News
BRYN VOTE LOST: IPPG Still backing embattled chief executive
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.
News
Too many children in Wales living in poverty – Lib Dems want action
THIS week in the Senedd, the Welsh Liberal Democrats renewed their demands for the implementation of child poverty targets.
According to a report from the Bevan foundation, 29% of children living in Wales are currently experiencing poverty (an estimated 190,000 children).
The same report highlighted that the largest percentage of children living in poverty are from working households or in couple households.
The Welsh Lib Dems are now renewing calls for the Welsh Government to create a set of targets for reducing child poverty, which the party argues will allow for more accountability.
The party has previously called for the implementation of targets, citing recommendations from the Calling Time on Child Poverty Report published in November last year.
Commenting, the Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said: “The latest statistics on childhood poverty in Wales paints a very distressing image of families across the country struggling to make ends meet.
Over the course of the last six years, the proportion of children in poverty has skyrocketed. Fuelled by worsening economic conditions and a complete lack of action from both governments in Westminster and Cardiff Bay.
We cannot act complacent about these figures nor accept the clear lack of progress in fighting child poverty, behind each statistic is a child that the state has failed.
It remains painfully clear that the Welsh Government is failing to make any meaningful progress in this fight, which is why they must follow through with the implementation of clear set targets that will allow for further accountability.
We as a party have continuously called for the creation of these targets and we will not be silenced. For the sake of future generations we urge the Welsh Government to listen.”
Crime
Welsh constabulary areas record another increase in shoplifting
RETAIL trade union Usdaw is deeply concerned by today’s police recorded crime statistics showing that in 2023 there were significant increases in shoplifting across all constabulary areas in Wales. In the whole of England and Wales there has been a persistent upward trend since the pandemic, which continued with a 37% increase and has now risen to the highest level in 20 years.
The Office for National Statistics released figures showing a 39% increase in shoplifting incidents across Wales and by constabulary area as follows:
- Dyfed-Powys +11%
- Gwent +47%
- North Wales +23%
- South Wales +51%
Usdaw’s 2023 annual survey of over 5,500 shopworkers found that 60% had suffered incidents of violence, threats and abuse that were triggered by shoplifting and armed robbery.
Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary says: “Shoplifting is not a victimless crime, theft from shops has long been a major flashpoint for violence and abuse against shopworkers. Having to deal with repeated and persistent shoplifters can cause issues beyond the theft itself like anxiety, fear and in some cases physical harm to retail workers. This 39% increase in shoplifting across Wales is further evidence that we are facing an epidemic of retail crime, which is hugely concerning.
“Our members have reported that they are often faced with hardened career criminals in the stores and we know that retail workers are much more likely to be abused by those who are stealing to sell goods on. Our latest survey results show that 7 in 10 retail workers suffered abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence. 60% of respondents said theft from shops and armed robbery were triggers for these incidents.
“The scale of assaults, abuse and threats towards shopworkers and extent of the retail crime epidemic has been a disgrace for many years. This has been made worse by police cuts and a failure to legislate to protect retail staff. Usdaw has long called for action that includes a standalone offence for assaulting a shopworker and that has been vehemently opposed by this Government and their Conservative MPs on many occasions.
“Recently the Government performed a long overdue U-turn after many years of sustained campaigning by Usdaw and others. Our members have had to wait too long for their voices to be heard and common sense to prevail. We will have to see the detail of what Ministers are proposing and we are clear that it must be at least what we won in Scotland three years ago. It also cannot fall short of Labour’s commitments to 13,000 more uniformed officers, patrols on high streets, banning repeat offenders and ending the perverse £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters.
“The dither and delay by this Government on this issue over many years, has led to thousands of shopworkers needlessly suffering physical and mental injury. Today’s stats should ensure that their promise to legislate is done speedily. We hope that whatever the Government is proposing will be substantial and effective in giving shopworkers, key workers in every community, the respect that they have long deserved and regrettably too often do not receive.”
Business
Paramount’s key role in transformation of McArthurGlen Designer Outlet
FAST-growing Welsh company Paramount is relishing the challenge of creating an “irresistible dining destination” after winning the contract to play a key role in the multi-million transformation of the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Bridgend.
The Cardiff-based design, build, fit-out and refurbishment specialist will spearhead the re-development project of the shopping centre after being handed responsibility for revamping its popular food court over the summer.
In the coming months, the development will see the Food Court transformed into three modern, and bright restaurants, welcoming new food and beverage brands to the centre and creating more than 100 new job opportunities for the local community.
Paramount’s Construction Director, Paul Thomas, said: “The team behind the scenes at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Bridgend have fantastic plans for the future and we’re delighted to have been entrusted with the mission to help turn their exciting vision into a reality.
“Paramount prides itself on creating places where people want to be, and my team are relishing the opportunity to help create what will be an irresistible dining destination. It’s certain to be a complex project, but we have the expertise and local knowledge to deliver outstanding results in close collaboration with our project partners.”
The owners of the shopping centre, which has been attracting local people and visitors for more than 25 years, have promised a “substantial investment to redevelop the Food Court area and replace it with new and exciting restaurants”.
Now the Paramount team is ready to lay the groundwork by removing some existing structures around the Food Court and will then introduce a series of new features as part of the overall facelift. These include new glazed entrance doors within glazed curtain walling shopfront, render and a new entrance lobby with new stairs and lifts.
The work to completely develop the Food Court in the shopping centre starts this week, and is expected to be completed in late autumn. As a result, customer favourites including Nando’s, McDonald’s and Chopsticks will be closed while work is under way.
Patrick Finney, Head of European Construction, McArthurGlen Group, said: “After celebrating our 25th anniversary last year, we’re extremely pleased to welcome Paramount on board in this important step of revitalising the Food Court area.
“These are exciting times for everyone at one of South Wales’ best-loved retail complexes and we know Paramount will work closely with us to create a truly special place for diners and shoppers of all ages.”
Paramount, whose turnover reached £45 million in 2023, employs 60 people who own a majority shareholding of the business – 51 per cent – following completion of an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) scheme in 2021, a deal which marked a major milestone for Paramount after a period of sustained growth.
The company is well known across Wales and England where it has created high-quality inspirational space for a number of leading companies. These include the multi-million-pound redevelopment of Hodge House and Fusion Point One in central Cardiff, and the fit out of Par 59 bars in South Wales and South West.
Over the next few months, Paramount’s construction team will also be completing on a multi-million-pound social housing development in Porthcawl, Mid-Glamorgan with Valleys to Coast.
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