News

IPPG cover blown

Published

10 years ago

March 28, 2014

• Deputy Leader used Council I.T. for “party political purposes”
• Standards Committee to decide punishment

cover blown

CLAIMS that the ruling IPPG and its predecessor IPG are not organized as a political party lie in shreds as a hard-hitting investigation by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales lays bare the extent to which the discredited IPPG administration used Council computer facilities to co-ordinate its election campaigns.

Under its old title of the IPG, the current and former Council leadership used tax-payer funded facilities to run its campaigns and produce its election literature. In a breach of the statutory Code of Conduct governing Council members, Deputy Leader of the Council Rob Lewis has admitted using Council computers and infrastructure to both produce election literature and plan election campaigns for the elections that took place in both 2008 and 2012.

A detailed Ombudsman’s report is to be considered by the Council’s Standards Committee next Tuesday, March 18. The members of the Committee carry out a statutory function to promote and maintain high standards of conduct by Members and Co-opted Members of the County Council and Members of all Community Councils in Pembrokeshire. While the Council’s Code of Conduct permits political groups to use Council I.T. infrastructure to co-ordinate their actions for the efficient transaction of Council business, it does not allow Councillors – for obvious reasons – to use the same technology to produce their own election literature, co-ordinate election campaigns, or access Council data for party political ends.

Councillor Lewis is quoted in the report as saying that he could not justify the use of the Council’s computer system and said, “… I’m obviously wrong, I know that.”

His admission flies in the face of repeated public pronouncements by the IPPG leadership that they are genuinely independent, and do not operate as a political party. It reveals that at the last two elections – at least – the Pembrokeshire electorate have been actively deceived by those seeking their vote on the basis that they are not affiliated to a party group.

In 2008, then IPG Leader John “Cwmbetws” Davies told the local media:

“The IPG is a coalition of individuals who have established a group to allow the county council to be administered by the majority of the membership of the council. This clearly reflects the wishes of the voters of our county.”

Documents considered by the Ombudsman demonstrate that current Cabinet spokesperson for Education, Ken Rowlands, appeared on a list of IPG certainties in an IPG strategy document produced in April 2008 when the self-proclaimed “voice of Johnston” has strongly asserted elsewhere that he only chose to join the IPG AFTER the subsequent election.

The extent of the deception perpetrated by the IPG hierarchy and its camp followers is exposed by the fact that in 2012 only 14 of the 31 candidates who were already members of the IPG chose to use the word “independent” in the description box on the ballot paper, while the other 17 opted to leave it blank.

Having been caught out by the fact that the documents co-ordinating campaign strategy for the allegedly “Independent” Political Group were traced to his Council computer and log-in, Cllr Lewis seems to have tried to deflect blame and criticism. The way in which he elected to do so was by repeatedly criticising the conduct of members, who had revealed and publicised the way in which he and the IPG had deceived the Pembrokeshire electorate. The Ombudsman’s report contains a number of emails by Cllr Lewis sent to the Ombudsman apparently complaining that Cllrs Mike Stoddart and Jacob Williams were making use of what he refers to as “stolen data” to reveal on their websites the extent to which he, now-retired Councillor David Wildman, and the IPG had broken Council rules.

The Ombudsman’s investigator evidently gave short shrift to Cllr Lewis’ complaints, as no criticism of either Councillors Stoddart or Williams is made in his report. The allegations made against those Councillors appear to be more founded in their revelation of the extent of the lies told – whether actively or by omission – by the IPG and their candidates to their electors.

Mike Stoddart told The Herald:

“The simple fact is that the party of government used taxpayer-funded facilities to promote their election campaign. Put another way, they found a way to use taxpayers’ money to undermine the principle of free and fair elections which we all value.”

Notwithstanding his admission that he breached the Code of Conduct, Cllr Lewis has asserted – contrary to the findings of the Ombudsman – that he has not breached the Code of Conduct by using the Council’s I.T. to produce strategy documents. This is a potentially revealing insight into the attitude of the IPG, as Cllr Lewis appears to have confused the transaction of IPG electoral business with the permitted transaction of internal Council political business.

Such is the overwhelming nature of the evidence against Cllr Lewis that the disputed documents read in context underline the extent of his wrongdoing and that of the IPG as a whole. Furthermore, as the breaches do not require guilty intent to be proved, it remains to be seen what the Standards Committee make of Cllr Lewis’ unrepentant stand on this subject and what finding of fact they make in relation to it.

In January, Council Vice-Chairman Tom Richards – a member of the IPPG – recused himself from sitting in judgement on the basis he was identified as a candidate in some of the documents. Cllr Stanley Hudson also recused himself on the basis of his close personal association with the original complainant to the Ombudsman, Cllr David Bryan. The members of the Committee making a decision next week will therefore be lay members Messrs Ian Williams, David Morgan and Andre Morgan and Community Councillor and Haverfordwest solicitor, Mr George Allingham.

While the part of January’s meeting dealing with Councillor Lewis was held in private, the publication of the Ombudsman’s report and detailed documents should militate against the public being excluded on Tuesday.

The members have the power to censure a member, or suspend or partially suspend a member for a period not exceeding 6 months. The maximum penalty available to the Adjudication Panel for Wales is five years’ disqualification from office.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will carry a detailed report of the Committee proceedings next week.

Community

Anzac Day commemoration service held in Milford Haven

Published

5 hours ago

April 28, 2024

Tom Sinclair

IN a service held on Sunday (Apr 28), the Milford Haven Branch of the Royal British Legion led a poignant commemoration service to mark Anzac Day, honouring the valor and sacrifices of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) during the Gallipoli campaign in World War I.

The service, which took place at 11:00am, on Hamilton Terrace, Milford Haven, witnessed a significant turnout.

Attendees included members of the Australian Signals and Signal Company as well as representatives of Milford Haven Town Council and the Milford Haven Sea Cadets.

The service commenced with a welcome and introduction by Lt Col Warren Coetzer, followed by a rendition of the National Anthems of Australia, New Zealand, and Wales, embodying a spirit of unity and remembrance. The anthems were a moving tribute to the camaraderie and international bonds formed in times of conflict.

***ANZAC service: Remembering soldiers who fought bravely (Pic: MHTC)***

During the service, the Ode of Remembrance was recited, a profound moment that prompted reflection on the courage and fellowship of the ANZAC forces.

The emblematic Rising Sun Cap Badge and the Union Flag were prominently displayed on the event programme, symbolising the service and sacrifice of those who served under them.

Local dignitaries laid wreaths, and a two-minute silence was observed, offering a chance for personal reflection on the cost of war and the price of peace.

**Sea Cadets and member of the public at the service (Pic: MH Sea Cadets)**

The commemoration concluded with a prayer for peace, leaving the attendees with a message of hope and a renewed commitment to the values for which the ANZAC soldiers bravely fought.

The service was not just a remembrance of past sacrifices but also a reminder of the enduring spirit of the ANZACs, which continues to inspire and guide future generations.

Community

Survey of Picton Castle reveals groundbreaking medieval architecture

Published

5 hours ago

April 28, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE first ever detailed architectural survey of Picton Castle, Pembrokeshire, has revealed a medieval castle ahead of its time in terms of design and high status living. Much altered in the Georgian period, the castle was surveyed by the author, Neil Ludlow, with Phil Poucher of Heneb – Dyfed Archaeology (formerly Dyfed Archaeological Trust) and funded by the Castle Studies Trust: it reveals a sophisticated building fit for royalty.

However, the building was actually built between 1315-20 by a senior royal government official called Sir John Wogan, who held office in Pembrokeshire, Northern England and Ireland and possibly fought on a military campaign in Gascony.

While outwardly it retains much of its medieval flavour, the interiors were extensively made over during the eighteenth century so that it now presents itself first and foremost as a Georgian country seat. But beneath this veneer, much medieval work still survives – though a lot of it is tucked away behind stud-walls, in cupboards, or is otherwise obscured.

Picton’s unique layout makes it a castle of great importance and architecturally ground-breaking for when it was built in the early fourteenth century. Most castles have at least some close parallels, but Picton is effectively one of a kind. Close study shows that it resolves as a central first-floor hall, flanked by services and a chamber-block to form a very early example of the three-unit ‘H-plan’ house.

The gatehouse – unusual in buildings of this kind – led onto an equally unusual ‘grand stairway’ to the hall; a second ground-floor entry probably led to an external kitchen and bakehouse.

The castle’s spatial disposition, access and circulation are meticulously planned, while the domestic appointments show a remarkable level of sophistication for the period, including what appear to be vertical serving-hatches between the ground floor and the service rooms above. At second-floor level, the east towers and gatehouse form two integrated suites of residential apartments either side of a chapel, in a manner firmly rooted within royal planning. The opposite pair of towers, at the west end, seem to have been united internally to form a residential chamber-block, for Wogan’s officials and guests, possibly served by latrines in the former west tower; the present partition walls are later.

Neil Ludlow told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “The enigmatic castle at Picton in Pembrokeshire is best-known for its magnificent Georgian interiors. But beneath this veneer is a medieval castle, from around 1315-20, with a unique layout. A towered hall-block with a pioneering ‘H-plan’, it reveals elements derived from royal planning, and sophisticated domestic arrangements including serving hatches between the floor levels. These innovations show it to have been a castle that was ahead of its time.”

Castle Studies Trust Chair of Trustees Jeremy Cunnington added: “The Castle Studies Trust is delighted to have funded the first ever detailed survey of Picton Castle and to have learned so much more about the medieval form of this unique building.”

Dr Rhiannon Talbot-English, Director at Picton Castle Trust told this newspaper: “Picton Castle has always been something of an enigmatic mystery: hidden gothic alcoves and arches, secret spiral staircases and untouched medieval Undercroft. Picton Castle Charitable Trust is extremely grateful to the Castle Studies Trust for its generous financial support which has enabled this research to be undertaken and we look forward to sharing this new knowledge with the public in a new exhibition about the early castle.”

Community

Solemn tributes at Freshwater West for WWII maritime tragedy

Published

5 hours ago

April 28, 2024

Tom Sinclair

IN an emotional gathering at Freshwater West, Pembrokeshire, the public and veterans convened on April 29, to honour the memory of the 85 souls lost in the tragic sinking of Landing Craft, Gun (LCG) 15 and LCG 16 during a brutal storm in April 1943.

The memorial service took place near the scenic, surf-popular beach, where the community assembled to reflect on the calamity that struck during a perilous wartime operation.

The service highlighted the sacrifices made by those aboard the LCGs, as well as six valiant crew members from the HMS Rosemary, who perished while attempting a daring rescue amidst the tempest.

Originally designed as Landing Craft, Tanks (LCTs), LCG 15 and LCG 16 were converted at Belfast’s Harland & Wolff shipyard to support amphibious operations by equipping them with heavy artillery.

Their redesign included the installation of two 4.7 inch guns intended for use during D-Day, suggesting that, had they survived, these crafts and their crews could have played a pivotal role in the Normandy Landings.

The crafts were en route to Falmouth when they encountered severe weather off the coast of Freshwater West.

Compounded by their flat-bottomed design, which was ill-suited for rough seas, both vessels tragically succumbed to the stormy conditions.

Denied shelter at Fishguard, they were compelled to continue towards Milford Haven, a decision that ultimately led to their sinking.

Today, the wrecks of LCG 15 and LCG 16 lie as protected war graves, and a poignant memorial stands overlooking the beach, a testament to the bravery and enduring legacy of the men lost to the sea.

Visitors to the memorial site at Freshwater West, which also hosts another commemorative marker at Thornton Cemetery in Milford Haven, can reflect upon the harrowing experiences faced by wartime naval personnel and the profound impact of their service.

The event served not only as a remembrance but also as an educational experience, particularly for younger generations unaware of the perils faced by their forebears during such tumultuous times.

The memorial at Freshwater West remains open to the public, offering a place for contemplation and respect, against the backdrop of one of Wales’ most beloved surfing beaches, where the echoes of history resonate with the sounds of the waves.