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Council to examine coroners report on tragic death of Derek Brundrett

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PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL will examine the detailed findings and conclusions made by the assistant coroner who led the investigation into the tragic death of Derek Brundrett.

Derek sadly passed away in December 2013 after two attempts to refer him to mental health services had failed.

The Assistant Coroner for Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire conluded that he intended to take his own life.

A 35-page report of findings and conclusions were made by the Coroner and the Council have said they will examine them to see what lessons can be learnt.

Cllr Josh Beynon asked at last Thursday’s (Feb 21) Full Council meeting, what steps had and would be taken to avoid another tragedy.

Cabinet member for Social Services, Cllr Tessa Hodgson expressed her sympathies and condolences to Derek’s family and gave details of a number of support services that can be accessed by
young people and school-based staff.

Supporting his question, Cllr Beynon wrote: “On (19/02/2019), the inquest into the tragic death of Derek David Brundrett formally concluded in which the assistant coroner for

Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, Mr Paul Bennett stated his narrative conclusion in the case as the following: “That Derek David Brundrett took his own life and intended to do so in
circumstances where despite efforts to refer him for psychiatric support, there was a failure to do so. There was a failure to refer by a social worker following a CPC on 12th June 2013; there was a failure by a General Practitioner to provide additional information when the referrals of the 2012 and 2013 were declined; there was a failure to provide the relevant information on the appropriate referral for relevant to a Looked After Child when the social worker seconded to SCAHMS spoke to Derek’s social worker. His death was in the context that on

November 25, 2013 he had been returned to foster care and was concerned about a return to the pupil referral unit”

Cllr Beynon asked: “Can Pembrokeshire County Council outline what steps they have and will be taking to ensure that they are doing everything possible to avoid another tragedy like this?”

Cllr Hodgson said: “The death of a child is a profound loss and I’m sure that I speak for everyone in this room and all the professionals involved in this tragedy in expressing my great sympathy to Derek’s family and friends.

“I would like to repeat and re-state our sincere condolences to them at this difficult and sad time.

“Derek’s loss is deeply felt by those individuals who had formed close and caring relationships with him. We have thanked the coroner for his thorough investigation and consideration of the case which has taken just over four years to resolve. The inquest hearing itself lasted approximately 16 months. On Tuesday, the assistant coroner for Pembrokeshire delivered a detailed findings and conclusions of over 35 pages.

“We are now considering the issues arising from the decision and what lessons can be learned from the process and what actions can be taken to ensure the safeguard and well-being of all children and young people served by this council.

“The actions will be considered at the earliest opportunity by our local safeguarding group, the Mid and west Wales Safeguarding board, which are both multi-agency, and also it will be discussed at our whole authority safeguarding group.

“The director of education has also provided me with a summary of the support we currently offer to pupils in our schools and this includes a range of support for pupils with mental health issues including the advice and support of a link education psychologist, one to one counselling as well as access to a range of specialist emotional health nurses and therapists through a dedicated emotional health and well-being team.

“In addition the recently introduced early intervention emotional health and well-being panel offers pupils access to a wide range of services to help build emotional resilience.

“Suicide prevention and self-harm training, co-ordinated by the local authority in partnership with the Health Board and designed and delivered by specialist primary mental health nurses, is also offered to all school-based staff. Schools also access advice around mental health issues from the Health Boards’ Primary mental health nurses.”

Cllr Beynon thanked the chair for allowing the late question and Cllr Hodgson for her response, asking if a report could go to scrutiny when ready.

Cllr Hodgson said she was happy to support that.

Business

Stephen Crabb leads inquiry on retaining community bank services  

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PRESELI Pembrokeshire MP, and Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee Stephen Crabb is leading an inquiry in Parliament that will investigate the closure of high street banks in Wales, as well as access to cash.

In November 2023, Pembrokeshire saw the closure of Lloyds Bank in St Davids, and in the coming months both Barclays Bank and Halifax in Haverfordwest are set to close. In recent years, Wales has experienced a rapid decline in the number of high street banking services available to the public. Already in 2024, 23 high street bank closures have been announced in Wales, while automated teller machines (ATMs) declined by nearly a quarter between 2018 and 2023.

The Committee willconsider how declining high street banking services are impacting vulnerable people and small businesses across Wales, who are often more reliant on cash than digital banking. It will also examine how Wales is being affected by the loss of high street bank services, and whether the problem is worse in Wales than other parts of the UK.

Mr Crabb is a staunch advocate for retaining community banking facilities, especially in rural communities like Pembrokeshire where many local branches remain the only source of face-to-face banking provision for miles.

Recently Mr Crabb challenged Barclays Bank senior management on their decision to close the bank branch in Haverfordwest– a move that will see Barclays not only pull out of the county town, but means they won’t have a branch left anywhere in Pembrokeshire. He has also engaged with LINK – the UK’s largest cash machine network – and continues to campaign on the basis that a Banking Hub is established and that ATM machines should be retained or installed, especially in areas worst affected by the closures.  

Following the launch of the inquiry, MP Crabb added: “It is really sad to see so many banks across Wales closing as online banking grows in popularity. Despite the advantages of online banking, for a rural community with an ageing population like Pembrokeshire, bank branches hold huge importance as they offer face-to-face customer service.”

“I am acutely aware of the inconvenience that the bank closures locally have already caused following hundreds of replies from constituents to my ‘online banking survey’ ”

“I am looking forward to gathering further evidence on this subject through the committee’s inquiry, and will continue to put pressure on the relevant stakeholders to ensure that adequate alternative provisions are made through the establishment of banking hubs as well as the instalment of ATM machines where necessary.”

“In this inquiry, we are particularly keen to hear from those likely to be directly affected by the shift away from cash and physical banks. I encourage anyone with first-hand experience of losing banking services to give evidence to the Committee”

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Business

Trains resume between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock as works end

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TRAIN services resumed this morning (Thursday 28 March) after ten days of essential round-the-clock work to upgrade track and drainage between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock.

The railway was closed from Monday 18 March to Wednesday 27 March to allow Network Rail teams to replace more than 200 metres of track and 300 tonnes of ballast (track stones) between Pembroke station and Pembroke Dock.

Work to improve the drainage between Narbeth and Kilgetty stations was also completed at the same time.

Nick Millington, Network Rail Wales and Borders route director, said: “This essential work in Pembrokeshire demonstrates our commitment to improving the reliability of the service we provide to passengers along our route.

“We know that replacing the track can be disruptive and very noisy, so I would like to thank the residents of Pembroke for their patience while our team carried out this crucial work.”

Colin Lea, Planning and Performance Director at Transport for Wales said: “We’re pleased that our colleagues in Network Rail have completed this essential work and that Transport for Wales rail services resumed today.

“We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while this work has progressed and look forward to welcoming passengers back in time for the Easter weekend.”

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News

Welsh Water has increased sewage discharges into waterways ‘by 40%’

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NEW figures released by the Environment Agency have shown that Dwr Cymru discharged sewage into waterways for a staggering 23,354 hours last year, a 40% increase on 2022. 

The Welsh Liberal Democrats are now calling for tougher action against sewage dumping in Welsh waterways.

The party has also called for a halt on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have dumped sewage into waterways.

Conservative MPs have consistently voted against measures which would have helped to tackle the crisis.

The Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said: “It is a complete scandal that filthy sewage is being pumped into our nation’s rivers and waterways without consequence.

“It’s beggars’ belief that both the UK Conservative Government and the Welsh Labour government are allowing water firms to get away with this environmental vandalism.

“We as a party are calling for tougher action to stop sewage being dumped in local waterways. We have also called for a halt on bonuses for water company fat cats whose firms have pumped filth into our waterways.”

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