News
Where the money went
TIME and time again, IPPG leader Jamie Adams and other Cabinet members have repeated the mantra that it was necessary to make the unlawful pay supplements to Bryn Parry Jones (and other officers) to encourage recruitment and retention of senior council officers.
The inference to be drawn from their words is that Bryn and other officers would walk away if they were not helped to avoid future tax liabilities on their blue chip final salary pension (the LGPS). The express purpose of the unlawful payments was to enable the CEO to invest that money in his own retirement fund outside the LGPS; to replace the payments that would otherwise have been made into it on his behalf by his employer. Instead, in the letter leaked last week, Mr Parry Jones claims that he gave the money to his wife to invest in her own retirement fund, and replace her LGPS pension benefits that he surrendered. What Bryn did with the unlawful payments runs a coach and horses through the retention argument and underlines the true purpose of the scheme: to avoid tax on a seven-figure pension pot. No special pleading on the CEO’s behalf by Jamie Adams can obscure the tax avoidance purpose any longer. Given the money for one thing, Bryn did another. In doing so, he has laid bare the overriding consideration of the paper before the Senior Staff Committee in September 2011. If Councillor Adams feels embarrassed by the revelations, he has done remarkably well to conceal it. But those who have clung to the IPPG party line as though it would haul them to shore, now find themselves holding a noose instead of a life preserver.
News
Andrew RT Davies resigns as Welsh Conservative leader after confidence vote
ANDREW RT DAVIES has stepped down as leader of the Welsh Conservatives after narrowly surviving a confidence vote within his party.
In a letter announcing his resignation, Davies expressed regret, stating that his position had become “untenable” after some Members of the Senedd (MSs) threatened to resign from his frontbench if he remained in post.
The vote, held on Tuesday morning, saw Davies secure nine votes in support but faced opposition from seven MSs. Reflecting on the outcome, he said: “It was clear from the result that a substantial minority of the group do not support our approach.”
Davies has served as leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd for most of the past 13 years. His departure marks the end of a tenure defined by both challenges and significant contributions to the party in Wales.
Commenting on the resignation, Reform UK Wales Spokesman, Oliver Lewis said: “True to form, the Tories have turfed out another leader thinking that will resurrect their failing party. They care more about jousting for position than they do about serving Welsh people.
“It does not matter who they have as leader, the simple fact is they have failed in opposition just as they failed Wales in Government in Westminster for 14 years.
“The people of Wales want real change in 2026 and that is just what we plan to offer them. Wales needs Reform.”
Health
Hywel Dda appoints new Deputy Chief Executive Officer
HYWEL DDA University Health Board has today announced the appointment of Lisa Gostling as its Deputy Chief Executive Officer.
Lisa has held the role of Deputy Chief Executive at the health board on an interim basis since February this year, pending the appointment of a substantive Chief Executive Officer, which was announced in October.
Professor Phil Kloer, Chief Executive Officer, at Hywel Dda said: “I am delighted that, following a competitive process, Lisa is appointed to the post of Deputy Chief Executive Officer, a responsibility that she will hold in addition to her post of Executive Director of Workforce and Organisational Development.”
Lisa relocated from the West Midlands to Pembrokeshire and developed her career within the workforce and organisational development teams at the Health Board. She has worked for Hywel Dda and its predecessor organisations since 1993.
Since 2015, she has been a member of the Executive team and Board as Director of Workforce and Organisational Development. Since February this year, she also held the role of interim Deputy Chief Executive Officer. She holds a CIPD qualification from Sandwell College and is a keen Welsh learner.
Phil continues: “Lisa’s innovative approach to recruitment and to staff development has been of great benefit to our health board – including the development of our culture and values that shapes our work every day, and the establishment of the Apprenticeship Program that has seen us enable several local people to join our Hywel Dda teams and develop their career with us.
“Lisa has also been instrumental in supporting our work to reduce our dependency upon agency staffing and building our substantive workforce – ensuring greater sustainability and quality in our teams.
“I look forward to continuing to work with Lisa in her new role and wish her every success for the future.”
Lisa Gostling, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Workforce and Organisational Development, added: “It is an honour to be appointed to this position and support Phil, our Board, and our teams across the health board in delivering health care for our communities.
“I look forward to building on the foundations of the past six months and working with our team of staff who are all dedicated to improving the health and well-being of current and future generations.”
Community
Henry Tufnell MP advocates for Pembroke’s bell restoration project
LAST weekend, Henry Tufnell MP visited St David’s Cathedral, where he had the opportunity to witness the tradition of bell ringing and meet with members of the St Mary’s Bell Restoration Project. The meeting underscored the vital importance of preserving Pembroke’s unique heritage while also addressing the ongoing challenges faced by the restoration team.
St Mary’s Church, located in the heart of Pembroke, is home to a set of historic bells that have been a cherished part of the town’s life for over 260 years. However, due to structural and safety concerns, these bells have been silent, putting a pause on their role in significant civic and cultural events, including Remembrance Sunday and local celebrations.
A significant £150,000 from the £10.5 million UK Government funding pot has been allocated to this restoration project, but delays in finalising the grant have hindered progress. Henry pledged his commitment to ensuring that the project receives the attention it deserves to move forward without further obstacles.
Following his visit, Mr Tufnell said: “Speaking with members of the St Mary’s Bell Restoration Project at St David’s Cathedral highlighted how much this initiative means to the people of Pembroke. Restoring these historic bells is about more than just tradition; it’s about community pride and keeping our heritage alive for future generations. I’m determined to help ensure this project gets the green light it needs and I will be doing everything in my power to ensure it happens.”
The St Mary’s Bell Restoration Project has garnered widespread support from local residents and businesses, whose donations have helped secure the match funding required for the Fund. Completing the project would be a significant milestone, securing a vital piece of Pembroke’s history for years to come.
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Littlelamb.
August 6, 2014 at 12:56 pm
To ‘encourage the retention of senior officers’…..don’t make me laugh. Let them apply for jobs in other councils and let see what happens.
tomos
August 6, 2014 at 6:30 pm
Bryn cannot run our council, indeed he’d have issues running a tap without the stout support of HIS IPG group.
The only thing he’s good is dirty tricks and threats to ensure he stays in his job.