News

No-go on senior officer’s payoff as councillors wait for Audit Wales report

Published

3 years ago

November 16, 2021

ON MONDAY (November 8), Pembrokeshire County Council voted to defer any movement towards a settlement agreement with its Head of Legal and Democratic Services, Claire Incledon, until after councillors received an Audit Wales report.
Ms Incledon’s identity as the officer seeking a settlement was inadvertently disclosed by simple jigsaw identification during the public part of the meeting. A fact Cllr Brian Hall tartly noted without naming the Head of Legal.The report, into the payment of £95,000 to former CEO Ian Westley, is taking time to arrive at County Hall, even though portions of it dealing with individual officers were circulated to those named in it during the summer.
The payment made to Mr Westley was unlawful. The Audit Wales report will examine the advice given by officers relating to it.

WANTED: £100K+

Ms Incledon wants a payment in excess of £110,000 from the Council to resolve issues around her wish to leave the Council’s employment.
Settlement agreements are usually used to resolve disputes between employers and employees to avoid the risks of litigation.
Their terms are always confidential and governed by employment law.
They are not unusual or peculiar documents and tend, with a few wrinkles here and there, to be used routinely in medium-to-large organisations in both the public and private sector.
Ms Incledon has not begun a formal grievance procedure relating to her Council role, and no disciplinary proceedings against her are underway or even planned.
It is, therefore, unclear why a settlement agreement would be thought necessary at this stage.
One clue as to what might be in the Audit Wales report is now apparent, though. It must contain criticism of Ms Incledon that she rejects either in whole or part.
In a formal statement, a Council spokesperson said: “At an Extraordinary Meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, Council considered the issue of a Settlement Agreement concerning an employee.
“Members decided more information was required before concluding the matter.”
That bare statement is not the whole story.

OFFICER MEMBER RELATIONSHIPS

On the one hand, Cllr Jamie Adams has seized on a single sentence in an external peer-review.

“A set of relationship issues are evident at the Cabinet and Corporate Management Team level that are impacting negatively.”

Cllr Adams is keen on that sentence, freely suggesting that senior officers were somehow victims.
He has not, however, bothered much with the observation following it:

“Tensions between political and professional leaders are common across all organisations from time-to-time and are inevitable given the challenges and pressures faced by public services in the current environment.”

Or this nugget:

“Whenever behaviours and standards are demonstrated as being an issue, responsibility is incumbent upon the Chief Executive, Monitoring Officer, Leader of the Council and political group Leaders to take the necessary action and to support each other fully in doing so.”

Cllr Adams publicly voiced no concerns regarding behaviours and standards before the Corporate Peer Review’s publication.
It’s fair to infer– as the leader of a political group – he had none.
Even in circumstances where he would realistically be expected to be aware of any concerns– whether expressed formally or otherwise – as a former Council Leader, Cllr Adams said nothing to raise awareness of any issues.
And in March this year, any preconceptions about officers’ closeness to the papal levels of infallibility were torpedoed by an external consultant, who worked on the report upon which Jamie Adams has hung his hat.
An LGA expert on Council’s performance told members of the Council’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee he had never met more senior officer resistance to an external review of a local authority.
Chris Bowron said officers’ resistance was overcome only through strong personal leadership by individuals committed to the idea such a review must happen.
Pembrokeshire County Council, the Committee heard, was ‘not a normal council.’
The era of top-down management had long passed elsewhere, and it was time for the Council to catch up and then get ahead of the field.
As a corporate body, Pembrokeshire County Council’s old working methods were unsustainable.
Those old working methods would have been familiar to at least one member of the Committee: Cllr Jamie Adams.
The same meeting decided to defer any investigation of the Corporate Peer Review until after the Audit Wales report landed.
That is another matter that appears to have slipped the memory of some councillors in their eagerness to grab an electioneering pound of flesh.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

While rumours of wars rattle around the County Hall echo chamber, the issues the Council had to decide on Monday were straightforward: whether to discuss a current member of staff’s employment in public or in private.
And after members reached that decision, what to do about the proposed settlement agreement.
It turned out that having had a leading local government QC advise them against discussing matters covered by the bonds of confidentiality that bind employer and employee at their last meeting made no impact on a few councillors.
This time, likewise, the expert advice of a partner in the employment team of leading solicitors Eversheds had little impact.
This was public money, and the public had the right to know, claimed Cllr Reg Owens.
Huw Rowland Jones of Eversheds patiently – and repeatedly – told members that employment law dealt with settlement agreements based on utmost confidentiality.
He added he had never – in an extensive career – come across a local authority breaking the provisions of employment law to discuss one’s proposed terms in public.
Nevertheless, Pembrokeshire County Council has always been exceptional, and the law wasn’t going to put off a handful of councillors from chasing their dragon to the bitter end.
While very few of that handful are doubtlessly motivated by a genuine concern about open governance, Cllr Jonathan Preston – who again introduced a note of reality into proceedings – said some were posing for the electorate.
Cllr Preston expressed exasperation that the Council was even discussing proceeding in public. The legal advice, he said, was clear, and the law was clear. The meeting had to go into a closed session.
Jonathan Preston got support from Cllr David Lloyd. The latter also expressed disbelief that any councillors thought it was responsible to proceed in public.
Presiding Officer Cllr Simon Hancock moved the matter to a vote.
Councillors voted 42-10 with no abstentions to discuss the proposed settlement agreement in private.
The outcome of that debate was as The Herald said it would be on Friday, November 5.
No decision before the Audit Wales report.

News

Young Changemakers Drive Wales Toward a Net Zero Future

Published

56 mins ago

November 15, 2024

Tom Sinclair

AS world leaders gathered at COP29 to address global climate challenges, young people in Wales were making their own mark on the path to a greener future. The Tomorrow’s Changemakers Hackathon, held last Friday, showcased the ingenuity, passion, and practical solutions of 26 young finalists from across Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.

This flagship event, hosted by Pembrokeshire-based education enterprise Cymbrogi Futures, is part of a year-long programme empowering young learners with the skills and confidence to tackle climate challenges head-on.

THE WINNING IDEA: FAIR FASHION

The team from Queen Elizabeth High School, Carmarthenshire, stole the show with their innovative project addressing fast fashion waste. Their idea? Personalised soft toys crafted from discarded fabric destined for landfill. By engaging with local businesses and charity shops, the team not only demonstrated creativity but also gained practical insights into the environmental impact of textile waste.

Nia John, lead teacher for the team, shared: “This project allowed us to incorporate real-world learning into the classroom. Pupils were thrilled to interact with industry experts, growing their ideas through meaningful collaboration.”

Ariana, the team leader, reflected: “I enjoyed learning skills like collaboration and creativity, which will help me in the future. This experience has inspired me to start our school’s Climate Action group.”

OTHER FINALISTS: CONNECTING COMMUNITIES

Equally impressive was Milford Haven School’s ‘Cafe Cleddau’, a visionary concept featuring a solar-powered boat to connect communities along the Haven waterway. With sustainable snacks, a soft-play area, and hydro-powered backup systems, the idea aimed to revolutionise tourism and nightlife in the region.

All finalist teams received vouchers for the ethical online store Social Supermarket, while the winning team took home a £300 cash prize to fund biodiversity projects at their school.

BUILDING A NET ZERO FUTURE

Cymbrogi’s founder, Liza Lort-Phillips, underlined the importance of initiatives like Tomorrow’s Changemakers:
“Today’s learners will face far greater challenges in a climate-changed world than any of us. By sparking their imaginations now, we can equip them to become the innovators and leaders of tomorrow.”

The programme was supported by major partners, including the Port of Milford Haven and Cwm Environmental, who provided real-world insights into the challenges and opportunities in Wales’ green economy.

Anna Malloy, Communications and Marketing Director at the Port of Milford Haven, remarked: “This initiative is vital. Empowering the next generation with green skills and confidence ensures they are ready to lead the charge toward a net-zero future.”

A COMMUNITY-ROOTED CHALLENGE

The hackathon is the culmination of a three-stage learning journey inspired by the Well-being of Future Generations Act and the UN Global Goals. The programme began with an online course introducing topics such as the circular economy and systems thinking, followed by mini-challenges rooted in real-world scenarios in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.

Learners explored diverse challenges, including:

Sustainable Tourism: Imagining a car-free holiday in Milford Haven.
Energy: Exploring renewable solutions for rural Wales.
Fashion: Tackling fast fashion waste.

The finalists worked with industry experts, visiting sites such as the Port of Milford Haven and Cwm Environmental to gain hands-on experience.

A CALL TO ACTION

Samuel Kurtz, MS for South Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, praised the event:
“The curiosity and ingenuity of these students are truly inspiring. Their ambition shows they are ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities ahead. Initiatives like this are essential for building a resilient and sustainable future.”

Cymbrogi Futures hopes to expand the programme to schools across Wales, with plans to reach Wrexham and Neath Port Talbot in 2025.

As Wales leads the charge toward a net-zero future, the Tomorrow’s Changemakers programme reminds us that the solutions of tomorrow lie in the hands of today’s young minds.

Pictured above: Young innovators: Queen Elizabeth High students celebrate their Fair Fashion project victory (Pic: MHPA).

Community

Port supports Cruising Free’s Atlantic Dash with donation of safety equipment

Published

1 hour ago

November 15, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PORT OF MILFORD HAVEN has announced a donation of vital safety equipment to support local group Cruising Free, who will be embarking on a challenging 3,200-mile rowing journey across the Atlantic Ocean. The crew of Cruising Free will row from Lanzarote to Antigua to raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Paul Sartori Hospice at Home.

The Port of Milford Haven’s donation includes a comprehensive range of safety gear designed to support the crew’s journey and ensure their safety during this extraordinary expedition. Items provided include:

Flare Kit
Satellite Phone
VHF Radios
First Aid Kits
GPS Equipment
Lights
Safety Lines
And more

The Port of Milford Haven, the UK’s leading energy Port, is committed to supporting local maritime initiatives. This donation is a key part of the Port’s ongoing efforts to promote safety in all aspects of maritime activity, particularly for adventurous projects like Atlantic Dash.

“We are proud to support the amazing crew of Cruising Free as they undertake this monumental challenge,” said Mike Ryan, Harbourmaster at the Port of Milford Haven. “Safety is paramount for anyone taking to the sea, and we hope that the equipment we’ve provided will support them as they navigate the Atlantic. Their journey will not only raise vital funds for two incredibly worthwhile causes but also inspire people across the UK and beyond. We are excited to be part of their journey and wish them the very best of luck.”

The Atlantic Dash will see the team of experienced rowers tackle the gruelling transatlantic journey, which is expected to take several weeks. The funds raised by Cruising Free will directly benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, which supports research and care for people living with cystic fibrosis, and the Paul Sartori Hospice at Home, which provides specialist palliative care services to individuals in West Wales.

“We are truly and eternally grateful to Port of Milford Haven who have provided us with the essential safety equipment needed to embark on our 3,200 mile journey from Lanzarote to Antigua. We are hoping not to need to use the flares or safety lines, but the satellite phone and VHF radio will keep us connected with land and loved-ones through the entire 2-month journey. Thank you!” said Polly Zipperlen, team member of Cruising Free.

Cruising Free’s row across the Atlantic will begin in January 2025, and the crew’s journey will be tracked in real time to allow supporters to follow their progress. The team is already actively fundraising and plans to hold several community events in the lead-up to their departure.

To learn more about Cruising Free’s Atlantic Row and how you can support their cause, visit their Linktree here.

News

A48 closed in both directions following two crashes near Cross Hands

Published

1 hour ago

November 15, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE A48 near Cross Hands remains closed in both directions after two separate crashes on Thursday evening (Nov 14).

Drivers are being urged to avoid the area as congestion continues to build.

The eastbound closure stretches from the A476 Llandeilo Road (Cross Hands Roundabout) to Heol-Y-Deri (Cwmgwili Junction).

Meanwhile, the westbound section is closed between the M4 at Pont Abraham Roundabout and the A476 at Cross Hands.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirmed its attendance at the scene, noting that one of the crashes involved a single vehicle. Emergency services are currently working to clear the area.

Congestion has been reported on surrounding routes, including the A483 towards the Pont Abraham Interchange, the M4 leading to the interchange, and the A476 towards Cross Hands Roundabout.

At 9:50pm, the A48 was still closed in both directions. Earlier reports at 7:03pm confirmed the eastbound closure was due to a single-vehicle collision. Google Maps highlighted heavy traffic on nearby roads as drivers sought alternative routes.

By 9:30pm, traffic on surrounding roads had eased slightly, but delays persist as the main route remains inaccessible.

Motorists are advised to check for updates before planning their journeys and to follow diversions where possible.