News
Departing Chief Executive to get maximum pay-off possible in Wales of £95,000

THE CHIEF Executive of Pembrokeshire County Council, Ian Westley, will receive a £95,000 pay-off from the Council.
The agreement for the payoff was reached through negotiation and is the maximum pay-out available for departing public sector employees.
Mr Westley’s payment was a matter delegated through the Council’s internal procedures to its leader, Cllr David Simpson, who authorised the agreement – executed by Director of Finance and Transformation Jon Haswell on Tuesday, September 1.
Settlement agreements are legally binding contracts which can be used to end an employment relationship on agreed terms.
They are voluntary and parties do not have to agree to them or enter into a discussion about them. There can be a process of negotiation during which both sides make proposals and counter-proposals until an agreement is reached or both parties decide no agreement can be reached.
Negotiations regarding settlement agreements are confidential and neither party can disclose their content.
The existence of a settlement agreement works both ways.
They are not proof of any legally actionable misconduct by either party and can be used to end employment for a variety of reasons, whether proposed by the employer or employee.
Speculation about what led to the negotiation is just that; although, as we reveal in this week’s paper, there were problems between Mr Westley and several members of the Cabinet and a blistering row between Mr Westley and another member of the Council’s senior management in the last few months.
In Mr Westley’s case, the Council – as Mr Westley’s employer – disclosed both the payment and settlement agreement’s existence (though not its other content or the negotiations) voluntarily at the time it was entered into.
Previous practice at Pembrokeshire County Council was to disclose the sums subject to such agreements either in response to a general request under the Freedom of Information Act or buried in the Council’s annual accounts – as was the case regarding the former Director of Education Graham Longster amongst other officers who left before 2017.
The case of previous CEO Bryn Parry Jones, and the amount of money sought by Carmarthenshire’s former CEO Mark James when he volunteered for redundancy directly contributed to the Welsh Government’s decision to cap senior staff’s pay-outs.
Community
Tumble dryer fire in Milford Haven sparks safety warning

A TUMBLE dryer fire at a home in Milford Haven has prompted a fresh warning from firefighters about the dangers of electrical overloading and white goods.
Fire crews from Milford Haven Fire Station were called to a domestic property in Steynton at 5:52pm on Wednesday (Apr 9), after a tumble dryer caught fire. The blaze was caused by the use of a block adapter.
Fortunately, the occupiers were at home at the time and were able to raise the alarm quickly. The fire service said the incident could have ended very differently had the property been empty.

Crews from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) left the scene at 6:15pm.
Following the incident, MAWWFRS issued a safety reminder about the risks of using extension leads and adaptors incorrectly, and the importance of maintaining white goods safely.
A spokesperson for the service said: “Most households use extension leads or adaptors to increase the number of appliances that can be plugged into a wall socket. It is important that these devices are fused to minimise the risk of overheating and fire.”
The fire service shared the following advice:
- Never plug in appliances that together exceed 13 amps or 3000 watts.
- Don’t leave tumble dryers running when you go out or go to bed.
- Don’t overload your tumble dryer or dry items soaked in flammable substances such as cooking oil.
- If you smell burning or clothes seem excessively hot after a drying cycle, stop using the appliance and have it checked by a professional.
More information is available on the fire service’s website: www.mawwfire.gov.uk
News
A40 closed after serious crash near Wolfscastle

AIR AMBULANCE LANDS AT SCENE AS TRAFFIC DISRUPTED
THE A40 between Wolfscastle and Haverfordwest was closed in both directions on Friday afternoon (Apr 11) following a serious road traffic collision.
The crash, which was first reported at 12:10pm, prompted a significant emergency services response, including Dyfed-Powys Police and the Wales Air Ambulance, which was seen landing at the scene shortly after the incident.
AA Roadwatch confirmed that the road was shut in both directions, with slow-moving traffic and congestion reported in the surrounding area for several hours after the collision.
Police urged motorists to avoid the area and to seek alternative routes while emergency crews dealt with the incident.
At the time of writing, no official update has been given on the number of vehicles involved or whether there were any injuries. Dyfed-Powys Police have been approached for comment.
Traffic disruption remains ongoing, with live road maps showing long delays approaching Haverfordwest from the east.
More updates will follow as information becomes available.
Crime
Police investigate alleged assault at Milford Haven property

OFFICERS from Dyfed-Powys Police have been maintaining a presence at a property on Marble Hall Road, Milford Haven, as part of an ongoing investigation into an assault.
The Herald understands that the front door of the property has been boarded up with plywood, prompting concern and speculation from local residents.

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “Officers have been undertaking scene preservation in relation to an investigation of assault.”
No further details have been released at this stage, and it is not yet known whether any arrests have been made.
Residents told The Herald they noticed police activity at the address earlier this week, with officers attending the property and cordoning off the area.
The Herald will provide further updates as more information becomes available.
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