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Extraordinary council meeting: Six councillors allowed to speak but not vote

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County Hall

County Hall

SIX County Councillors have been allowed to speak but not vote at next Tuesday’s Extraordinary Council Meeting on Post-16 education.

The decision was made by the Standards Committee on Thursday April 9.

All six councillors declared prejudicial interests at a previous Extraordinary meeting on January 29 and had to leave the room.

They have since applied for dispensation to speak and to vote on the subject next Tuesday but members of the committee felt that a number of councillors would be placed in an awkward position due to the nature of their interests.

All councillors were granted permission to speak at the meeting but they have not been allowed to vote.

Cllr Stan Hudson said that it was an important issue and that all members should be allowed to vote but that view was not supported.

Monitoring Officer Laurence Harding said: “The issue being discussed has become contentious.”

Committee member Andre Morgan said: “This is an awkward situation. It is of massive public interest and I feel that they should be able to speak.”

Cllr Stan Hudson said: “This is such a big issue in the county, particularly in Haverfordwest as there are three members representing a large number of the electorate who are at the moment not able to speak and vote. With an issue as big this, education throughout the county, they should have the ability to speak on behalf of their constituents and vote.”

Committee Chairman David Morgan said: “This will be an extremely emotional debate. It would be difficult to come up with solid reasons why some of them can’t speak or vote. There are quite different circumstances for each individual and I would say that they can speak but not vote.”

County-Hall-Chamber

2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. Alan

    April 12, 2015 at 10:09 pm

    This is why councillors should be barred from sitting on any other community organisation. They should stick to one role and that is serving the people who elect them as best they can

  2. Malcolm Calver

    April 17, 2015 at 7:47 am

    So according to the Monitoring Officer Laurence Harding “The issue being discussed has become contentious.”

    I would appreciate being informed what prejudicial interest each councillor who declared an interest had and after being given permission to speak but not vote, which one`s actually spoke.

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Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

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THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

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Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

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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)

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Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

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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.

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