News
Haverfordwest: Council halts schools consultation
AMID a swirl of rumour and counter-rumour, The Herald is able to confirm that the future of secondary education in Haverfordwest remains in doubt.
The Herald received a tip off on Wednesday (Nov 18) that Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) was considering its position in respect of continuing the consultation.
On checking with others and a reliable source at County Hall, we asked PCC to confirm what was happening.
Just before our deadline, we received a response from County Hall.
The statement was brief and to the point: ‘Pembrokeshire County Council can confirm that the Director for Children and Schools, Kate Evan-Hughes, will recommend to a meeting of Extraordinary Council next Thursday (Nov 26) that the current consultation on a review of secondary education in Haverfordwest is to be discontinued’.
The Herald is aware that the solicitor acting for the trustees of the Tasker-Milward & Picton Charity has lately been in correspondence with PCC and it’s solicitors, Messrs Geldards of Cardiff. Stephen Hill, of Price and Son Haverfordwest, has pointed out flaws in the way PCC has conducted itself both in the original consultation and during its attempt to rectify the errors made in that process by launching a second consultation.
The Herald also understands that key consultation documents were not circulated to either St Mark’s School or Tasker-Milward School as required by the Welsh Government.
The turn of events is a major embarrassment to PCC and its Head of Education, both of whom have spent considerable time and money pursuing the PCC’s objectives.
In March Jamie Adams told County Councillors that any delay in progressing the schools consultation would be fatal to the PCC’s plans. There have now been two resets of the process thanks to PCC blunders in handling it.
The Director for Children and Schools is to recommend to a meeting of Extraordinary Council next Thursday (Nov 26) that the current consultation on a review of secondary education in Haverfordwest is discontinued.
Kate Evan-Hughes will put forward slightly modified proposals to Councillors and recommend that they approve the launch of a new consultation on those proposals.
She will also inform Councillors that the procedure followed in relation to the statutory consultation is considered to be challengeable, and that it is advisable to discontinue statutory consultation and recommence formal consultation with the Trustees of the Tasker Milward and Picton Charity prior to commencing a new consultation.
If the Director’s recommendation is approved by Councillors, this will be the third statutory consultation on secondary education in Haverfordwest.
“We are very aware that this is the third time we are seeking to consult on education in Haverfordwest, but we are determined to get this process absolutely right for the sake of our children’s education,” said Kate.
“As ever, we are very grateful for the public’s input to the process and ask them to persevere with us as we endeavour to get the very best outcome for our schools.”
As a result of the new recommendations to be put to members, the public meetings due to take place in Haverfordwest on the current consultation have been cancelled.
The meetings were due to take place on November 23 and 30 at the Archives. All those who have reserved places are being contacted.
News
Body recovered confirmed to be Luke Stephenson, say police
DYFED-POWYS police have said today that the body found on Wednesday, May 1, has been confirmed to be Luke Stephenson, who was reported missing from the Pembroke Dock area on April 14.
A spokesperson for the force said: “We will continue to support the family and will assist with issuing a tribute publicly if the family wish to do so.”
Business
Port of Milford Haven now official ‘a great place to work’
THE PORT of Milford Haven has been officially accredited as a Great Place to Work-Certified™ organisation. As the first Port Authority in Britain to secure this Certification™, it is a significant achievement.
“We are very proud to be Great Place to Work-Certified™,” said Vidette Swales, HR Director at the Port of Milford Haven. “It means so much that our employees have reported a consistently positive experience with their colleagues, their leaders and their jobs. Offering a positive employee experience is not only beneficial for the people who work with us but is also key for our continued business success.”
Tom Sawyer, CEO at the Port of Milford Haven added: “Our team is operating the UK’s leading energy port, and it is of the utmost importance that we do that safely, responsibly and effectively. We’re striving for excellence and aim to provide a world class service to our customers as well as supporting sustainable coastal communities for the prosperity of future generations. Our employees are clearly at the centre of this which is why I’m delighted that they feel supported in their role. I’m especially proud that this Certification™ demonstrates our core values of Safety, Excellence, Collaboration and Sustainability so perfectly.”
“We congratulate the Port of Milford Haven on achieving their Certification™,” said Benedict Gautrey, Managing Director of Great Place to Work® UK. “Organisations which put the employee experience at the heart of their business gain their employees’ trust and, in turn, are truly able to build a great workplace culture that delivers outstanding business results.”
Find out more about careers at the Port of Milford Haven here: www.mhpa.co.uk/about/careers-at-the-port/.
News
Fresh questions over fire that ravaged Manorbier school
A senior Pembrokeshire councillor is to be quizzed on what progress has been made in recouping a £200,000 insurance excess paid by the council following the 2022 fire at a Manorbier school.
Manorbier Church in Wales VC School and its adjoining schoolhouse was severely damaged by a fire on October 11, 2022, which broke out in the school roof space.
Pupils and staff were successfully evacuated with no injuries, and a “school from school” was set up in Jameston Village Hall, after a brief period of sanctuary at the nearby Buttyland caravan site.
Pembrokeshire County Council’s insurers have previously said the fire was accidentally started while “hot works” were being carried out by contractors to renew an adjacent flat roof, but, as has previously been stressed, no liability had been accepted to date.
Councillors have previously heard the majority of costs were likely to be met from the council’s insurers, with the caveat of the unknown issue of liability and its effect on the £200,000 insurance excess.
A submitted question, by Councillor Aled Thomas, to be heard at the full council meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council on May 9, will ask Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language Cllr Guy Woodham “to update the chamber on what progress the Cabinet have made in recouping the £200,000 insurance excess paid following the devastating non-fault fire at Manorbier school”.
Councillors have previously been told by Cllr Woodham: “The legal issues are not straightforward but will be robustly taken forward.
“At this stage it’s still subject to legal discussion. The excess will be covered by a fund the council holds for insurance excess.”
He said that, if liability was found or accepted, the council would “pursue for the full maximum claim of the costs associated with the fire”.
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