News

Council row over accounts sign-off

Published

12 years ago

September 30, 2013

PEMBROKESHIRE County Council has today controversially voted to sign off last year’s accounts in a lively meeting of the Corporate Governance Committee.

Seven members to six voted in favour of a motion by leader Cllr Jamie Adams that the Council were able to ratify the financial statements despite legal concerns by the Welsh Audit Office. The Council and WAO are currently locked in a “legal dispute” over the legality of pension arrangements which help senior members of council staff avoid paying tax on their pensions.

During a heated discussion at County Hall the representative from the Welsh Audit Office said his organisation was not in a position to sign off the accounts. The Welsh Audit Office will be holding a meeting on Thursday to discuss the legal position, following which they may qualify the authority’s accounts, issue a statement in the public interest, or possibly commence legal action.

Plaid Cymru group leader Cllr Michael Williams said in a response to a statement by Cllr Adams: “Things aren’t as rosy as they should be, I hear your words but I accept them with a pinch of salt”.

Councillors were asked to vote in favour of signing off the accounts with a caveat over the controversial element, something which Cllr Michael Williams was unable to support, telling the meeting: “We have been asked to park the issue over pensions at the side, and sign off the accounts anyway. I’m uncomfortable with this. We shouldn’t be able to separate something potentially illegal from the rest of the accounts.”

Cllr Paul Miller said after the Leader explained how the pension plan was introduced: “You must be aware of the ridiculousness of the story you have cooked up in a venue which is not open to the public, after no legal advice had been given, that members of the Senior Staff Committee without intervention from officers read half an A4 page report and voted in favour of this tax scheme.”

Cllr Adams replied: “You have painted a dark picture Cllr Miller, if any public had turned up they would have been shown to the chief executive’s office. This is an office open to the public.”

Disputing that the chief executive’s office was accessible and open to the public, Cllr Jacob Williams, who held up his security key-card, said: “You have to use an electronic pass to open locked security doors to get as far as the chief executive’s room. It’s simply not true that this is an office open to the members of the public.”

Cllr Mike Stoddart, who earlier in the meeting commented on the council’s transparency by way of a reference to “political democracies such as Russia or Zimbabwe,” told members of the committee that he thought that when the Senior Staff Committee went into private session in 2011 this also was potentially unlawful. Under section 100 of the Local Government Act, the Committee can go into private session, but there is a public interest test which was introduced in 2006.

‘’I wonder whether the public interest was considered in this case. I don’t think that in this instance the law in excluding the public was applied correctly,’’ he added.

Cllr Stoddart also questioned if the Chief Executive, Bryn-Parry Jones, should have declared an interest during the controversial meeting.

“If a member had failed to declare an interest and acted in this way, they would probably be lead of in handcuffs,” he said.

Cllr Jacob Williams said: “The legal advisor has read out to us a Local Government Act section 117 guidance note which says interests like this don’t need to be declared by an employee if the matter under discussion relates solely to that single employee, as the interest will be automatically presumed declared. This seems wrong to me, but despite that, this was not a situation where the matter related only to the chief executive or even to named employees, it was a whole change of policy which affected all senior staff members of the council, so I disagree entirely that no interest needed to be declared.”

In reply, the council’s legal advisor, Mr Huw Miller, stood by his own interpretation of the law saying the Chief Executive did not need to declare an interest in the pension policy change.

All the members of the Independent Plus Political Group voted to adopt the accounts, and all other councillors not in the IPPG voted against.

Local Government

Cabinet backs major leisure investment plan for Pembrokeshire

Published

3 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

New centres proposed for Milford Haven and Pembroke as ageing facilities face replacement

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL’S Cabinet has approved a major investment programme aimed at transforming leisure facilities across the county.

The multi-million-pound Leisure Investment Programme includes plans for new leisure centres in Milford Haven and Pembroke, alongside a £4.6 million package to repair and extend the life of Tenby’s swimming pool.

Cabinet members were told that both Pembroke and Milford Haven leisure centres are reaching the end of their usable life. Pembroke Leisure Centre opened in 1974, while Milford Haven’s facility followed in 1984, ten years after the site’s original swimming pool.

The report highlighted that maintaining the ageing buildings would require millions of pounds in ongoing repairs, with replacement now seen as the most sustainable long-term solution.

For Milford Haven, Cabinet approved £1.2 million to develop detailed plans, including design work and pre-construction activity. The proposed new leisure centre would be built alongside the town’s planned new primary and secondary school development.

In Pembroke, councillors agreed £195,000 to carry out feasibility studies for a new leisure centre on the existing site.

Meanwhile, Tenby’s swimming pool will receive a £4.6 million capital grant awarded to the Tenby and District Swimming Pool Association, which owns the facility. The funding is expected to extend the pool’s lifespan by at least ten years, allowing time to explore longer-term options, including possible integration with future secondary school provision in the town.

Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said the decision marked a major step forward.

He said: “We have taken a significant step towards delivering leisure facilities that are fit for the future and meet the needs of our communities.

“We are committed to providing high-quality sports and leisure provision across Pembrokeshire, and where significant investment is required, we will not shy away from it. These facilities play a vital role in supporting long-term health and wellbeing.”

Health

Owain Wyn Evans highlights hearing health concerns across Wales

Published

4 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

NEW research has revealed just how closely sound is linked to identity in Wales — but also raised concerns about declining hearing health across the country.

A study commissioned by Specsavers and fronted by broadcaster and drummer Owain Wyn Evans found that nearly half of adults in Wales have noticed changes in their hearing in recent years, yet many are failing to act.

Sound shapes Welsh identity

The research found that seven in ten people in Mid and West Wales (69%) say hearing a Welsh accent is what makes Wales feel most like home. Over half also pointed to the Welsh language (59%) and the sounds of the countryside (57%) as central to their sense of belonging.

Community events also play a key role, with 68% saying occasions such as Eisteddfodau and local fêtes bring people together through shared sound — more than those who cited singing at rugby or football matches (59%).

Overall, 65% of respondents said sound is an important part of their Welsh identity, with Welsh choirs (54%) and everyday language (53%) also featuring strongly. Around 40% said losing the ability to hear these sounds would make them feel less connected to Welsh culture.

Hearing issues on the rise

Despite this strong emotional connection to sound, the study highlights growing concerns around hearing health.

Some 45% of adults said they have noticed changes in their hearing in recent years. However, more than a quarter have taken no action.

Exposure to loud environments appears to be a key factor. Nearly three in ten people (29%) reported experiencing temporary muffled hearing or ringing in their ears after live music or gigs, while one in five (21%) said the same after visiting nightclubs.

Across Wales, 38% said they had experienced similar symptoms after live events, yet only 24% of those who noticed a decline in their hearing had a hearing check in the past two years. More than a quarter (28%) said they have taken no action and do not plan to.

Owain Wyn Evans shares personal experience

The findings are personal for Owain Wyn Evans, 42, who has experienced hearing changes himself.

The Ammanford-born broadcaster said: “I first noticed changes to my hearing about five years ago. I’ve been drumming since I was ten, often in very loud environments like rugby and social clubs, and over time I realised I was missing parts of conversations.

“It was a shock to be told there had been changes, but it made me take my hearing health seriously.

“Sound is such a huge part of who we are in Wales — from the countryside to the sea. Protecting our hearing means protecting those connections.”

Barriers to seeking help

Despite recognising the importance of hearing, one in three people (33%) admitted they have never taken steps to protect it. More than a third (38%) said they would feel more confident wearing glasses than using hearing devices.

For some, taking action has been life-changing. Cardiff-based former DJ Amal Luchmun, 56, said hearing loss had begun to affect everyday life.

“My hearing loss became a conversation killer,” he said. “I’d find myself guessing what people were saying and avoiding noisy environments because it was exhausting.

“Since getting a hearing device, the difference has been huge. I recently went to a Six Nations match and could hear everything clearly and chat easily with people around me.”

Experts urge early action

Annie Morris, head of clinical performance at Specsavers, said hearing changes often go unnoticed.

“Changes to our hearing usually happen gradually, and the brain adapts to missing sounds,” she said. “People often don’t realise how much they’re missing until it starts to affect conversations.

“On average, people wait around ten years before seeking help. While hearing loss can’t be reversed, acting early can slow further decline.”

She added that simple steps such as wearing ear protection in loud environments and booking regular hearing checks can make a significant difference.

Checks available across Wales

Specsavers stores across Wales offer hearing tests both in-store and through home visits for those unable to travel.

News

Wales faces infrastructure shortfall without urgent reform, commission warns

Published

4 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

WALES risks falling behind on its long-term infrastructure needs unless major barriers to planning, funding and delivery are tackled, a leading advisory body has warned.

The National Infrastructure Commission for Wales (NICW) this week (Mar 23) published two major reports setting out what the country will need over the next 80 years — and why current systems are failing to deliver.

The Wales Infrastructure Assessment examines key sectors including energy, transport, water, digital and the circular economy, while a separate Infrastructure Delivery Report focuses on how projects can be better planned, funded and completed.

The Commission says that despite strong policies already in place, many major projects are delayed or fail to progress due to systemic problems. These include complex approval processes, short-term political and funding cycles, and a shortage of skilled workers.

It also highlights a lack of joined-up thinking across sectors, with transport, energy and digital systems often planned in isolation, leading to inefficiencies and missed opportunities.

Concerns were also raised about fragile confidence among communities and investors, driven by frequent policy changes, inconsistent engagement and uncertainty over long-term funding.

NICW has identified eight priority actions to improve delivery, including longer-term funding commitments, planning reform, better collaboration between sectors, investment in skills, and earlier engagement with communities.

Dr David Clubb, Chair of the Commission, said: “Wales has no shortage of ambition. What we face is a shortage of delivery. Unless we address the structural barriers in the system, we will not meet the needs of current or future generations.

“The next Senedd must be prepared to make long-term, and sometimes difficult, choices.”

The reports also stress the importance of better data and long-term planning, drawing on international approaches to support more informed decision-making.

With the Senedd election approaching, the Commission said the next Welsh Government will have a critical opportunity to reset how infrastructure is delivered — and warned that failure to act could undermine economic growth, climate targets and public confidence.