News

Narberth School site talks held in private

Published

8 years ago

July 19, 2016

Extraordinary Economy meeting July 18 DISCUSSIONS surrounding Pembrokeshire County Council’s loan to a developer for the development of the old school site in Narberth were held in private yesterday (Jul 18).

An Extraordinary meeting of the Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee was called to debate the matter following a decision made by Cabinet which was called in by Cllr Jacob Williams.

At the Cabinet meeting on July 4, discussions were also held in private sessions but it was agreed that the council should accept a revised offer from the developer, Abbeymore Estates/Knox, and that a loan be made available to them in order to facilitate the development of the site.

It is understood that the loan is more than £2million.

The Extraordinary Economy committee convened and discussed whether or not the matter should be held in private.

Councillor Jonathan Nutting asked for the reasons why the meeting should be held in private but the director, Dr Stephen Jones, only repeated what was set out on the agenda.

Cllr Mike John said: “We’ve got a duty to the developer and we’re in a negotiation position with that developer and they are acting with us in good faith and it wouldn’t be right for that information to go out.”

Cllr Guy Woodham asked whether or not parts of the meeting could be held in private rather than the whole meeting.

The Council’s Legal officer, Clair Incledon, said that parts of the meeting could be taken in public but added that officers would not be able to provide information as confidently as they would if it was held in private.

Cllr John added that the reason for the meeting taking place was the financial aspects of the report.

Cllr Jacob Williams said: “Cllr Nutting asked a straightforward question; what information was likely to fall into that category and Dr Jones just repeated what’s on the agenda, he repeated there is likely to be information, but I was quite clear that Cllr Nutting wanted to know what information.

“I don’t accept that there is actually commercially sensitive information, what we regard as that could be that the developer is struggling or failing to attract private investment which is already a matter of public interest.

“We have to weigh up the public interest and I would ask the question; what is to be gained or what is to be lost by convening in public. What I think would be gained is public confidence or at least the ability for the public to know what actually has gone on.

“If we convene in secret today, it would be secrecy for secrecy’s sake and there is a lot to be gained by holding this meeting in public.

“A lot rides on this report and it is a fundamental part to the cabinet decision so I would say that should be in the public.”

Cllr Michael Williams said: “The report states that the Strategic Asset Management group discussed this application, I’m a member of that group but I’m not sure if we can make binding recommendations.

“I can’t see the difference between the loan we gave to Saundersfoot Harbour Commissioners of £1.5million which were discussed in public and yet when I asked to see the business plan I was told it was commercially sensitive and confidential and I had to sign a confidentiality document before I could see it.

“This is the allocation of public money and too often we retreat behind the cloak of privacy.”

Cllr Mike Evans said there was confidentiality but added: “It’s whether the principle of public knowledge, with public funds, outweighs this, and taking on board Cllr John Allen-Mirehouse’s comment that a developer might walk away, this is a game changer and I am interested in it that the authority uses some of our assets to enable development within the county.

“The terms of the loan that this authority might offer could well open up a new market and this might lead to developers walking in.”

Cllr Mike John proposed that the meeting be held in private session and that was passed by eight votes to five.

Business

Expansion for Ashmole & Co with acquisition of Jones Ward Accountants

Published

6 hours ago

May 5, 2024

Tom Sinclair

CHARTERED, Certified Accountants, Ashmole & Co, are delighted to announce their expansion following the acquisition of JonesWard accountancy firm in Carmarthen.

Ashmole & Co Carmarthen has today taken over JonesWard who have closed their office in Lammas Street, Carmarthen. All JonesWard staff, including Ian Jones and James Ward, have transferred over to Ashmole & Co and will be based in the Old School, the Quay, Carmarthen.

JonesWard informed their clients that the administrative burden of running a practice had increased significantly over recent years due to the constant changing money laundering and tax regulations, software requirements and so on. Over the past 12 months it had become more challenging to maintain the level of service they had been used to providing.

Ian Jones said, “We feel Ashmole & Co share the same values as us and have the necessary expertise and resources to ensure we can continue to provide the personal touch and level of service clients have been accustomed to. Myself and James are not retiring but we will be supported by Ashmole & Co’s partners and staff from now on in their Carmarthen office.”

Ashmole & Co partners Sharon George, Carwyn Morgan and Vinal Patel will strive to ensure JonesWard clients will continue to receive the high quality of service they are used to.

Vinal Patel, Partner with Ashmole & Co said, “It is our priority to make the transition as smooth as possible with all employees of JonesWard having already transferred to Ashmole & Co and are now based in our office on the Quay in Carmarthen. We look forward to meeting our new clients and working closely with them to meet their needs in the future.”

Ashmole & Co Chartered and Certified Accountants have been established since 1897 and are one of the largest accountancies and auditing practices in south Wales, now operating from thirteen offices throughout south and west Wales including Swansea, Carmarthen, Haverfordwest and Ammanford.

Charity

Fundraiser to take on epic 87k steps challenge to raise funds for Withybush

Published

6 hours ago

May 5, 2024

Tom Sinclair

SAM Faulkner is challenging himself to walk 87,000 steps in one day to raise funds for the Cardiac Care Unit at Withybush Hospital in memory of his father.

Sam will be walking along the Brecon and Monmouth Canal from Brecon to Rogerstone in Newport.

Sam said: “Since losing my Dad last year, I made a personal commitment to do something to raise money every year for the Cardiac Care Unit at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest who looked after my Dad so well in his final days.

“I will be challenging myself to complete 87,000 steps in a day on July 20th 2024 – 1,000 steps for every year of my Dad’s life. I’ll be walking around 40 miles in about 10 hours.

“Canal walks were always a firm favourite of mine and my Dad’s, with many days spent walking along the Grand Union in Northamptonshire when I was growing up.

“My family and I, and the unit at the hospital, would be beyond grateful for anything supporters could give. Thank you ever so much in advance.”

Katie Hancock, Pembrokeshire Fundraising Officer, said: “We’d like to say a huge good luck to Sam with his challenge. Thank you so much for dedicating your time to raise more funds for the Cardiac Care Unit.

“The support of our local communities enables us to provide services over and above what the NHS can provide in the three counties of Hywel Dda and we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive.”

You can donate to Sam’s fundraiser here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/sam-faulkner-1712508280259?newPage=true&fbclid=IwAR2tyVVQVea0DLQelSsrp7Ie2CKjX0jXGnwndR_tBKL-Av2kv8f5nchEolw

For more details about the charity and how you can help support local NHS patients and staff, go to www.hywelddahealthcharities.org.uk

Business

Dragon LNG explores integration of LNG and CO2 liquefaction processes

Published

6 hours ago

May 5, 2024

Tom Sinclair

DRAGON LNG, based in Waterston, Milford Haven, recently announced a significant step towards sustainable energy solutions.

The company awarded a contract to Worley, global professional services company of energy, chemicals and resources experts, to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study.

The study is focussing on exploring the potential benefits of integrating LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas)
regasification and CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) liquefaction processes at Dragon LNG’s facilities. This integration holds promise for a more efficient operation, with the potential to reduce energy consumption, carbon intensity and the levelized cost of CO2 export not only at the Dragon site but also for Haven industry companies.

If feasible, the technology at Dragon would support wider collaboration with RWE Pembroke Net Zero Centre, whose CO2 would be transported to the Dragon facility for processing before being shipped via non-pipeline transport (NPT) to carbon sequestration sites.

Key aspects to be addressed in the feasibility study include:

Technical Solutions: Worley will evaluate various technical approaches to seamlessly integrate LNG and
CO2 liquefaction processes, ensuring optimal energy efficiency and effectiveness.
Carbon Intensity Reduction: Dragon LNG is committed to sustainability, and the study will assess how the integration of processes can contribute to lowering the carbon intensity of operations, aligning with broader environmental goals.
Economic Viability: Understanding the financial implications is crucial. The study will delve into the levelized cost of CO2 and other economic factors to determine the feasibility and financial benefits of the proposed integration.

Commenting on the partnership, a spokesperson for Dragon LNG stated, “We are excited to collaborate with Worley on this important initiative. As a responsible energy provider, Dragon LNG is continuously seeking innovative ways to enhance our operations while minimizing our environmental footprint. This feasibility study represents a significant step towards achieving those objectives.”

Worley’s expertise in engineering and consultancy services including in the CO2 and LNG sectors makes them an ideal partner for this endeavour. Their track record of delivering sustainability solutions aligns perfectly with the ambitious goals of Dragon LNG.

This collaboration underscores Dragon LNG’s commitment to driving sustainable practices within the energy sector. By exploring the integration of LNG regasification and CO2 liquefaction processes, the company aims to pave the way for a cleaner, more efficient energy future with their ambition of a net zero terminal by 2029.