News

Call to fill County Council’s Standards Committee vacancy

Published

2 years ago

July 25, 2024

AN INDEPENDENT Member is needed to take up a place on the Committee that promotes and maintains standards for councillors in the county.

The Pembrokeshire County Council Standards Committee currently has a vacancy for an Independent Member.

The Committee plays an important role at the Authority, including considering Public Service Ombudsman for Wales reports into alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct.

Anyone who is committed to upholding ethical standards in public life – the Nolan principles – and has the knowledge of and adherence to the Code of Conduct for Members is invited to consider applying for the role.

The ideal candidate would also be a good communicator, work well in a team, have chairing skills and an ability to analyse factual and evidential material to form sound objective judgments.

Flexibility to attend meetings at short notice is also required.

Anyone interested in applying must not have been a member, officer, or the spouse/civil partner of a member or officer of any county, county borough, town or community council, fire and rescue authority or national park authority within the last twelve months.

They also must not have ever worked or been elected as Councillor at Pembrokeshire County Council.

Anyone interested is asked to contact Isabelle Moorhouse from the Democratic Services team at Pembrokeshire County Council via email: [email protected]

An application form will be sent and must be returned by 16th August 2024.

Interviews will be held on the 4th September 2024.

The appointment shall be for between four and six years in the first instance and a further consecutive term is permitted.

Galwad i lenwi lle gwag ar y Pwyllgor Safonau

Rydym ni angen Aelod Annibynnol i dderbyn lle ar y Pwyllgor sy’n hyrwyddo ac yn cynnal safonau ar gyfer cynghorwyr yn y sir.

Ar hyn o bryd mae gan Bwyllgor Safonau Cyngor Sir Penfro le gwag ar gyfer Aelod Annibynnol.

Mae’r Pwyllgor yn chwarae rhan bwysig yn yr Awdurdod, gan gynnwys ystyried adroddiadau Ombwdsmon Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus Cymru ar achosion honedig o dorri’r Cod Ymddygiad.

Gwahoddir unrhyw un sydd wedi ymrwymo i gynnal safonau moesegol mewn bywyd cyhoeddus – egwyddorion Nolan – ac sydd â’r wybodaeth am y Cod Ymddygiad i Aelodau ac yn cadw atynt, i ystyried gwneud cais am y rôl.

Byddai’r ymgeisydd delfrydol hefyd yn gyfathrebwr da, yn gweithio’n dda mewn tîm, yn meddu ar sgiliau cadeirio a’r gallu i ddadansoddi deunydd ffeithiol a thystiolaeth i ffurfio barn wrthrychol gadarn.

Mae angen hyblygrwydd hefyd i fynychu cyfarfodydd ar fyr rybudd.

Ni ddylai unrhyw un sydd â diddordeb mewn gwneud cais fod wedi bod yn aelod, swyddog, nac yn briod/partner sifil aelod neu swyddog o unrhyw gyngor sir, bwrdeistref sirol, tref neu gymuned, awdurdod tân ac achub neu awdurdod parc cenedlaethol o fewn y deuddeg mis diwethaf.

Ni ddylent erioed fod wedi gweithio neu gael eu hethol yn Gynghorydd yng Nghyngor Sir Penfro.

Gofynnir i unrhyw un sydd â diddordeb gysylltu ag Isabelle Moorhouse o’r tîm Gwasanaethau Democrataidd yng Nghyngor Sir Penfro drwy e-bost: [email protected]

Anfonir ffurflen gais a rhaid ei dychwelyd erbyn 16 Awst 2024.

Bydd cyfweliadau’n cael eu cynnal ar 4 Medi 2024.

Bydd y penodiad am rhwng pedair a chwe blynedd yn y lle cyntaf a chaniateir tymor olynol pellach.

Crime

Scaffolder banned after cannabis smell reported from van

Published

8 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A SCAFFOLDER has been banned from driving for 14 months after an off-duty police officer smelt cannabis coming from his Volkswagen Transporter as it travelled through Slebech.

The report was made to police at around 10.30am on February 15. When officers located the vehicle, they discovered it was being driven by 46-year-old Christopher Bennett.

Further blood tests showed Bennett had 16.8 mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2.

This week Bennett, of Queensdown Gardens, Brislington, Bristol, pleaded guilty to drug-driving when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates. He was represented in court by Alaw Harries.

“The defendant is remorseful for his actions and recognises the seriousness of the offence,” Ms Harries told the Bench.

“He suffers significant pain following operations to his shoulders and has been prescribed codeine. But this causes drowsiness, so he began self-medicating using cannabis.

“On the day of the offence, he was in worse pain than usual, so he used cannabis earlier than he normally does.”

Ms Harries said the conviction would have serious financial consequences for Bennett, who works as a self-employed scaffolder.

“His driving licence is fundamental to his livelihood,” she said.

“The financial consequences are going to be significant to him, as well as to those who are dependent on him.”

Magistrates fined Bennett £600 and ordered him to pay a £240 surcharge and £85 costs.

He was disqualified from driving for 14 months.

Crime

Estate agent banned after drug-drive crash in Milford Haven

Published

8 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Alison Walker had nearly five times the legal benzoylecgonine limit in her system

A PEMBROKESHIRE estate agent has been banned from the road after admitting driving through Milford Haven with nearly five times the legal limit of a cocaine metabolite in her system.

Alison Walker, 59, was arrested on February 2 after her white MG was involved in a two-car collision on Great North Road, Milford Haven.

“Fortunately there were no injuries, just damage to the vehicles,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

After providing a positive roadside drug swipe, Walker was arrested and asked to provide blood samples. These showed she had 240mcg of benzoylecgonine in her system. The legal limit is 50mcg.

Walker, of Woodland Crescent, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to drug-driving and was represented in court by solicitor Tom Lloyd.

He told the bench that prior to the offence, Walker had been employed as an estate agent.

“She has a good relationship with her boss, and as soon as this conviction is dealt with and her sentence has been served, he will be happy for her to return to her employment,” he said.

After considering a comprehensive probation report, magistrates disqualified Walker from driving for 20 months.

She was fined £80 and ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs. Walker must also carry out a 12-month community order, during which she must complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Crime

Pembroke Dock motorist banned after driving with cocaine in system

Published

9 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Court Reporter

A PEMBROKE DOCK motorist has been banned from the roads after being caught driving with more than seven times the legal cocaine limit in her system.

Naomi Grant, 47, was stopped by police on the night of February 6 as she drove her Vauxhall Astra along the A477 near Pembroke Dock.

After providing a positive roadside drug swipe, Grant, of Cheriton Road, Pennar, Pembroke Dock, was taken for further tests.

Blood analysis showed she had 74mcg of cocaine in her system. The legal limit is 10mcg. She also had 1,200mcg of benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine, where the legal limit is 50mcg.

This week Grant, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to two charges of drug-driving when she appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates.

She was represented by solicitor Tom Lloyd, who told the court that his client is currently prescribed a considerable amount of medication for a number of medical issues.

“She also has her own personal assistant as a result of her medical needs,” he said.

“She has done everything that has been asked of her in relation to this offence and has engaged with the Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service to help her move forward.”

Magistrates disqualified Grant from driving for 12 months and fined her £120.

She must also pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.