COUNCIL IN CRISIS

PEMBROKESHIRE held its breath yesterday as councillors decided on the future of their chief executive.

Fourteen councillors had laid notices of motion for a vote of no confidence in Bryn Parry-Jones. Many members gave passionate speeches saying that it was the day for change.

At the end of a very long meeting, lasting all day, a recorded vote was taken where twenty-three councillors voted no confidence in the chief executive.

Five councillors abstained; but it was not enough to see off the embattled CEO, the highest paid in Wales.

Thirty councillors voted against the motion meaning that Mr Parry-Jones can stay in his post.

‘Listen to the people’

IN A devastating attack on beleaguered CEO Bryn Parry Jones, leader of the Pembrokeshire Alliance Bob Kilmister highlighted repeated failures in Pembrokeshire County Council’s administration over the last four years and laid the blame for those failings clearly at the door of Bryn Parry Jones.

Hammering home the point, Cllr Kilmister quoted the reports made by Estyn, CSSIW and the Welsh Government into the running of Pembrokeshire County Council and the cosy and complacent culture among senior officers and Cabinet members.

Cllrs Pat Davies and Gwilym Price continued the attack, citing a moral failure of leadership at the top of the Council. Cllr Phil Baker, cited declining staff morale, as the lowest paid had their pay cut while their employer offered tax breaks and the highest pay in Wales to senior officers while the Council lurched from iceberg to iceberg, like the RMS Titanic.

Cllr Tony Wilcox anticipated the line followed by other speakers, as he pointed out to Councillors that the buck had to stop with the CEO when things went wrong.

Cllr Mike Stoddart told a sombre and hushed chamber that there was contempt in the Council for the rule of law: can we get away it is the only question these people ask?

Cllr Jacob Williams told members that the CEO had presided scandal after scandal, and pointed out there had been a complete lack of accountability in dealing with the CEO and that Councillors had the opportunity to represent their constituent’s views.

Cllr Vivian Stoddart, pointed out that the reputation of the Council was in tatters, the reputation of the Council has been on a downward spiral and that downward spiral has been throughout the tenure of the CEO. She pointed out that in excess of £400,000 had been wasted on defending Judicial Review proceedings in the High Court and pointed out the headline “Council put reputation before children”. She quoted Bryn Parry Jones’ own words that “leadership meant taking responsibility” and that it was time for him to face up to that and accept for responsibility for the problems that have engulfed Pembrokeshire County Council under him.

More press clippings

ANGRY councillors who were prevented from voting at the last meeting of full council made an attempt to turn the tables on the leader of the council, Cllr Jamie Adams yesterday. Cllr Phil Baker stood up waving a envelope saying to the chairman: “I have a brown envelope here filled with clippings from the Western Telegraph”

Next, Cllr Jacob Williams said to the Chairman: “Mr Harding had his arm outstretched to receive the envelope. Should he not be allowed to receive it?”

The chairman barked: “Cllr Williams: We do not have time for this – we have a lot on the agenda to get through; and if you continue these comments I will have to deal with you!”

Opposition councillors booed and jeered. Cllr Jamie Adams then addressed the meeting: “The interview in the Western Telegraph is an accurate reflection of what I said, but I did not write the headline. I have not predetermined the issues in-front of me today.”

Stoddart amends minutes

A ROW broke out at yesterday’s full council meeting at County Hall about the accuracy of the minutes. At last months farcical meeting, opposition councilors were prevented from participating in a vote over suspending the Chief Executive. This was because the Council’s barrister said they had ‘pre-determined’ their views by talking to The Pembrokeshire Herald and the Western Telegraph.

At the start of yesterday’s meeting Councillor Mike Stoddard said that he was unhappy with what was on the record because it had failed to mention that Cllr Keith Lewis had withdrawn from the meeting twice. Cllr Stoddart said: “There are code of conduct issues with what happened after his return to the meeting, and I would like that recorded.”

Cllr Keith Lewis said: “The reason that I returned to the meeting was to make my point absolutely clear.”

However, Cllr Nutting interrupted saying: “Yes, but after returning you spoke again!”

Councillors eventually voted to amend the minutes, so that Cllr Stoddard’s concerns were dealt with.

However, Councillor Jacob Williams was prevented from raising further issues. He wanted to ask questions as to which officer of the council may have shown bias by requesting that two councilors return to the meeting.

Council reveals cost of advice over unlawful payments

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has spent over £27,000 on advice in a desperate attempt to justify the making of unlawful pay supplements to its Chief Executive Officer.

The sum spent was revealed by IPPG leader Jamie Adams, and follows the revelation that the unlawful pay supplement was worth in excess of £45,000 over two years it was made.

The IPPG administration has previously indicated that it intends to revisit the pay policy in an attempt to make the pay supplement lawful. With significant further cost, including further external expert reports (which the Council failed to commission before making the unlawful decision and payments), it seems as though the cost neutrality of the scheme, acclaimed by the IPPG administration – and Cllr Adams in particular – lies in tatters.

The costs included £14,480 for Tim Kerr QC, and £12,562 for Mr. Watson who had prepared an experts report for the Council following the Welsh Audit Office’s report in the public interest.