News
Cabinet blocks ‘threatened services list’
A REQUEST to draw up a list of services currently under threat from budget cuts was knocked back by Cabinet members on Monday (Apr 20).
Cllr Bob Kilmister put forward a notice of motion asking for a list to be drawn up in order for communities to consider alternative solutions before closure.
He pointed out that consultation had not taken place prior to closures to Theatre Gwaun in Fishguard and Narberth Swimming Pool and said that the council had not learned from these examples.
Cllr Huw George highlighted the example of the county’s toilets where consultation was held and Cllr Kilmister asked for that example to become the norm. Cllr Kilmister later said that his views had been miss-represented and that he was trying to help the council to deliver budget cuts on time.
He said: “We are told that consultation exercises are about openness and transparency. I have to ask you to consider the sentence I’m going to take out of the report which says: ‘As potential future cost reduction/ efficiencies and ideas are identified, these will be reported to cabinet and will therefore be in the public domain’.
“This sentence says everything, nothing has changed. Officers tell Cabinet what to do and they go and do it. Ordinary councillors and the public are not worthy enough. George Orwell said some animals are more equal than others. We can then have a public consultation after we have taken the decision. It is obvious that Theatre Gwaun and the Swimming Pool at Narberth taught you nothing. The recent adult education call in is another example. Local councillors knew nothing until the report came to Cabinet. There is another way of doing it but it requires a change in attitude and it is clear from the report that this does not exist. I urge you to prove me wrong by identifying the services that are at risk in our communities a long time in advance so we can start discussions with those communities about alternative ways of preserving them. To not do so is not open and transparent. That sentence is clearly in the report and it doesn’t represent the change in attitude that you have said is taking place.”
Council leader Jamie Adams responded saying the examples of Theatre Gwaun and Narberth swimming pool were examples of real achievement in terms of providing services in a different way.
He added: “The cabinet allowed a nine-month extension to ensure that SwimNarberth were able to get into a position to take that forward so I think if you were trying to use that example, it’s not a very good one.
“You alluded to Cabinet as a rubber-stamping mechanism but at the last meeting we looked at school crossing patrols and cabinet decided not to go ahead with that against the recommendations of officers so I think the point is not particularly well made. What we have been is absolutely honest and fully committed to the opportunity for the public to engage in all services. The report clearly sets out that the authority has got some unprecedented changes with severe financial pressure. It’s inevitable that all services will be looked at. The majority of services will change. There will be very few services that will be untouched in their delivery as we move forward.”
Cllr Bob Kilmister added: “There is a total miss-representation of what I said in terms of Theatre Gwaun and Narberth pool. Those were both earmarked for closure and as a result of that closure those bodies had to react and they didn’t have sufficient time to do so.
Despite Cllr Kilmister’s comments the notice of motion was not adopted.
Crime
Court hears man exposed his flaccid manhood ‘by accident’
A 21-YEAR-OLD Pembrokeshire man has appeared before magistrates charged with intentionally exposing his genitals in a public place.
Thomas Jones is accused of carrying out the act at a property in New Moat, Clarbeston Road, on November 9, 2022.
“The defendant knocked on the door of a female and offered his gardening services,” Crown prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
“She accepted his offer and moved her car so that he could move his van, but when she turned around, she could see his flaccid penis was outside his trousers. When she pointed this out to him, he said he didn’t know that it was exposed.”
Jones denies the charge. He was released on unconditional bail to await his trial at Haverfordwest magistrates court on January 6.
Crime
Regular cocaine user from Milford Haven taken off the road
A MILFORD HAVEN resident who admits to being a regular cocaine user has lost his driving licence after being found behind the wheel when he was 15 times over the legal Benzoylecgonine limit.
Teifion Morse, 41, was stopped by officers just before midnight on May 1 following reports that he was driving his Vauxhall Insignia along the A477 at excessive speeds.
“The vehicle was travelling westwards towards Kilgetty, and Teifion Morse was the driver and the sole occupant, “ Crown Prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
A roadside drugs wipe proved positive while further blood tests carried out at the police custody suite showed that Morse had 800 mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system (the legal limit is 50), and 20 mcg of cocaine. The legal limit is 10.
Ms James said that when Morse was spoken to by officers, he told them that he knew the readings would be positive. “I’ve done stupid amounts today,” he said.
Morse, of Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to two charges of drug driving. A probation report stated that since leaving the military five and a half years ago, Morse has suffered from mental health issues.
He’s been using cocaine as a coping mechanism,” said the probation officer. “He freely admits that he uses cocaine to help him cope, but it’s spiralled and is getting more and more out of control. He would like support to kick this habit.”
Morse chose to be legally unrepresented when he appeared before magistrates.
“It was my stupid fault and I’m trying to take the correct steps to get on the right path,” he said in mitigation.
Morse was sentenced to an 18-month community order during which he must carry out 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work. He was disqualified from driving for 15 months and must pay a £140 court surcharge and £85 costs.
News
Haverfordwest motorist ‘was well and truly over the limit’
A MOTORIST , described by the Crown Prosecution as being ‘well and truly over the limit’, has been banned from driving by Haverfordwest magistrates.
Police were called to the County Hall car park, Haverfordwest just before midnight on Hallowe’en following reports of the way in which an Alfa Romeo was being driven along Old Hakin Road.
When officers arrived, they discovered Ashley Horrocks, 32, behind the wheel.
“When officers spoke to him, he was displaying the demeanour of someone who was intoxicated,” said Crown Prosecutor Nia James.
A roadside breath test was positive and subsequent breath tests carried out at the police station showed that Horrocks had 78 mcg of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 35.
“He was well and truly over the limit,” added Ms James.
Horrocks, of Rack Hill Terrace, Hawthorn Rise, Haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to the drink-drive charge. He was legally represented by Mr Michael Kelleher.
“It was an incredibly stupid decision on his part to drive, but he hasn’t drunk any alcohol since,” he said.
Horrocks was fined £250 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £100 surcharge. He was disqualified from driving for 20 months.
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