News

The ‘rubber stamp’ appointment

Published

11 years ago

November 4, 2014

Tom Sinclair

John Evans MBE – resigned as Audit Committee chairman

OPPOSITION members on Pembrokeshire County Council’s Urgency Committee have criticised the method used to appoint Swansea solicitor Mr Peter Jones as lay (noncouncillor) member to the council’s audit committee.

Mr Jones has been drafted in to replace Mr John Evans who resigned in controversial circumstances earlier this year. In his resignation letter, Mr Evans claimed that his attempt to have his committee examine certain issues regarding the grants scheme in Pembroke Dock had been blocked by council officers and that he had come to realise that the authority’s “appetite for change” did not match his own vision when he took up the post. In order to at least give the impression that they are independent of the ruling group, audit committees are required by statute to have at least one lay member, so, following Mr Evans resignation the committee has been in limbo.

Next Monday, the committee is due to discuss a critical report by the council’s internal audit service which catalogues the flaws, first identified by Hakin councillor Mike Stoddart over a year ago, in the way these grants have been administered. It was therefore imperative that a lay member be appointed ahead of that meeting – hence the use of the sevenmember urgency committee to endorse the audit committee appointment panel’s choice of Mr Jones. The members of three-person appointments panel, which, is not politically balanced; meets in secret; and produces no minutes, are Cllrs Tom Richards (IPPG), Stan Hudson (Tory) and a lay chairman Lynette George. Speaking at last Tuesday’s urgency committee, Cllr Tessa Hodgson (unaffiliated) said members were being asked to “rubber stamp” the appointment with next to no information on the qualifications of either the recommended candidate, or the other applicants. Cllr Tom Richards assured urgency committee members that there had been a lengthy interview process and that the panel had come to a unanimous decision that Mr Jones was the best person for the job. But that didn’t satisfy Cllr Hodgson who retorted that the committee had no information about the calibre of any of the candidates, or the job specification.

“How can we ratify a decision if we have no information?” she asked. Cllr Tom Richards assured members that, during the interviews, Mr Jones “stood out above the rest”. Monitoring Officer Laurence Harding explained that council had delegated the appointment process to the panel, which is required to make a recommendation back to council (in this case the urgency committee acting as full council). Cllr Paul Miller (Lab) said he was concerned that the authority “seemed to delegate anything it likes to panels” and that he was unsure that the panel had any legal status. But Mr Harding said this was the process used throughout Wales, though head of legal services Huw Miller agreed that just because other authorities used this system didn’t make it right. Cllr Hodgson complained “This is a public role on a public body – why shouldn’t people know about it” But Leader Jamie Adams told her: “Your position is totally unreasonable” to which Cllr Hodgson retorted that this was another example of “the council’s closed door mentality”.

“We are in the dark, we are the decision making body, but we have no information. I find it bizarre” she added, And Cllr Paul Miller agreed: “That is the crux of the matter,” he said ,“just sticking your hand up in favour of recommendations without knowing all the facts is dangerous. The process needs to be more open and transparent – people need to know how it works”. Head of legal services Huw Miller said he accepted the view that more information needed to be provided. But after Cllr Tom Richards said he was “entirely satisfied with the recommendation” the four IPPG members on the committee voted to endorse Mr Jones. Cllr Hodgson asked that it be recorded that she had voted against the decision and Cllr Miller abstained. A Council Spokesperson told The Herald: “The new lay member of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Audit Committee is Peter Jones. “ Mr Jones is a former senior partner with law firm Morgan Cole, Mr Jones is a former chair of the Board of Swansea College.

He was formerly vice chairman of Swansea Building Society. While at Morgan Cole, Mr Jones acted on behalf of a wide range of clients, including Swansea University, BP, a number of colleges in the further education sector, a number of housing associations in Wales, Milford Haven Port Authority and Wales and West Utilities. A Council spokesperson also said: “The deadline for applications was extended by a week as it was felt an insufficient number of people had applied for the post.”

Community

Craig Flannery appointed as new Chief Fire Officer

Published

5 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Tom Sinclair

MID AND WEST WALES FIRE SERVICE LEADERSHIP CHANGE

MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has announced the appointment of Craig Flannery as its new Chief Fire Officer, with effect from Monday, December 15, 2025.

Mr Flannery has served with the Service for more than twenty years, progressing through a wide range of middle management and senior leadership roles across both operational and non-operational departments.

During his career, he has been closely involved in strengthening operational delivery, risk management and organisational development. His work has included leading innovation in learning and development, overseeing the Service’s On-Call Improvement Programme, and driving investment in key enabling functions such as workforce development and information and communication technology.

The appointment followed a rigorous, multi-stage recruitment process led by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority. Candidates were assessed through structured interviews, strategic leadership exercises and scenario-based assessments designed to test operational judgement, organisational vision and the ability to lead a modern fire and rescue service.

External professional assessors were also engaged to provide independent scrutiny, ensuring the process met high standards of fairness, transparency and challenge.

Mr Flannery emerged as the strongest candidate, demonstrating clear strategic leadership capability, detailed organisational knowledge and a strong commitment to community safety and service improvement.

Councillor John Davies, Chair of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “Craig brings a deep understanding of our Service and a clear vision for its future. His appointment will strengthen our ability to innovate, support our workforce and deliver high-quality protection for the communities we serve.

“As we navigate a rapidly changing landscape, Craig’s experience in driving innovation and organisational development will be invaluable in helping us adapt and transform for the future.”

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Flannery said: “It is a privilege to lead this outstanding Service. I am committed to supporting our people, strengthening partnerships and building on the strong foundations already in place.

“As the challenges facing fire and rescue services continue to evolve, we must modernise and innovate, ensuring we have the skills, technology and capability needed to meet the needs of our communities. I look forward to working with colleagues and partners across Mid and West Wales to deliver a resilient, progressive Service that keeps people safe and places our staff at the heart of everything we do.”

Health

Resident doctors in Wales vote to accept new contract

Published

10 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

RESIDENT doctors across Wales have voted to accept a new contract, with 83% of those who took part in a referendum backing the agreement, according to BMA Cymru Wales.

The contract includes a four per cent additional investment in the resident doctor workforce and introduces a range of reforms aimed at improving training conditions, wellbeing and long-term workforce sustainability within NHS Wales. The BMA says the deal also supports progress towards pay restoration, which remains a central issue for doctors.

Key changes include new safeguards to limit the most fatiguing working patterns, measures intended to address medical unemployment and career progression concerns, and reforms to study budgets and study leave to improve access to training opportunities.

Negotiations between the BMA’s Welsh Resident Doctors Committee, NHS Wales Employers and the Welsh Government concluded earlier this year. Following a consultation period, a referendum of resident doctors and final-year medical students in Wales was held, resulting in a clear majority in favour of the proposals.

Welsh Resident Doctors Committee chair Dr Oba Babs Osibodu said the agreement marked a significant step forward for doctors working in Wales.

He said: “We’re proud to have negotiated this contract, which offers our colleagues and the future generation of doctors safer terms of service, fairer pay, and better prospects so that they can grow and develop their careers in Wales.

“This contract will help to retain the doctors already in training, and also attract more doctors to work in Wales, where they can offer their expertise and benefit patients.”

Dr Osibodu added that the BMA remains committed to achieving full pay restoration and acknowledged that challenges remain for some doctors.

“Whilst this contract sets the foundations for a brighter future for resident doctors in Wales, we recognise that there are still doctors who are struggling to develop their careers and secure permanent work,” he said. “We need to work with the Welsh Government and NHS employers to address training bottlenecks and underemployment.”

The Welsh Government has previously said it recognises the pressures facing resident doctors and the importance of improving recruitment and retention across NHS Wales, while also highlighting the need to balance pay agreements with wider NHS funding pressures and patient demand.

The new contract is expected to be phased in from August 2026. It will initially apply to doctors in foundation programmes, those in specialty training with unbanded rotas, and new starters, before being rolled out to all resident doctors across Wales.

Crime

Swansea man jailed for online child sex offence dies in prison

Published

10 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A SWANSEA man who was jailed earlier this year for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child has died while in custody.

Gareth Davies, aged 59, of the Maritime Quarter, was serving an 18-month prison sentence after being convicted in May of sending sexually explicit messages to what he believed was a 14-year-old girl. The account was in fact a decoy used as part of an online safeguarding operation.

The court heard that Davies began communicating with the decoy between November and December 2024 and persistently pursued the individual, later attempting to arrange a face-to-face meeting. He was arrested after being confronted by the decoy operators.

Davies had pleaded not guilty but was convicted following a trial. At the time of sentencing, police described the messages as extremely concerning and said his imprisonment was necessary to protect children.

It has now been confirmed that Davies died at HMP Parc on Wednesday (Nov 27) while serving his sentence.

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has launched an independent investigation into the death, which is standard procedure in all cases where someone dies in custody. No cause of death has been released at this stage.

A coroner will determine the circumstances in due course.