News

Support needed for Sir Thomas Picton School

Published

8 years ago

August 4, 2016

stp PLAID CYMRU’S Simon Thomas AM has urged the Welsh Government and Local Authority to support Sir Thomas Picton School over the coming months.

Last month, the inspectors had written to the Welsh Government suggesting the school was in need of special measures. There has not been enough progress in addressing shortcomings identified in January 2015.

Simon Thomas AM asked the Cabinet Secretary for Education Kirsty Williams for a statement on the issue, but the Plaid Cymru AM was unimpressed with the response:

“The Cabinet Secretary attempted to distance the Welsh Government from any association and claimed that it was Estyn and the Local Authority’s responsibility to ensure the School saw improvements.

“I believe that the Welsh Government should be doing much more to assist and support the new acting head Tracy Edwards as she aims to get the school back on track.”

The Assembly Member for Mid and West Simon Thomas had previously stated that Pembrokeshire Council’s record was found wanting when compared with neighbouring Plaid-led Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire council.

The leader of Pembrokeshire Council, Jamie Adams believed these comments to be ‘overtly political’ and ‘flippant remarks’, but the Party of Wales AM disregarded Adams’ comments as an attempt to avoid any criticism or responsibility:

“It is not political or flippant to suggest that Pembrokeshire County Council is languishing far behind the neighbouring Plaid-led Authorities in Education – it is fact.

“At Key Stage 4, 83% of pupils within Pembrokeshire achieved Level 2 results compared to Carmarthenshire’s 87% and Ceredigion’s 89.9%.”

The Mid and West AM believes a constructive and shared approach is needed between all parties involved, including the Welsh Government, to ensure that mistakes aren’t repeated and successful improvements are made.

“After sending in commissioners in the past to deal with inadequacies in Pembrokeshire education, the Welsh Government cannot wash its hands of its responsibilities now towards parents and pupils in Haverfordwest”

“I will actively offer my assistance when possible to ensure that no child in Pembrokeshire suffers as a result of mismanagement at local level.”

News

Cllr Jon Harvey elected Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council

Published

2 mins ago

May 14, 2024

Tom Sinclair

CLLR JON HARVEY has been elected as the new Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council.

Cllr Harvey, who represents the Pembroke St Mary North ward, was elected as Leader at the Annual General Meeting of Council held on Friday May 10.

A Town Planner by profession, Cllr Harvey spent 12 years in various Planning Officer roles in Local Government before moving into the private sector and a career at senior level planning, housebuilding and development.

More recently, he was the Head of Development at a Swansea-based Housing Association.

With a love of music and theatre, Cllr Harvey has managed an indie rock band, promoted a number of gigs locally and has staged managed plays including at the Edinburgh fringe.

Married with four grown-up children, Cllr Harvey served as the Cabinet Member for Planning & Housing Delivery under former Leader Cllr David Simpson.

Cllr Harvey, who is not affiliated to any group, was first elected to Council in September 2018.
He said: “I am deeply honoured to stand before you today as your new Leader and the responsibility is not one I take lightly.

“I pledge to lead with passion, dedication, integrity, transparency and compassion.

“I am convinced that if we all work together with common purpose and work towards common goals we can make a real difference to the lives of those residents that we serve.”

Cllr Harvey will name his Cabinet in the coming days.

News

New Chairman takes the chains at Pembrokeshire County Council

Published

4 mins ago

May 14, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE NEW Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council is Cllr Steve Alderman.

Cllr Alderman, previously the Authority’s Vice-Chairman, was installed at the Annual Meeting of Council at County Hall in Haverfordwest held on Friday, 10^th May.

Cllr Alderman, who represents Hundleton, takes over from Cllr Tom Tudor.

Cllr Alderman is well respected in the farming community as a lifelong farmer, working with his family until retiring in 2019.

Cllr Alderman has also been Pembrokeshire NFU County chairman as well as a representative on the Welsh NFU Council and numerous other rural and economic development bodies in the area.

Outgoing Council Leader Cllr David Simpson proposed a vote of thanks to Cllr Tudor who also gave an overview of his busy year as Chairman.

Pictured: Standing, left to right are: Will Bramble, Chief Executive; Cllr Thomas Tudor, former Chairman; Cllr David Simpson, former Leader. Seated front left to right are: Cllr Simon Hancock, Presiding Member; Cllr Jon Harvey, Leader; Cllr Steve Alderman, Chairman; Cllr Maureen Bowen, Vice Chair; Mrs Chris Simpson, wife of Cllr David Simpson.

Cllr Alderman was nominated by Cllr Tim Evans and seconded by Cllr Pat Davies.

Cllr Alderman, who was first elected in 2019, is not affiliated to any group on the Council.

Upon taking the chains, Cllr Alderman said: “I am extremely proud to be made Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council and I aim to represent this Council to the very best of my ability.

“I hope my experience as Council appointed member of the National Park, as well as the various Overview and Scrutiny Committees I am involved in, will stand me in good stead for this important year ahead.”

At the same meeting Cllr Maureen Bowen was elected the new Vice Chairman of Council.

Cllr Bowen, who represents Pembroke Dock Bush and is a member of the Labour Group, joined the Council in 2022.

Crime

Teenager disqualified from driving after taking cannabis

Published

32 mins ago

May 14, 2024

Court Reporter

A 19-YEAR-OLD motorist has been ordered off the roads after being caught driving after consuming cannabis.

Police officers stopped Robbie Ralph at around 6.15pm on November 15 as he drove his black Volkswagen Polo on the A40 between Slebech and Canaston Bridge.

“Officers stopped the vehicle because its rear number plate was unclear as a result of dirt,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

When officers spoke to the defendant, they noticed a strong smell of cannabis emanating from inside the vehicle. A roadside drugs wipe proved positive and Ralph was conveyed to a police custody suite where further blood tests to be carried out. These gave a Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol reading of 4.6; the legal limit is 2.

Ralph, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to a charge of drug-driving. He was legally represented in court by Mr Michael Kelleher who informed magistrates his client had consumed the drug the previous evening.

“This was a dreadful mistake for him, however it’s not recognised by many people that when you take drugs, they hang around in your system for a lot longer than you’d expect,” he said.

“This has been a complete disaster and the future for my client looks very bleak.”

Ralph, of Cardigan Road, Haverfordwest, was disqualified from driving for a total of 12 months. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.