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Pembroke Dock: Council staff walk out of meeting

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THREE members of staff of Pembroke Dock Town Council walked out of their meeting last night (Nov 2).

Cllrs had been discussing a vote of no confidence in three councillors caught up in bullying claims against council staff.

Town Clerk Sarah Scourfield resigned from her position last month because of the alleged bullying she has received.

Cllr Phil Gwyther stated that some people had said something the staff didn’t like and it was that point that Sarah, Deputy Town Clerk Amanda Dillaway and Admin assistant Mandy Hart got up and walked out of the meeting.

It left the Mayor, Cllr Jane McNaughton, with no option but to call the meeting closed.

Cllr Brian Hall said that they needed to show they were not happy with the three members by a vote of no confidence.

He said: “We need to resolve this problem of so-called bullying, harassment in this Town Council. Hopefully it will be resolved full stop. This has been going on and on.

“I personally think that the three councillors who are involved in this could have resolved this by apologising after the debate at the last meeting.

“We’ve got to draw a line under it so I will move that we have a vote of no confidence in them councillors.”

Cllr George Manning seconded the motion put forward by Cllr Hall.

Cllr Hall continued: “I really feel sorry for these ladies. There were loads and loads of emails relating to continual harassment and I couldn’t work in that situation.

“I did make a begging plea that Sarah the Town Clerk stays, I think we will drastically miss her and what’s made matters worse is the last town clerk, she’s already made a similar accusation that that is why she left and that is two, I don’t want to see a third, I don’t want to see it ever again.”

However, Cllr Stephen O’Connor said: If councillors act below the standard that is expected, they should be reported to the Standards Committee. This is an ongoing investigation at the moment. Until that investigation has concluded I don’t think we can take any action.

“The public have elected them so the vote of no confidence has no relevance to it.”

Cllr Dilys Burrell said she didn’t feel they could make that judgement before it was looked at by the ombudsman.

Cllr Manning said: “I have no problem in supporting the vote of no confidence, we won’t be sacking anybody, and they won’t be off the council. All we are saying is that we are not happy with what has gone on. Why can’t we establish that?”

Cllr Hall said most councillors feel they are doing a good job and that they didn’t want to be tarred with the same brush.

Deputy Mayor, Cllr Gordon Goff added that he agreed with Cllrs Hall and Manning and that it was the actions of the three councillors and what they had done to the town in blatantly lying, that made him think he had no confidence in them.

Cllr Phil Gwyther said: “We have three councillors who have complaints issued against them by staff members and what the councillors have said is that they have seen things going on that preceded this council that they think are wrong. Those councillors have spoken out on a number of occasions and the staff have not liked it.”

It was at that point that the three staff members got up and walked out.

Business

Stena announces redundancy plan amid uncertainty for Pembrokeshire

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FREIGHT carrier and ferry operator Stena Line, which runs services between Fishguard and Pembroke Dock, has announced plans to cut up to 80 staff members following an internal review.

Uncertainty looms over whether any of these redundancies will impact staff operating our local ferry services.

Stena CEO Paul Grant shared the news in an email to employees on Monday, citing a need to “future proof the company.” He explained that an internal assessment revealed the company’s current organisational structure as “too big and expensive” compared to its revenue.

The decision comes amid rising costs and increased competition in the freight and travel sectors.

According to Mr. Grant, “Cost pressure due to higher inflation has led to our customers having less money to spend, and with the introduction of the European Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), increasing our prices, we see a decline in volumes for both travel and freight.” Additionally, disappointing sales during the summer season and unmet market growth expectations for 2024 contributed to the restructuring.

The program, designed to strengthen Stena’s long-term business viability, includes a reduction of costs, prioritization of investments, and staff cuts that will primarily impact support functions and consultants. The workforce will be reduced by 80 positions by early 2025, along with 30 consultants also set to leave the company. Discussions with unions and work councils are expected to last several months, with all affected staff to be informed of their status by January 31, 2025.

In response to this announcement, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) has demanded a meeting with Stena Line to clarify the impact of these cuts, particularly on their members.

TSSA General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust expressed disappointment over the handling of the announcement, stating: “Our members are shocked by this news and outraged that Stena has chosen to sidestep established industrial relations processes. Stena must meet with us urgently to clarify who is at risk and address the potential impacts on our members.”

The layoffs are part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at securing Stena Line’s future amid sustainability challenges. CEO Niclas Mårtensson acknowledged the difficult decision, stating, “Stena Line has been a successful company over the past few years; however, we need to ensure a lower cost base to be able to future proof the company. With 40 vessels in Europe and the Mediterranean, we have significant sustainability challenges ahead of us, and this program will enable us to make necessary investments for the future.”

The TSSA’s letter to Stena reiterates the union’s commitment to supporting affected employees and calls for an immediate discussion to clarify the situation, especially for staff at Fishguard who may be impacted.

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UK government to appoint first Wales Crown Estate Commissioner

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FOR the first time, the UK government will appoint a Crown Estate Commissioner dedicated to advising on matters in Wales, further integrating Welsh interests in board-level decisions. This move supports existing efforts to ensure that Wales benefits from the push for clean energy, following an agreement facilitated by the Welsh Secretary.

An amendment to the Crown Estate Bill, with cross-party backing from Labour, Plaid Cymru, Liberal Democrats, and crossbenchers, will be accepted at today’s Lords Report Stage (Nov 5). This change mandates the appointment of a Wales-specific Commissioner through the Public Appointments process, with input from the Welsh Government. The appointee will bear “an additional responsibility” to represent Welsh conditions and interests, amplifying Wales’s voice within the Crown Estate.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens has collaborated with the Treasury, The Crown Estate, House of Lords members, and the Welsh Government to secure this legislative advancement. The Crown Estate, instrumental in drawing international investment to Wales, supports projects like Floating Offshore Wind in the Celtic Sea, which promises cleaner energy and job creation.

The introduction of a Wales-specific Commissioner strengthens The Crown Estate’s mission to serve the entire UK while averting potential market fragmentation and protecting international investor confidence critical to the net-zero transition.

In a related effort, Great British Energy, the government’s new public energy firm, recently partnered with The Crown Estate to expedite renewable energy advancements. This initiative could attract up to £60bn in private investment, boosting the UK’s journey toward energy independence.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens stated: “This is a landmark step toward ensuring that Welsh prosperity is at the heart of the government’s mission to become a clean energy superpower. Our nation stands to benefit hugely from investment in floating offshore wind, and we now have the representation we need to help seize that moment. This demonstrates how Wales benefits directly from its two governments working together, and I’m grateful to Lord Livermore, The Crown Estate, and others for helping to make this happen.”

Sir Robin Budenberg CBE, Chair of The Crown Estate, said: “In seeking to increase the number of Commissioners from eight to twelve, The Crown Estate welcomes the opportunity now presented by this amendment to bring even more direct knowledge and understanding of the areas in which we operate and further strengthen our ability to deliver benefit to the whole of the UK.”

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Crime

Arrests made after large-scale cannabis operation raided in Pembroke Dock

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POLICE in Pembroke Dock have uncovered yet another large-scale cannabis operation, as part of an ongoing clampdown on illegal farms in the area. On Monday (Nov 4), Dyfed-Powys Police executed a search warrant at a property on Dimond Street, where officers found over 500 cannabis plants in a sophisticated cultivation setup.

Two men, aged 26 and 34, have been arrested in connection with the investigation and are currently in police custody. The raid follows a series of similar operations in Pembrokeshire, targeting properties used for illegal drug cultivation.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

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