News

Bullyboy Bryn caused Audit Chair to resign

Published

11 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

Community gathers to remember Corrina Baker

Published

6 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Lanterns and balloons released in emotional acts of remembrance

FAMILY, friends and members of the local community came together to remember Corrina Baker at a series of moving events held across west Wales this week.

Corrina’s funeral took place on Monday (Dec 15), a month after her death, with a public service held at St Mary’s Church. Mourners lined the route as her coffin was carried on its final journey in an elegant horse-drawn carriage, before a private cremation later took place at Parc Gwyn crematorium in Narberth.

Later that evening, shortly after 6:00pm, friends and relatives gathered at the Quayside in Cardigan for the first of two acts of remembrance to celebrate her life. Lanterns were lit and released into the night sky above the town as some of Corrina’s favourite songs were played.

On Tuesday afternoon (Dec 16), a second tribute was held near the location where Corrina was found. Twenty-one pink balloons — one for each year of her life — were released into a clear blue sky, each carrying personal messages in her memory.

Floral tributes continue to be laid at the Netpool, while a GoFundMe appeal set up in Corrina’s memory has raised more than £2,300. She has been described by those who knew her as “funny and bright”.

Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed that their investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ms Baker’s death is ongoing. A 29-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of murder has been released on bail while inquiries continue.

(Photos: Stuart Ladd/Herald)

Community

Six untaxed vehicles seized in Milford Haven police operation

Published

7 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Tom Sinclair

SIX untaxed and abandoned vehicles were seized during a joint roads policing operation in Milford Haven on Tuesday morning.

Officers from the Milford Haven Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Team (NPPT) worked alongside the Pembrokeshire Roads Policing Team as part of targeted enforcement across the town.

In addition to the vehicle seizures, a number of traffic offence reports were issued to drivers during the operation.

Police said the action formed part of ongoing efforts to improve road safety and tackle vehicle-related offences in the Milford Haven area.

Community

Candlelit carol service brings community together in Milford Haven

Published

7 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Tom Sinclair

ST KATHARINE and St Peter’s Church in Milford Haven hosted its annual Candlelit Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, bringing together members of the community for a traditional celebration of Christmas.

The service featured readings from the Mayor of Milford Haven, representatives of the Soroptimists, Milford Haven Amateur Operatic Society, the Headteacher and Head Prefects of Milford Haven School, Milford Haven Town Band, and NCI Wooltack Point.

Music for the evening was provided by organist Seimon Morris, Milford Haven Town Band and the Milford Haven Cluster Band, whose performances added to the atmosphere of the candlelit service.

The Friends of St Katharine and St Peter’s Church thanked all those involved and wished the community a happy Christmas.