Apology: Cllr Tudor: Apologised to the Standard’s Committee

COUNTY COUNCILLOR Thomas Tudor has apologised to the Standards Committee for voting on a matter concerning Haverfordwest secondary education despite only being given a dispensation to speak.

The Standards Committee met on Thursday, February 11, and also decided to grant Cllr Tudor the right to speak and vote on the matter for the next year.

Cllr Tudor is a parent governor of Sir Thomas Picton School and also has a close association with someone working at Pembrokeshire College and therefore has to declare a personal and prejudicial interest.

A complaint was made by Cllr Myles Pepper and Council Leader Jamie Adams after he voted at an extraordinary meeting of council on April 14, 2015.

An ombudsman’s investigation into the complaint found that no action needed to be taken against Cllr Tudor but recommended that he apologised to the Standards Committee for disregarding their decision.

Cllr Tom Tudor said: “I apologise to you the standards committee, and only you members of the standards committee, however I did it in my desperation to represent the views of my electorate and get their views heard and voted for.

Mr David Morgan thanked Cllr Tudor for his words and said they accepted his apology.

Cllr Tudor continued: “Never before have I seen such a huge amount of interest in one subject alone in all the years I have served as the county councillor for the Castle Ward. With that in mind it is highly imperative that we as county councillors listen to the needs of the people and take on board their concerns, we have a duty of care to at least do that.

“This is why I am seeking dispensation from you the standards committee to speak and vote on this important matter as an elected member who is also a parent governor of Sir Thomas Picton School.

“The proposals to have a centralised 6th form on the site of Pembrokeshire College to serve the Northern part of Pembrokeshire is one that certainly does not have the support of the Governing Bodies of Sir Thomas Picton, and Takers school.

“With the governing bodies of Sir Thomas Picton school, of which I am a Parent Governor, and the Governing Body of Taskers having over 200 years’ experience collectively is something that must be taken into account and the views of those Governing bodies should be respected and represented within the chambers of Pembrokeshire county Council by the elected members of Haverfordwest community.

“The Governing bodies of both schools strongly believe that the proposed new amalgamated school in Haverfordwest should also have the provision of providing a 6th form, in that we provide a choice to the pupils, the same way we have afforded the pupils in the South of the county a choice.

“Crymych, Tenby, Milford Haven, Pembroke are given a choice of having a 6th form, Haverfordwest, St Davids and Fishguard are not given a choice, that simply is not acceptable, unjust and simply completely unfair. Hence the reason why I am seeking dispensation to speak and vote.

“We all want the best for our children and young people and we should invest more time and research into this matter before we move forward with full elected member input in terms of voting and speaking within the chamber.

“Please in no way let there be any misunderstanding with my view of Pembrokeshire College, it is a good educational establishment serving the people of Pembrokeshire well since its creation. But a 6th form centre is best placed on the site of the proposed new school for Haverfordwest.

“We are talking about the education of the young people of Pembrokeshire, therefore all councillors have an interest in that, so do we all have a prejudicial interest, I would say yes, therefore we all should have full voting and speaking rights.”

Cllr Stan Hudson said: “Having argued previously for Haverfordwest members to speak and vote because as Tom as already mentioned he is representing a large number of parents in Haverfordwest and this is a county wide issue that I think it is important that Haverfordwest members are allowed to speak and vote.”

It was approved to give Cllr Tudor dispensation to speak and vote for the following year.