News

Badger and the new motto

Published

9 years ago

March 4, 2015

badger knows best THIS WEEK, Badger wants to invite you to Join him on a journey through one of the most famous sayings in English: Namely that if you provided an infinite number of monkeys with an infinite number of typewriters (or, in these go-getting times, so-called ‘laptop’ computing devices), and an infinite amount of time then one of them would eventually come up with the works of Shakespeare. Or perhaps Frederick Forsyth. Badger forgets. Badger has written before about the County Council’s European Manager, Gwyn Evans. Mr Evans has a string of letters after his name which suggests that, whatever his failings in putting in place adequate guidance for the proper operation of a multi-million pounds grant scheme, he could re-arrange his qualifications into a formidable score at Scrabble. Hiding behind a cloud of verbiage and ink is, perhaps, an appropriate image for the Council’s own ‘Captain Euro.’ The kudos afforded to the ‘highly qualified’ European Team at Pembrokeshire County Council at a time when this week’s Audit Committee revealed that so convinced of their own expertise were its members that the basic stuff of doing their job passed them by. Having ticked the right box they were able to say everything was okay with its administration of millions of pounds of public money. Except it wasn’t. Bearing in mind the extent to which the report has been filleted at the desperate behest of County Council officers desperate to cling to their jobs and their pensions, what remains is striking enough. Imagine, readers, imagine what the unexpurgated version would have looked like had it been prepared by an independent assessor instead of the Council’s own officers. Assuming, of course, that an

independent assessor had been given access to the documents as they existed at the time they were created and not as subsequently ‘amended.’ Gwyn Evans knows all about ‘amending’ things to make the record look better. Remember, readers, Gwyn is the notorious ‘minutes-meddler,’ whose identification in this newspaper caused Bryn to summon senior officers, senior councilors and the former Audit Chair John Evans MBE and tell them he had ‘vays of making zem tok.’ However many changes an: made, readers, no number of weasel words can hide the fact that the procedural guide used to administer grants was — well, readers, Badger apologises for the crudity — crap. It did not provide adequate safeguards to ensure that scarce public funds were being spent as they were supposed to be spent. Or, perhaps, it was not the manual which was crap, just those charged with using it. In either circumstance, Gwyn might well look grim. As Badger’s dear old friend Grumpy has revealed — Grim Gwyn knew everything about the original grant manual. He was an authority on it. He told Grumpy that he knew he was an authority on it as he wrote it. It’s an interesting dilemma: Either Gwyn’s manual was useless and needed amending, or the manual was adequate but his fellow officers believed that be and it could be safely ignored. In his shoes, readers, would you rather your work was useless or that your co-workers thought it valueless? On the face of the Internal Audit Report, readers, all those letters, wit and skill managed to miss out pretty obvious steps, like requiring officers junior to him to establish that work for which payment was made had actually been done. And, readers, in case you

are dubious that such a highly expert and qualified individual could be that daft, here is what the Internal Audit Report actually says what should be in the revised manual it proposes: Detailed photographic evidence of all proposed grant funded work (internal and external) should be captured and retained prior to work commencing, at each site visit and on completion of works; The frequency of site visits should be stipulated and the exact checks undertaken should be clarified (i.e. cross-referenced to the specification and signed off as satisfactorily completed); Payment should only be made when the authorising officer is satisfied that the checks have been undertaken to verify the completion of work and evidence of defrayment has been obtained: Checks should be undertaken to verify the authenticity of infonnation provided, e.g. hazardous waste disposal certification. What does this all mean, readers? Look at what it says must happen in the future. Working backwards, and proceeding on the basis that those bullet points refer to deficiencies in the previous procedure, allows us to posit that: No detailed photographic information exists of projects that claimed hundreds of thousands of pounds; Site visits were haphazard and checks on works ineffective; Payment was made when no evidence of payment had been received. They never even got bank statements as evidence at the time claims for payment were made. Please note, readers, when asked after the proverbial hit the fan, the developer Cathal McCosker refused to provide them. He is said to have been willing to pay back £125,000 to make it all

go away rather than let the Council or WEFO examine his bank statements. Statements that the Council’s own procedure manual say should be provided before payments out are made; Checks were not carried out — or were inadequately performed – to validate whether substances such as asbestos (for example) had been safely removed and disposed of. Imagine not handling or disposing of asbestos (for example) safely. You would have to be mad, bad or both to even contemplate such a thing. Asbestos (for example) is lethal stuff and can cause all sorts of nasty problems: mesothelioma (for example). You can’t just bury it (for example) under a handy backyard, garden, or car parking area and hope for the best. Can you? And, of course, this is only one grant scheme: The Commercial Property Grants Scheme, funded by the European Union. The Town Heritage Initiative, funded by Lotto, did not even have a manual. Badger will restate that point, readers: So arrogant were officers in the Council’s Regeneration Department that they did not think they needed something as basic as a procedural manual to manage hundreds of thousands of pounds of public money. When Jamie Adams says he thinks it is about outcomes not processes, Badger hopes Jamie understands that there are occasions when procedures are important. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and has many benefits. The problem with Mr Evans and his colleagues is that they were told what the problems were by Mike Stoddart a long time ago. The response of the Council was to try and rubbish Councillor Slot!dart. Officers briefed against him, a fatuous – and demonstrably wrong – FAQ document was prepared to contradict him to the

general public; no effort was spared to help the IPPG claque try to knock him of course. Officers effectively stuck their fingers in their ears and shouted: “La-la-la” to stop the truth getting to them. Grumpy, Mike Stoddart may be, but he was right at the time, right all along in all important respects, and he is owed an apology by all of those who would not listen to an inconvenient truth when first told. So, readers, who is at fault? The answer, you might be surprised to learn, is not the man at the top: The Council’s own Dr Dolittle, Steven Jones. He is not to blame. He made it clear that the buck wouldn’t stop with him when this whole shebang kicked off in January. Badger notes that elsewhere in this paper he is still convinced the buck stops elsewhere. And it probably —almost certainly — won’t stop with Grim Gwyn, whose gyroscopic sense of his own importance and intelligence might actually have persuaded other officers that he is almost as clever as he thinks he is. No readers, some other patsy will retire on ill health and grab a pension before he is given a stern wigging and told not to do it again. Perhaps those wheels are already in motion, readers. Say no more. After all, readers, at Pembrokeshire County Council — and to Dr Dolittle’s relief — with great power does not come great responsibility. Let’s go back to those monkeys tip-tapping away on those typewriters, readers. In under five minutes, Bongo, the Macaque in the far corner, has come up with a new motto for the Council’s Regeneration Office and its ‘highly regarded and expert’ European Team. Let’s have a peek, shall we? What has Bongo come up with? “It matters not whether you win or lose but where you place the blame.” How true readers. How true.

News

Search efforts continue for missing teenager Luke Stephenson

Published

7 hours ago

April 30, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE family of missing teenager Luke Stephenson have issued a heartfelt plea to the public to aid in the search for their son.

Luke, 19, was reported missing on April 13 after last being seen near Pembrokeshire’s Hobbs Point. Despite the multi-agency search operation being called off on April 19, efforts by police divers and helicopter searches have continued around the Cleddau sporadically.

The teenager’s disappearance triggered a huge emergency services, involving local police, the National Police Air Service, and coastguard teams.

Luke was last noted wearing a distinctive long grey coat, black trousers with a white stripe, and black trainers, also with a white stripe. The family have this week circulated a new photograph of the grey coat to assist in identification efforts.

While the formal search has been scaled back, the police remain committed to following up on any leads. “Whilst this is an extremely difficult decision to make, we are satisfied that we have done absolutely everything we possibly can to try and locate Luke,” a police spokesperson stated. Periodic searches have since been conducted around the area he was last seen, based on ongoing reports and sightings.

Luke’s family continues to hold on to hope, describing him as jovial, kind, and humorous—”a typical 19-year-old lad.” Beth Parker, a family friend, has been particularly active in rallying support from the community. “Calling all dog walkers, fishermen, and anyone able to help,” she posted on social media, encouraging those who frequent the coast to remain vigilant and report any potential clues.

The family has also requested the public to check personal CCTV and doorbell footage, especially from the night of Luke’s disappearance. This initiative aims to gather more information about his movements or possible whereabouts after he was last seen.

Several reported sightings, including a potential sighting of a person in the water near Valero and subsequent alerts, have unfortunately not led to any substantial findings.

Authorities urge anyone with information, no matter how minor it may seem, to come forward. Contact can be made via the Dyfed-Powys Police’s dedicated online portal, email, or phone line. There is also a provision for those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired to text the non-emergency number.

The police said to The Pembrokeshire Herald on Tuesday (Apr 30): “While the multi-agency search for Luke was concluded on the April 19, periodic searches of the area around Hobbs Point and the river have been completed by the National Police Air Service and the force Dog section over the last week. Further enquires or searches will be led by any information received.

Anyone who has any information is asked to contact police , either online at https://bit.ly/DPP101Online, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101. If you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908.”

As the search enters another week without resolution, the community and authorities alike hold onto hope, spurred by the family’s resilience and the continued efforts of search teams.

The focus remains finding Luke, a much-loved young man whose absence has left a void in the community.

News

Family allowed to stay living at ‘Love Shack’ near Narberth

Published

7 hours ago

April 30, 2024

Bruce Sinclair Local Democracy Reporter

A FAMILY can stay in their Pembrokeshire ‘Love Shack’ built without permission after being given the go-ahead by county planners.

Estelle Burton and family had applied for a certificate of lawfulness for her daughter, son-in-law and their three children to stay at The Love Shack, Middle Redford Farm, Princess Gate, near Narberth; the family having lived on site for many years.

An application for a certificate of lawfulness allows applicant to stay at a development if they can provide proof of occupancy over a prolonged period, normally in excess of four years.

A supporting statement by agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd says: “The land in the client ownership totals circa 20 acres and includes a farmhouse to the north (where Mr and Mrs Burton live), several farm sheds, outbuildings and the [application], which is lived independently by Mr and Mrs Dean and Kimberley Bethel and their three children. The farmhouse only has four bedrooms and as such there is no room for any other family members.”

It adds: “The purpose of this application is to establish the fact that an adapted four-bedroom dwelling structure which is fixed to the ground has been the permanent home of Mr and Mrs Bethel for a period in excess of four years prior the date of this submission. If that is the case, the dwelling would remain immune from enforcement action.”

The statement provides witness statements and letters setting out a timeline of occupancy “and the various incremental works which had been made to the lodge to effectively create a fixed structure and permanent dwelling on the site”.

“The overall aim of the works were to make it more structurally stable, particularly during poor and windy weather, and to provide a warmer internal living environment with the existing log burner plus the addition of full cladding. And furthermore, the addition of more internal space through the installation of the two extensions.”

It lists a timeline of works going back as far as 2006 with a wooden chalet, with the later static mobile home, known as the ‘Love Shack’ on site in 2018, being used for day-to-day living, followed by works including satellite TV and phone connection, a second chalet adjoining, and two extensions.

An officer report recommended the certificate of lawfulness be granted on the basis it had “been on the site and occupied as an independent dwellinghouse for a period of time in excess of four years or more preceding the date of the application for this certificate”.

Community

Community pub hopes for closed Pembrokeshire inn dashed

Published

8 hours ago

April 30, 2024

Bruce Sinclair Local Democracy Reporter

HOPES a closed south Pembrokeshire inn could become the latest community pub in the county have been dashed after a lack of funds were raised; the owner now planning to turn it into two homes.

Earlier this year, The Parsonage Inn, St Florence closed its doors to the public, and a public meeting – at the behest of St Florence Community Council – was held in early February with hopes it could be run as a community venture.

Western Telegraph: The Parsonage Inn, St Florence. Picture: Google Street View.
In the last 20 years has seen eight tenants, with the closure coming about “due to the prolonged and sustained pressures faced to both the economy though the cost-of-living crisis with less trade, along with increases in utility, food and alcohol bills, as well as increases in business rates, minimum wage increases and further legislation on waste disposal”.

Local county councillor Rhys Jordan, who supported the meeting, said there was a strong desire to see The Parsonage Inn reopen its doors, but there was a need to temper enthusiasm with realism.

Western Telegraph: The packed meeting to discuss The Parsonage Inn, St Florence.
However, hopes the Parsonage would become a community pub have come to no avail, as just three per cent of the funds needed were raised.

Owner Daniel Scriven is now hoping, in a recently submitted application, to turn the pub into two homes.

Referring to the hopes The Parsonage could become a community pub, an application before Pembrokeshire planners says: “Following its closure in January 2024 a community meeting was held on February 5 in the village hall to discuss its future, during the meeting the challenges facing the hospitality industry were discussed and the community reviewed raising funds to take the Parsonage Inn into community ownership.

“Regrettably we understand following the meeting it has become evident that only three per cent fundraising of the asking price has been raised and no offer or approach to the applicant/owner has been made by the community to the owner to put forward a viable proposal, it would therefore appear unviable.

“Following its closure in January 2024, in March 2024 the final tenant along with some members of the community have opened a small community social club in the village hall during evenings on a more ad-hoc basis which would appear more reflective in scale and usage to the community it serves, alongside The [nearby] Sun Inn.”

The application will be decided by county planners at a later date.

Community pubs have become something of a Pembrokeshire story, with the Tafarn Sinc, Rosebush becoming community-owned after a huge fund-raising effort that attracted worldwide interest – including support from Hollywood star Rhys Ifans.

Other community pubs include The Cross Inn, Hayscastle, and the Tafarn Crymych Arms, Crymych, where volunteers raised more than £200,000 to buy the pub.