the vessel in the heavy swell.

The lifeboat crew immediately released the tow and began recovery operations. With the towline fouling access on one side and the casualty trapped on the other, a crew member was eventually placed aboard the yacht over its bow. The skipper’s harness was cut, allowing him to drift clear, before he was safely recovered from the water by the lifeboat.

With the priority now the sailor’s welfare, and the risks of re-establishing the tow judged too great, the crew member was brought back aboard and the lifeboat returned to harbour.

On arrival, volunteers from the Dale Coastguard Rescue Team assisted with casualty care and gathered the necessary details.

The lifeboat was stood down and made ready for further service by 2:30pm.

The station also thanked the The Lord Nelson Hotel for accommodating the sailor at short notice.

A spokesperson for Angle RNLI said the incident highlighted both the speed at which conditions can deteriorate at sea and the importance of safety equipment such as harnesses and tethers.

Community

Valentine’s Day farewell for much-loved scaffolding firm boss

Published

8 minutes ago

February 5, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Community to gather for Jozef Polak’s funeral after sudden death in Cyprus

THE PEMBROKESHIRE community will come together on Valentine’s Day to say a final goodbye to much-loved scaffolding firm boss Jozef Mcleod Polak, who died suddenly while abroad.

Jozef, aged 41, of Johnston, passed away unexpectedly in Cyprus on January 14, leaving family, friends and colleagues devastated by the loss.

Well known through his business, JP Scaffolding, and his long-standing support for local causes and sport, he was widely described as a warm-hearted, larger-than-life character who would help anyone without hesitation.

Tributes poured in within hours of the news breaking.

“My best mate… taken too soon,” wrote Adam Rogers. Timothy Jones added: “Sad news. RIP mate,” while Gareth Williams said: “RIP Joe thoughts with all the family.”

Others spoke of his humour and generosity. Ginge Davies said: “Rip JP truly a great guy… a complete nutter with a heart of gold… he was such a good laugh.”

Friends who had known him since childhood remembered a polite and kind young man. Simon Narbett said: “Spent many weekends around our house as a kid in Johnston… always very polite and well mannered boy, nice family too. RIP Jozef.”

The sense of shock was clear across social media, with many saying the news was hard to believe.

Jozef was also a long-standing supporter of The Pembrokeshire Herald, advertising regularly and remaining a valued customer for more than a decade. The Herald team worked with him on a number of stories over the years, including coverage linked to the collapse of Mustang Marine which affected several local contractors.

At Johnston Football Club, where he was a familiar and trusted figure, tributes described him as a “club legend”.

The club said his connection stretched back years through family sponsorship before he stepped up his own involvement around 2012 — a period that saw Johnston enjoy one of the most successful spells in its history, including lifting the West Wales Cup.

His backing was practical as well as financial. Over the years he helped provide more than 20 senior kits, along with junior and minis kits, balls, training gear and tracksuits. He also stepped in to help with maintenance work around the ground.

“We never had to ask twice,” the club said, adding that in recent years it became routine to call him whenever something needed sorting. “He’d simply ask, ‘How much do you want?’”

Family and friends will now gather to pay their respects at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth, on Saturday, February 14 at 1:00pm.

Family flowers only are requested. Donations in Jozef’s memory may be made to NSPCC, supporting the charity’s work protecting children.

For many in Johnston, his passing leaves a gap that will be hard to fill — a familiar face, a generous supporter, and, as one friend put it simply, “one of the good ones.”

Crime

Man charged with attempted murder after Carmarthen park incident

Published

14 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Tom Sinclair

57-year-old due in court following alleged knife and stalking offences

A MAN has been charged with attempted murder following a serious incident in Carmarthen town centre last week.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that James McKenna, aged 57, from Carmarthen, has been charged with attempted murder, possession of a bladed article in a public place, and stalking.

The charges relate to an incident in Carmarthen Park on Thursday (Jan 29), which prompted a significant emergency services response and caused concern among residents.

Police have not yet released full details of the circumstances, but officers were seen in and around the park area for several hours following the incident while enquiries were carried out.

McKenna is due to appear before Llanelli Magistrates Court on Thursday (Feb 5).

The Herald understands the case involves allegations of both violence and targeted behaviour towards an individual, with stalking listed among the charges.