News

Bryn to take ‘leave of absence’ following Herald revelations

Published

10 years ago

August 15, 2014

CEO under fire: Bryn Parry Jones

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL’s embattled Chief Executive, Bryn Parry Jones is to step aside, it has been announced today (Aug 15).

Following a series of shocking revelations in this week’s Herald about the CEO’s conduct, IPPG leader Jamie Adams announced the embattled chief exec is to take “a period of absence” from his post.

East Williamston Councillor Jacob Williams was first to break the news on his website this morning when he reported:

“Within hours of today’s Herald going on sale, council Leader Jamie Adams issued the following press statement:

The Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, Councillor Jamie Adams, has announced that the Chief Executive, Mr Bryn Parry-Jones, is to take a period of absence with immediate effect.

Councillor Adams said: “This decision has been taken in view of the continuing speculation surrounding the Chief Executive’s position.

“It has been reached by mutual agreement between Mr Parry-Jones and myself and I believe is in the best interests of the Authority at the present time.

“There will be no further statements on this matter.”’

Last weekend Councillor Williams was the first to report on the explosive content of a letter sent to Jamie Adams by former Audit Committee Chair John Evans MBE. In that letter, Mr Evans made a series of allegations about the CEO’s conduct at a secret meeting on May 16 after the Herald revealed the identity of a Council Officer who had interfered with the minutes of a grants panel meeting.

A statement released by Cllr Adams after Cllr Williams and the Herald reported the allegations concerning Mr Evans claimed that the former Audit Chair – a former head of a multinational company – had “misinterpreted” events at the meeting. Cllr David Simpson, Cabinet spokesperson for housing, who was one of two councillors who were actually present at the May 16 meeting in the CEO’s office, told the Herald that his recollection accorded with Mr Evans’ other than in relation to the meeting’s atmosphere of alleged ‘hostility’.

Since Mr Evans’ letter’s online publication and the appearance of a series of articles on the Herald’s own website, momentum has grown for dramatic change at County Hall.

That momentum was increased today when the Herald exclusively revealed that the CEO – a Council employee – had launched an expletive-laden rant at two councillors, former British Lion Peter Morgan and local businessman Mark Edwards, following their support of a motion requesting that the CEO pay back unlawful payments made to him by the Council.

The Herald was contacted this morning by Cllr Mike Williams, leader of the Plaid Cymru group, who said:

“Without your efforts there can be little doubt that the shenanigans of County Hall would not have become so publicly known.

“I have to plead guilty as one of the original members who appointed Mr Parry Jones to his current role in 1995, despite being aware that Carmarthen had failed to appoint him, and having received numerous phone calls from then members of Llanelli Council, who up until then had employed Mr Parry Jones warning me that he had been a disaster with them, and pointing out his autocratic verging on arrogant management style.

“Mr Parry Jones is the senior civil servant in Pembrokeshire. What do the revelations of his conduct tell us about him? Can you imagine any Welsh Government officer speaking to elected members in this fashion?

“I find it alarming that the relationship has become almost incestuous between the controlling group and an officer who is supposed to serve all members, not one group.”

Mr Parry Jones’ “period of absence” is widely thought to be a desperate attempt by the Council’s ruling group to preserve its grip on the levers of power and potentially save the position of Council Leader Jamie Adams.

Councillor Adams has been repeatedly and publicly voluble in his support for the Council’s CEO, to the extent where questions have arisen about the CEO’s alleged involvement in the Council’s political processes. Such is the closeness of their working relationship that it beggars belief that Jamie Adams was not aware of issues surrounding the CEO’s conduct towards Councillors and others when crossed.

With a requisition for an Extraordinary Meeting to vote on no confidence motions against both the CEO and IPPG Leader Adams, Jamie Adams’ own position as leader of the council is hanging by a thread.

The Herald has today revealed that a widespread movement exists for the replacement of Councillor Adams with Councillor David Simpson as Council Leader. Councillor Simpson’s reputation for plain-speaking integrity, as befits a serving Justice of the Peace, is thought to be key to restoring public confidence in the Council.

The Herald’s Assistant Editor Jon Coles said:

“Enough people have “known” what has been going on for years. At last there are people prepared to say in public what they whisper in private. And – importantly – those prepared to publish it.”

http://jacobwilliams.com/6397/chief-executive-to-take-period-of-absence/

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15 Comments

Norm jones

August 15, 2014 at 12:00 pm

No doubt he will remain on full pay but it’s a step in the right direction nevertheless. Now, if only Adams would do the ‘right thing’ and go too.
Tomos

August 15, 2014 at 12:53 pm

I hope he goes and I hope the council will not be intimidated by any threats of going to law for constructive dismissal.
Just sack him, don’t allow early retirement or retiring due to ill health – we’ve seen too many similar cases where ppl “get off” scot free
burt

August 15, 2014 at 1:10 pm

great news, congratulations to all at the Pembrokeshire Herald the voice and champion of the good people of pembs
Ann Hackett

August 15, 2014 at 1:54 pm

yeah get him out and DONT LET HIM BACK
Dafydd

August 15, 2014 at 4:56 pm

Wonderful news – although it may be a costly exercise initially,it will be for the greater good in the long run. Hopefully some of his other cronies might decide to do the honorable thing and disappear especially the yogurt salesman.
Keanjo

August 15, 2014 at 9:16 pm

We owe this progress to CC Jacob Williams and his seemingly innocuous amendment which led to the C E being asked to return the unlawfully paid pension money. The CE ,unwisely refused to return the money and that led to the present situation.Well done Jacob . Now we have to wait for the police investigation into the anomalies revealed by Mike Stoddartin Pembroke Dock. Let\\\\’s hope the police report is published soon.
David Leighton

August 15, 2014 at 10:32 pm

The payments were unlawful but not criminal, this does not matter! as CEO of a small county he is a figure head that requires trustworthiness and honesty; UNLAWFUL is the same as terrible and dishonest. As our representative he should have stood down. He must pay this back – he received over £20k as returning officer so this cannot be a burden – this individual is just not reliable or believable as CEO.

Bryn – your time has come – you are lucky not to be at the sharp end of a heavy fine or even a prosecution – FULL PAY is a disgrace – how has this been arrived at?
R Jonwa

August 16, 2014 at 9:34 am

This whole scenario is rotten to the core! Bryn Parry-Jones is nothing but a bully ,threatening and intimidating people who speak up against him.Shame on the people who are standing by him! He should have gone before now. If any member of staff in any workplace had done anything of this sort they would have been in the dock by now!!Pembrokshire Council needs a good ‘spring clean’ and a fresh start.The moral amongst staff must be at an alltime low.
Anoldman

August 16, 2014 at 11:47 am

Mike Stoddart, Jacob Williams, Paul Miller and The Pembrokeshire Herald. A Big THANK YOU!
Sue

August 16, 2014 at 8:21 pm

It beggars belief that Bryn Parry Jones was ever appointed CEO in the face of well-publicised warnings from other West Wales authorities, and we have been saddled with his maladministration for nearly 20 years. As an unelected representative he has enjoyed greater security of tenure than an MP or AM, or even a County Councillor, and the only way to oust him has been by exposing failings. At last the man who values self interest over public service has slipped on the banana skin of damning evidence. A clean sweep of the pervading rot and a revitalised Council to follow, please – how we need it!
Frank

August 16, 2014 at 9:47 pm

I’m very glad to hear this. It’s a pity that he had to be crow-barred out, and is no doubt, even as we speak, licking his wounds and feeling very hard done by. Once again, the sooner all these people swanning around County Hall with their noses in the air,(as well as in the trough!)remember that they are there for our benefit and not their own, the better it will be.
Morlais

August 16, 2014 at 10:21 pm

Wonder If Jacob is the new king maker, never had a King Jacob have we, never mind King Bryn was pr0bably a first too 🙁
Delia

August 17, 2014 at 11:05 am

Remember Jamie Adams campaigning to become elected as a councillor? Told me he was going to fight the corruption in the council and stand up for Pembrokeshire. What went wrong? Once elected he did the opposite and jumped into the corporate bed with all the other supporters of BPJ and corruption. What strangle holds does BPJ have over so many people one asks? Has everyone been investigated ( at our cost) and secrets used for control? Pembrokeshire deserves better. The skeletons in the cupboards at county hall must be screaming to get out – open the doors someone please!! There should be a completely independent person appointed to receive information from staff, councillors, members of the public in complete confidence. The findings should then be acted upon. Time to change for the better.Well done to everyone who has taken part to end this cancer eating Pembrokeshire.
fairpembs

August 17, 2014 at 6:02 pm

It seems all the decision makers at PCC are less than honest! I came across this recently…disgusted! https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/pembrokeshire-county-council-please-allow-lee-roxanne-walker-to-remain-in-their-home-125-slade-lane-haverfordwest
RayL

August 21, 2014 at 10:34 pm

As Bryn Parry-Jones is now on “gardening leave” could his efforts be directed to clearing the jungle that is growing around the foot tunnel that runs from Morrison’s car park through to the Bus Station area? Might take him a year or two and keep him out of mischief!

Crime

Musician pulled over in camper van tested positive for cannabis

Published

2 hours ago

January 2, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A TRAVELLING musician has appeared before magistrates after being found driving his campervan through Haverfordwest when he was over three times the legal drug-drive limit.

Jacob Sparkes, 34, was stopped by officers as he drove his Renault Traffic campervan through Thomas Parry Way, Haverfordwest, on July 20. A roadside drugs wipe proved positive while further blood tests carried out at the police custody suite showed he had 6.9 mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2.

Sparkes pleaded guilty to the offence and was legally represented in court by solicitor Michael Kelleher.

“The defendant began taking cannabis as a form of self medication as a result of his epilepsy,” said Mr Kelleher. “At the time of the offence he was travelling in a campervan around Wales, playing music at various festivals.”

Sparkes, of Beech Road, Fairwater, Cardiff, was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £32 surcharge.

Crime

Emergency services dealing with ‘serious incident’ at multi-storey car park

Published

3 hours ago

January 2, 2025

Jason Cooper

POLICE, ambulance crews and the air ambulance are attending to what is being described as a ‘serious incident’ at Tenby’s multi-storey car park this evening (Jan 2).

Witnesses said they heard shouting and other commotion in the car park, and shortly afterwards emergency services were at the scene.

Another witness said: “I was in Tenby and saw the helicopter hovering, then heard loads of sirens and didn’t know what was going on, then when I drove past the multi-storey in Park Road I saw loads of blue lights and people gathered.

“It happened right near the motorcycle section of the car park, so the very front near Sainsbury’s.

“This looks to be a very serious incident judging by the large emergency vehicle response.”

Police have asked the public to avoid the area whilst the incident is being dealt with.

They said: “There are currently delays due to a road traffic collision.

“Please be patient and take an alternative route if possible or plan extra time into your journey.”

This is a developing story – you may need to refresh the page to get the latest version.

Crime

Woman who used stolen bank cards having new baby taken into care

Published

3 hours ago

January 2, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKESHIRE woman has been sentenced for stealing bank cards from a young mother attending to her three young children at Carmarthen Railway Station toilet.

Kelly Rees, 35, a new mother herself, discovered the bag belonging to Cheryl Lewis on August 20. When Rees looked inside, she discovered a purse containing three bank cards and £2 in cash.

This week, Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates that Rees, of Precelly Place, Milford Haven, removed the purse from the bag and travelled back to Pembrokeshire where she made multiple attempts to use the stolen cards to purchase items. These included a visit to Tesco, Milford Haven, where she purchased goods valued at £189 using one of the stolen cards.

Ms Vaughan said the offences were committed while Rees was serving a Community Order for previous convictions.

Rees pleaded guilty to theft and of fraud by false representation.

“She’s genuinely remorseful for her actions,” said her solicitor Michael Kelleher. “She’s recently given birth, but her child will now be going into foster care.”

After considering a comprehensive probation report, magistrates sentenced Rees to 18 weeks in custody suspended for 12 months. She must carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and was ordered to pay £189 compensation to Cheryl Lewis, a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs.

“Multiple attempts to use those cards does not reflect well on your thinking process,” commented the presiding magistrate when sentencing Kelly Rees.