News

Councillors call for chief’s immediate suspension

Published

11 years ago

October 1, 2013

Five county councillors have signed a formal requisition to the Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council calling for an extraordinary meeting where Councillors will decide if Chief Executive Bryn Parry-Jones should be suspended.

It calls upon the council to refer the ‘Pensions Arrangements’ matter to the Welsh Government for investigation, and for the arrangement to be rescinded immediately,and for the Chief Executive to be suspending pending the outcome of the Welsh Government’s inquiry.

Until Friday’s Herald exclusive, no other publication had revealed that the meeting had taken place in secret session inside the Chief Executive’s office, and it has since been confirmed that the Chief Executive was present throughout the meeting and when the matter over pensions was discussed.

Cllr Miller’s requisition for the extraordinary showdown is cosigned by his fellow Labour party member Cllr Tony Wilcox, Cllr Mike Stoddart and Cllr Viv Stoddart who are both unaffiliated independents; and Plaid Cymru’s group leader, Cllr Michael Williams.

The Councillors call for the council to debate and vote on the following:
(1) The original decision to allow the pension payments to be made to individuals instead of their Local Government Pension Scheme to be rescinded;
(2) The Welsh Government to appoint an independent panel to review the legality of the decision and the circumstances surrounding the debate and decision making process;
(3) That the Chief Executive Officer be immediately suspended pending the outcome of the above inquiry.

The Chairman of the Council, Cllr Arwyn Williams, has until Monday October 7 to set a date for the meeting or to refuse the request. If Cllr Williams refuses or fails to convene a meeting, the signatories to the original requisition can then call upon the authority’s Head of Legal and Committee Services to arrange for the meeting to be held. This request cannot be refused, and the Head of Legal and Committee Services is required by the constitution to set the date of the meeting within five clear days.

News

Grieving family’s aim to protect young drivers in memory of daughter

Published

3 hours ago

January 24, 2025

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL’S Road Safety Team have worked in partnership with the family of a young woman killed in a road traffic collision to launch an intervention for young drivers in our County and beyond.

Ella Bee’s Story aims to prevent further deaths on the road, particularly among the 17 to 25-year-old age group, and concentrates on the Fatal 5, peer pressure, driver behaviour and how to reduce the risks both as a driver and passenger.

Twenty-one year-old Ella Smith was killed in a road traffic collision on the Broad Haven road in 2021 and her family are bravely telling their story of the night it happened and the aftermath of losing Ella.

Two drivers involved in the collision were jailed for ten years each having been convicted of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The intervention was launched recently and will be available to all schools and young peoples’ groups in the County, along with Pembrokeshire College.

The Road Safety Team worked closely with the family to put together the intervention which includes the production of two videos that can help educate all young drivers, and any adults with young drivers in the family.

Following the launch Ella’s mother Maria said: “We as a family and Ella’s best friends have worked tirelessly with Pembrokeshire County Council to produce a presentation on road safety to be delivered to schools, colleges and youth groups to educate young drivers on the devastating impact that losing Ella has had on us all.

“Ella your legacy will live on and you will forever be remembered for helping others even now.”

Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett added: “The launch of Ella Bee’s Story was incredible moving. Ella’s family has been incredibly brave in their determination to ensure her tragic death is not in vain and this project will help other young drivers stay safe on our roads.”

For further information about how your school or youth group can access Ella Bee’s Story please email [email protected]

News

Storage container fire in Newcastle Emlyn

Published

4 hours ago

January 24, 2025

Tom Sinclair

AT11:48am on Friday (Jan 24), Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews from Llandysul and Carmarthen fire stations were called to a fire in Capel Iwan, Newcastle Emlyn.

The fire involved a 40-foot by 8-foot storage container and was confined to a generator inside. Firefighters used a hose reel jet, two breathing apparatus sets, a thermal imaging camera, and a positive pressure ventilation fan to extinguish the blaze.

Crews remained on site to dampen down the area before departing at 12:57pm.

Crime

Pembrokeshire man accused of assault and perverting justice remanded in custody

Published

4 hours ago

January 24, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKESHIRE man accused of assaulting a woman has been remanded in custody after allegedly offering her money to drop the charges.

Lohan Chapman, 19, of Primrose Close, Neyland, is accused of intentionally strangling a female during an alleged incident in Milford Haven on August 1, 2024, and of assaulting her by beating. He denies both charges.

This week, Haverfordwest Magistrates Court heard that Chapman was remanded in custody on January 18 after being accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice by offering his alleged victim an undisclosed sum of money to withdraw the charges.

District Judge Mark Layton declined jurisdiction in all three matters.