News

Mixed bag for local democracy

Published

10 years ago

December 3, 2014

Cllr Jamie Adams:

A MOTION to be placed before next Monday’s meeting of the council’s Corporate Governance Committee could pave the way for greater accountability and democracy in relation to the position of Council Leader, the post currently held by Cllr Jamie Adams. The proposal, made by East Williamston’s Jacob Williams, calls for the position of Leader to be subject to annual election at the County Council’s AGM. If passed it would come into force at the end of the current municipal year, when current leader Jamie Adams could be challenged for the leadership of the local authority. In his submissions supporting his motion, Cllr Williams makes it clear that he regards the decision as essentially a political one, and not one that Council Officers should take a stance upon.

The supporting statement concludes by saying: “I don’t know which officer of the authority will compile a report on my proposal, however I would like to use this supporting statement to say that I believe it would be improper for the report to conclude with either a recommendation in favour of approval or of refusal.” In an embarrassing turn of events, a motion previously adopted referring to the thorny subject of member-officer and member-tomember relationships has been forced off the agenda. The motion was originally backed by Bob Kilmister of the Pembrokeshire Alliance, the unaffiliated St Davids member David Lloyd and Conservative group leader David Howlett.

Council Leader Jamie Adams had co-signed the motion on behalf of the ruling IPPG group. However, the three opposition signatories have now withdrawn their backing and Cllrs Lloyd and Kilmister were clear that the reason they had pulled their support was due to a lack of trust in Jamie Adams’ good faith. A motion from Labour Leader Paul Miller calling for the extension of democratic scrutiny of the recruitment process for chief officers beyond the end of the current municipal year has been recommended for refusal by the Head of Human Resources.

That recommendation is bound to cause anger among council members who feel that that the scandal over remuneration that engulfed and ultimately put paid to Bryn Parry-Jones could have been avoided had ordinary members been able to vote on the matter. In addition, those who feel that members should take a more active role in the recruitment process and not delegate effectively unchecked powers to officers are likely to question why, if a procedure was appropriate during the current council year, it is not appropriate to continue it in others.

That point is given greater force by Paul Miller’s recent revelation that during the current council, officers have systematically ignored the council’s democratic vote on the subject. In relation to the vexed question of council democracy and executive accountability, Monitoring Officer Laurence Harding – widely regarded on opposition benches as a hanger on from the Bryn Parry-Jones era – has recommended refusal of a motion that seeks to place the whole of debate before the public.

Objecting to Mike Stoddart’s motion that asks only that members read out their questions to Cabinet members, the Monitoring Officer and the Acting Head of Legal Services, Claire Incledon, have instead supported the status quo. Their view is likely to please Cabinet members who can flannel questioners on camera safe in the knowledge that questions are not widely known to the watching public. A motion by Cllr David Bryan to prevent the repetition of a farcical situation which permitted executive members to duck questions when the members asking them were absent from the Chamber has, however, been recommended for adoption.

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

2 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

2 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.

Crime

Three men from London admit their guilt over illegal cannabis farm

Published

3 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THREE men admit their guilt after police discover over 700 cannabis plants during a raid on a former school building in Llandysul.

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at the former Ysgol Gynradd Llandysul on Heol Llyn Y Fran on November 15. Inside, they found 737 cannabis plants spread across multiple rooms.

Armeld Troksi, 29, and Njazi Gjana, 27, both from Empire Avenue in Edmonton, London, along with Ervin Gjana, 24, from Durham Avenue in Romford, were arrested at the scene and later charged with producing cannabis.

The three men appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where they admitted their involvement in the illegal operation. Defence solicitor Joshua Scouller requested a pre-sentence report for Ervin Gjana, which was granted by Judge Geraint Walters.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 20.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Following a warrant executed at the former school on Heol Llyn Y Fran, officers discovered a significant cannabis grow containing 737 plants.

“We are grateful to the local community for their continued support and cooperation. Officers will remain in the area while the site is secured.

“Our commitment remains firm in disrupting drug production and supply networks across our force area.

“We encourage residents to report any suspicious activity, no matter how small it may seem. Every piece of information can make a difference, and reports can easily be submitted through our website.”