News

Investigation as Cabinet member “misled” by officer

Published

11 months ago

August 9, 2024

A SENIOR officer has been accused of misleading Pembrokeshire Cabinet member Rhys Sinnett about a contract to purchase electric vehicles for the County Council’s fleet.

An investigation led by Council CEO Will Bramble is underway, and a disciplinary panel has been called to consider the incident.
The issue concerns the process used to okay the vehicles’ purchase.
On June 24, Cllr Sinnett approved the purchase of 32 electric vehicles, 21 small vans and 11 large vans at a price of £1.04m.
Shortly after the meeting with officers that okayed the purchase, the IPG called in the decision to be reconsidered by the Cabinet.
On July 4, the Head of Infrastructure and the Environment, Darren Thomas, told the Chief Executive and Cabinet Member about the cock up and that the vehicles had already arrived.
Will Bramble rapidly decided the report given to Rhys Sinnett was incorrect and, on July 9, asked Cllr Sinnett to rescind it.
Cllr Sinnett rescinded his decision on the same day.
The report, into which some of the Council’s most senior officers had input, did not tell Cllr Sinnett that – far from approving the future purchase of vehicles – officers had made an elementary blunder during the procurement process.
Officers failed to understand that instead of negotiating an option to purchase the vehicles, they had – in fact – committed the Council to their purchase. In addition, at least some of the vehicles concerned had already been delivered to the local authority and modified for its use.
In other words, by the time Cllr Sinnett was asked to approve the purchase, the vehicles had already been bought.
A contributor, possibly more than one, to the report given to him on June 24 withheld that information.
The Council’s purchase of the vehicles is neither here nor there. The Welsh Government has set aside funding to transition Welsh local authorities from fossil fuels to electric vehicles. The funding for the vehicles’ purchase came from a pot earmarked for that purpose.

Faced with Hobson’s choice, the Cabinet retrospectively approved buying 32 electric vehicles it already owned.

That is not the key issue.
Council Deputy Leader Paul Miller spelt out the more significant issue: Either deliberately or by omission, a senior officer materially misled a Cabinet member about the background and facts relating to significant capital investment.
The report handed to Cllr Sinnett on June 24 gave him no clue that the vehicles’ purchase had been completed.
Cllr Sinnett was only asked to give authority “to enter a contract with FleetEV for the purchases of 31 EV small vans and 11 EV large vans.”
Cllr Miller, like Cllr Sinnett, was clearly livid at the extent of the deceit.
The former said the issue involved “trust and confidence” in the person or persons who decided to withhold key information from an elected member of the Council’s Cabinet.
Purchasing the vehicles, which was the focus of the IPG’s latest complaint about the steps being taken by the Council to meet its statutory obligation, is not the issue.
As Cllr Miller put it, replacing vehicles at the end of their life is a no-brainer. As anyone with any commercial sense knows, trying to stretch an asset’s life is throwing good money after bad in terms of maintenance and opportunity costs.
The key point is that one or more of the Council’s most senior officers has materially misled a Cabinet member about a seven-figure purchase.
The questions that arise are obvious.
If a senior officer has deliberately withheld information or misled a Cabinet member, have they done so previously, and can they be trusted in the future?
That is very much more important than ridiculous attempts at point-scoring about buying electric vehicles in the first place.
So, in a backhanded way, the IPG has actually drawn a crucial issue to light, albeit entirely by accident.

Business

New offshore wind action plan promises major boost for west Wales economy

Published

3 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Welsh Government aims to unlock £4.8bn opportunity for local businesses and ports

A NEW action plan from the Welsh Government aims to turn Wales’ offshore wind potential into a major economic driver — with significant benefits expected for Pembrokeshire.

The Offshore Wind Task and Finish Group Action Plan, published on Tuesday (May 24), outlines how more than 15GW of offshore wind power could be harnessed from Welsh waters — with floating wind in the Celtic Sea at the heart of the proposals.

The plan follows the recent announcement that two companies have been awarded rights to develop 3GW of floating wind farms in the Celtic Sea. The Crown Estate has also confirmed a third site will be leased, bringing the total capacity to 4.5GW.

This area lies directly off the Pembrokeshire coast, and local infrastructure — particularly the port at Milford Haven — is expected to play a key role in the rollout.

The plan includes a dedicated Welsh Ports Prospectus to highlight investment opportunities and attract large engineering contractors to anchor supply chain activity locally. With proper support, Milford Haven and Port Talbot are seen as crucial sites for manufacturing, assembly, and servicing.

Ajai Ahluwalia, Head of Supply Chain for RenewableUK, said: “Over the next decade alone, £32 billion in economic value is at stake, including a £4.8 billion opportunity for Welsh businesses and more than 3,000 skilled jobs.

“To unlock that value, we must now move swiftly from planning to delivery — and industry stands ready to work with government to make it happen.”

The action plan also calls for stronger planning frameworks, long-term leasing visibility, and a dedicated Welsh Government team to oversee delivery.

Pembrokeshire Council has previously supported renewable energy expansion at Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven, and local leaders are expected to press for further investment in skills and infrastructure to ensure the county shares fully in the benefits of the green energy transition.

Health

Health board and university strengthen partnership to boost well-being in west Wales

Published

3 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Tom Sinclair

New memorandum focuses on research, education, and innovation

HYWEL DDA University Health Board and Aberystwyth University have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding to extend their longstanding partnership, with a focus on improving health and well-being in communities across west Wales.

The agreement commits both institutions to collaborate on a range of areas including research and development, the creation of new educational programmes, and the shared use of specialist facilities and expertise.

The partnership also includes plans to boost innovation and enterprise, with the Health Board and University set to work together—and with industry—on the development of new medical devices and technologies.

The organisations will explore opportunities in workforce development, education, and training. This will include student placements in non-clinical settings, fellowships and studentships, graduate training schemes, joint appointments, and the creation of new academic programmes.

Aberystwyth University and Hywel Dda UHB have enjoyed a strong working relationship in recent years. This partnership is viewed as vital to addressing the evolving needs of the NHS workforce and tackling health inequalities across the region.

To mark the latest step in their collaboration, Hywel Dda Chief Executive Dr Phil Kloer, Aberystwyth University Vice-Chancellor Professor Jon Timmis, and Professor Leighton Phillips, Director of Research, Innovation and Value at Hywel Dda, attended a ceremony to thank both existing and newly appointed honorary members of staff for their contribution to the partnership.

Dr Kloer said: “The signing of this memorandum builds on the long-standing relationship and good work we have jointly undertaken with Aberystwyth University. We are really pleased to be continuing this collaboration in new areas.

“I’m delighted to build on the great work of previous years and begin exploring further opportunities to improve health and well-being in our rural communities.”

Professor Jon Timmis, Vice-Chancellor of Aberystwyth University, added:
“I’m very proud of the strength and depth of our ongoing partnership with the Health Board—something only possible thanks to the dedication of staff across both organisations.

“For more than 150 years, our University’s teaching and research excellence has changed lives, built communities, and helped strengthen Wales. The success of our new nursing degrees is testament to this.

“As Wales’s first university college, we have a proud tradition of innovation—and this partnership will remain central to our mission in the years ahead.”

The impact of the collaboration has already been seen across the region, including the opening of a new Healthcare Education Centre and the discovery of biomarkers that may lead to a more accurate diagnostic test for lung cancer.

Dr Leighton Phillips said: “This new Memorandum reaffirms our commitment to working closely with Aberystwyth University for the benefit of our region. The education centre and growing research links mark the start of an exciting new chapter.

“We are also keen to connect with other major developments at the University, such as AberInnovation and Cymru Wledig LPIP—the Local Policy and Innovation Partnership for Rural Wales.

“These projects align with our newly launched Research and Development Strategic Plan, which sets out ambitious goals to increase staff development and participation in commercial research over the next five years.”

Higher education is estimated to contribute around £135 million annually to the Ceredigion economy. It provides high-quality employment, attracts students and researchers from across Wales and beyond, and delivers life-changing research and training for key public sector institutions such as the Health Board.

News

Haverfordwest Amateur rider qualifies for Horse of the Year in SEIB Search for a Star

Published

3 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Herald Sport

AN AMATEUR rider from Haverfordwest, Grace Gibbon, and her horse, The Granite Way have qualified for the prestigious Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in Birmingham this October.

Hannah and The Granite Way had a 12.30am start for the journey to Pickering Grange in Leicestershire for the SEIB Search for a Star qualifier on the 15^th June. They will now go on to compete under the bright lights of the HOYS Arena at the NEC in Birmingham in early October.

The pair competed in and won the Working Horse class under top judges Michaela Bowling and Samantha DeCaprio to earn their HOYS qualification.

Grace said: “This is the only HOYS qualifier we have done together! My mum and I work full time but we both were off today so we decided to give it a go! My mum and I share Fern, as we call The Granite Way at home, and we all aim to go out and have fun and anything else is a bonus! It’s brilliant to have this opportunity! I’d moved away for university and work and not ridden for 10 years. Then mum and I decided to get back into the horses! Fern came from a family friend Sarah Gould, he is brilliant – my mum takes him to West Wales Riding Club every week too! I did Search for a Star when I was 12 back in 2009 with my Show Hunter Pony, Small Land Screen Play and we took 4th place. Having read the rules recently I realised I could now come back to give it another go!” Grace works as a Chartered Surveyor.

SEIB Search for a Star organiser, Nicolina MacKenzie said: “Search for a Star is all about the journey and learning and improving over time. Our team of judges and stewards are all invested in providing support and encouragement to help competitors and their horses and ponies perform to the best level they can.”

SEIB Search for a Star first took place back in 1996 and over the years has provided thousands of opportunities for amateur riders to compete at HOYS.

Each of the SEIB Search for a Star qualifying shows offers opportunities for a full range of show horses to earn a place at the series championships at Horse of the Year Show and Your Horse Live.

Please see www.seib.co.uk/competitions or the SEIB Search for a Star facebook page for updates. To enter please visit www.seib.co.uk/competitions/schedule which will link directly to the Search for a Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse entry page on Showing Scene.

SEIB have been providing expert insurance services for over 60 years. Renowned for their specialist equestrian insurance, SEIB offers tailored cover for horses, horseboxes, trailers, riders, and equestrian businesses, ensuring comprehensive protection and peace of mind. For more information on their range of services and to explore their bespoke insurance solutions, please visit seib.co.uk.

(Pic – 1st Class Images )