News

Bullyboy Bryn caused Audit Chair to resign

Published

10 years ago

August 9, 2014

Tom Sinclair

Revealed explosive letter – Cllr. Jacob Williams

By Jon Coles, Assistant Editor

EAST WILLIAMSTON Councillor, Jacob Williams, has exclusively revealed the explosive content of a letter sent to IPPG Leader Jamie Adams by former Audit Committee Chair John Evans MBE.

The letter exposes the extent of Bryn Parry Jones’ paranoia about the Herald’s coverage of the grants scandal that has engulfed the Council and the campaign of Councillor Mike Stoddart to expose the Council’s maladministration of public money in the Commercial Property Grants Scheme in Pembroke and Pembroke Dock.

In May, after the Herald revealed that Council’s European Manager Gwyn Evans had tampered with meeting minutes, the Council’s CEO summoned John Evans MBE, senior officers and two councillors to his office and demanded that that one of them own up to being responsible for the leak. If the person responsible did not own up, the CEO threatened those present with a “private investigator” to discover the mole’s identity.

Mr Parry Jones’ threat seems to suggest that he regards himself as above the rules lately adopted by his own employers as to the treatment of whistle blowers who make revelations in the public interest.

As it happens, the Herald can allay Mr Parry Jones’ paranoia. We can confirm that nobody at that meeting revealed that Gwyn Evans was responsible for tampering with potential evidence in a criminal investigation. We can also confirm that no serving councillor was responsible for giving us that information.

Jacob Williams, whose website contains the full text of Mr Evans’ letter, reports:

“Mr. Parry-Jones is then claimed to have “instructed all present to issue a signed written statement of discussions or meetings during which the identity of the Officer could have been revealed.”

“The meeting “ended in a stunned silence” and left Mr. Evans “shocked at the tone, attitude and hostility of the Chief Executive,” and says that the “hostile nature of the encounter” instigated by Mr. Parry-Jones and such “intimidation” had “violated” and “compromised” his independence as the committee’s statutory lay member.”

CEO under fire: Bryn Parry Jones

No doubt, Mr Parry Jones’ bullyboy tactics and his attempt to intimidate senior officers, councillors and a distinguished lay chair of a key Council committee was such a run of the mill event at County Hall that IPPG Leader Jamie Adams failed to mention it when responding to a question at the last full council meeting about the circumstances that led to John Evans MBE’s resignation as Audit Committee Chair.

In addition, the letter allows the inference to be reasonably drawn that two unelected officers had chosen to overturn the decision of a democratic committee of the Council in order to shield those officers responsible or culpable in other officers’ incompetence.

Those officers, Jon Haswell and Kerry MacDermott, respectively directors of human resources and head of audit, chose to ride rough-shod over a decision made by a democratically elected Council Committee to inquire into how, why and at whose behest Gwyn Evans had tampered with meeting minutes and also about the terms and extent of an inquiry into the administration of the grants scheme generally.

The letter confirms that far from there being no “obvious disagreement” – a turn of phrase that had to have been provided to Cllr Adams by either Messrs Haswell or MacDermott – the terms and magnitude of that disagreement are amply demonstrated by the content of the letter the IPPG leader received well before he delivered his scripted answer to Cllr Mike Stoddart’s question about John Evans MBE’s resignation.

Jon Haswell, Director of Finance, was in charge of the process of appointing John Evans MBE’s replacement. As The Herald wrote, he will be hoping to appoint someone more biddable than the former chairman.

With the CEO exposed as a bully and the IPPG leader as someone who can most generously be described as being extremely “economical with the truth”, the culture of cover up and cant at County Hall has been laid bare.

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Bryn furious over leak to The Herald

6 Comments

Andrew Lye

August 9, 2014 at 11:02 pm

If this is true, this is totally unacceptable.

Can the Iron Dome protect him this time? Seems like the killer missiles are breaching it.

Is the writing on the wall?
Concerned

August 9, 2014 at 11:25 pm

Who has the balls to pull the trigger. Surely if no one on PCC has, WG must.
David Gardner

August 9, 2014 at 11:48 pm

At last what we have all guessed / believed was going on in the darkened corridors of power at County Hall is being revealed in the bright spotlight of the media. Further light has yet to be shed into more grimy corners before all the story is known, but known it will be now that people are losing their fear of speaking out. Not before time those who have ruled with fear are learning what it is like to be the ones on the run. Keep up the good work ‘Pembrokeshire Herald’ and hopefully one day soon we will have a Council that has the needs and interests of Pembrokeshire at heart rather than self interest.
Roy Mcgurn

August 10, 2014 at 11:48 am

Economy with the truth is a rather restrained way of putting it! This authority is the most economical in Wales. Changing a fact is not economy with the truth, it\\’s a falsehood. Mr Adams should heed a quote from Abraham Lincoln, \\”Telling the truth is easier than lying as one doesn\\’t have to keep making it up.\\”A clear and honest statement from the Leader on the whole grants affair is needed, though I suspect if he did, heads would have to roll, including his own!
Ann Hackett

August 10, 2014 at 7:33 pm

Keep up the good work herald get to the truth and get BPJones OUT and who ever else, who doesnt have the people of pembrokshire at the top of thier priorities they are supposed to be a council for the people not corruption and lies,if they dont pull their socks up soon they wont be needed as a council for Pembrokshire,they are cutting this and that all the time but we still have to pay rates top whack yet BPJones gets away with all sorts NOT ON GET HIM OUT TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT HIM
Bob Wheatley

August 11, 2014 at 12:30 pm

Reading all this should be making those people who do not vote begin to realise why they should vote and why millions of men died for their right to vote. did they die in vain? Democracy means that we the public elect a member of the local population to represent us on council. How can you vote for a person who is being told what to do by the people who he/she is supposed to be monitoring I resigned from council because the members thought they were above the law and regulations on the way councils should be run. I enjoyed serving my community but I was a servant of the people who put me there. not to see what I could get from it.BPJ thinks that he is above the law and regulations, but he is not and he also feels that we have to pay him this vast amount of money because you have to pay if you want the best Well he is not the best and in fact I know at least six men who could do his job better than him at a third the price If he employs a private detective to find out who leaked information I hope he is going to pay for it out of his own pocket I am fed up about hearing, about my hard earn\’t money paying for his defence.We pay our rates for B P J to provide us with services. He is cutting hours for the people who are providing those services, and who cannot afford to have their hours cut whilst giving himself and his cronies pay rises to keep them sweet. You watch out Mr Adams he will surely drag you down with him if you are not careful. You must have a lot to hide Bryn be careful or it all might come out just how naughty you have been

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

1 hour ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

8 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

9 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.