News

Senior council officers’ deal with Dai Boswell exposed

Published

8 years ago

March 22, 2018

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL reached an agreement with Pembroke St Mary North councillor David Boswell regarding his attendance at Council meetings.

David Boswell, aged 56, has denied a single allegation of the rape of a girl aged under 13. He made his first appearance at the crown court accused of historical rape and indecent assault in October last year.

The offences are alleged to have been committed between February 27, 1991 and February 28, 1994. The case is currently adjourned.

Last weekend, County Councillor Jacob Williams published an extract from an exchange of emails between Tenby County Councillor Mike Williams and Monitoring Officer Claire Jones on jacobwilliams.com.

The Pembrokeshire Herald has obtained the full text of those exchanges.

In an email dated February 26 and addressed to the Council’s Head of Legal, Claire Incledon, Mike Williams asked: ‘Has Cllr Boswell been advised by PCC at any time not to attend council meetings until the ongoing legal process has been completed?’

A reply came on March 15, after councillors had been told that there was no step they could legally take regarding Cllr Boswell’s failure to attend a Council meeting for over six months.

That reply read: ‘The Councillor in question is legally represented and was aware that he could not be prevented from participating in any Council activity.

‘He did however AGREE (emphasis added) to curtail certain Council activities … and not to attend certain meetings’.

The word ‘agree’ – as in ‘He did however agree to curtail certain Council activities… and not to attend certain meetings’ – implies a proposal upon which agreement was reached.

We asked the Council the following questions in return to the deal the Council’s officers struck with Cllr Boswell:
What meetings were covered by it?
Which officers were involved in reaching it?
Who proposed such an agreement and who authorised it?

We received no reply.

As the ‘agreement’ went to the heart of the good faith in which Council officers dealt with councillors both before and at the meeting in which Cllr Boswell’s position was discussed, we asked: Was James Goudie QC made aware of the agreed position between the Council and Cllr Boswell when he was first instructed or at all?

We received no reply.

In relation to whether Ian Westley, Council Chief Executive, knew about the bargain we asked:
Was the Chief Executive aware of the agreement between council officers and Cllr Boswell that he would ‘curtail certain Council activities’ and ‘not attend certain meetings?
If he was aware, when was he made aware?

We received no reply.

As the County Council’s Cabinet is widely known to be deeply unhappy about the unfolding drama regarding the competence of the Council’s legal team and its unique and ultimately costly attitude to the law, we asked:
Was the Leader of the Council or any Cabinet member made or other councillor made aware that the Council had agreed with Cllr Boswell that his attendance at ‘certain meetings’ was excused?
If so, when were they made aware?
We received no reply.

As the agreement was a crucial piece of evidence as to the Council’s own approach to its interpretation of the law, which was NOT referred to in the very detailed advices received from one of the UK’s leading local government QCs, we asked:
Did any council officer formally record, minute, record, or otherwise confirm the agreement between the Council and Cllr Boswell regarding his participation in ‘council activities’ or ‘certain meetings’?

We received no reply.

Finally, we asked which other councillors were invited to the event held on 22nd November 2017 attended by Cllr Boswell (the ‘other event’) referred to in James Goudie QC’s advice? We asked for a copy of the invitation/notification for the event.

Even to this – very straightforward – question, we received not reply.

Every single one of our questions was a query on a matter of fact and not one of interpretation.

The Council officers to whom those inquiries were addressed now appear very reluctant to share with the public the details of a deal reached behind closed doors. Moreover, it appears that until Cllr Mike Williams was told of the agreement reached between Council officers and Cllr Boswell’s legal team, they were kept in the dark as to why the Council’s Legal Officers were so keen to defend their position from public scrutiny.

What that says about the confidence councillors can have that they are being told the whole story by council officers or just being given one pitched and spun to conceal officers’ behind the scenes deals is now open to question.

Local Government

Clean-up after yacht wrecked on rocks at Lower Town, Fishguard

Published

14 hours ago

March 6, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A YACHT that ran aground on rocks at Lower Town in Fishguard is being cleared by Pembrokeshire County Council after debris washed onto the shoreline.

Council officers attended the scene to assess the situation and begin removing wreckage after the vessel was found stranded among the rocks.

Heavy machinery was brought in to help clear debris from the beach, with workers seen dismantling parts of the damaged yacht and removing material that had scattered along the shoreline.

Pembrokeshire County Council confirmed it is aware of the incident and has issued a Notice to Mariners, warning of the potential presence of floating debris in the surrounding waters.

The notice advises vessels navigating in the area to exercise caution while clearance work continues.

No further details about how the yacht came to run aground have been released.

Cover pic:

Council workers clear debris from a yacht that ran aground at Lower Town, Fishguard.

Community

Sea Cadets receive grant, donation and celebrate World Book Day

Published

14 hours ago

March 6, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MILFORD HAVEN SEA CADETS have had a busy and successful week, with new equipment arriving at the unit, a donation from a local organisation, and junior members taking part in World Book Day activities.

The Milford Haven unit recently received delivery of new Standard Horizon VHF radios, which will be used during the upcoming boating season. The equipment was purchased after the group successfully secured funding through the RCD Foundation Grant.

The radios will help cadets develop important communication and safety skills while taking part in maritime training on the water.

The unit also received a £100 donation from Neyland Lodge, with cadets presented with a cheque during the week. Staff at the unit said the contribution would help support activities and training opportunities for young people involved in the organisation.

Leaders at the unit thanked the lodge for its support, describing the donation as a welcome boost for the cadet group.

Meanwhile, junior Sea Cadets marked World Book Day by taking part in a special visit to their local library. Along with members of the Junior Training Organisation (JTO), the young cadets dressed up and learned about the role of a librarian.

During the visit, they explored the library and each chose a favourite book, helping to encourage reading and learning outside the classroom.

Milford Haven Sea Cadets said the week highlighted the wide range of experiences available to cadets, from maritime training and community support to educational activities.

The unit is part of the wider Sea Cadet network operating across West Wales and continues to provide opportunities for young people in the Milford Haven area to develop skills, confidence and teamwork.

Local Government

Petition calling for clean rivers policy wins unanimous support at County Hall

Published

15 hours ago

March 6, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A PETITION calling for Pembrokeshire County Council to adopt a stronger Clean Rivers Policy has received unanimous support from councillors at County Hall.

The petition, backed by environmental campaigners and community groups, was presented during a meeting of the council on Thursday (Mar 6). Supporters in the public gallery applauded after councillors expressed their backing for the proposals.

The presentation was delivered by James Harrison-Allen, representing The Cleddau Project, a volunteer-led initiative focused on protecting and restoring the River Cleddau and its surrounding environment.

Campaigners said the atmosphere inside the council chamber was “extraordinary”, with councillors from across the political spectrum voicing support for improving river protection measures in Pembrokeshire.

The petition calls for the council to adopt a clearer policy aimed at improving water quality and tackling pollution affecting local rivers.

Supporters say pollution from multiple sources, including agricultural run-off and sewage discharges, has placed increasing pressure on rivers across Wales, including the Eastern and Western Cleddau.

Following the presentation, councillors backed the petition unanimously, prompting applause from members of the public and campaign supporters in attendance.

The campaign has drawn support from a number of environmental organisations including West Wales Rivers Trust, River Action UK, and the Campaign for National Parks.

Representatives from several organisations and public bodies were also acknowledged by campaigners, including Natural Resources Wales, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, as well as local political representatives Henry Tufnell MP, Samuel Kurtz MS, and Paul Davies MS.

Campaigners say the decision marks an important step in raising awareness of river pollution issues affecting the Cleddau catchment and wider waterways across Pembrokeshire.

The Cleddau Project said the outcome was “a great day for the Cleddau” and praised the work of volunteers and supporters who have helped drive the campaign forward.