News
Council improve report published
Pembrokeshire County Council has become the first local authority in
Wales to publish a Corporate Peer Challenge Report.
The report – compiled by the Local Government Association (LGA) –
will inform measures for the Council’s improvement in the future.
In the past decade around two-thirds of councils in England have
undertaken a Corporate Peer Challenge.
A small team of peer officers and councillors, compiled by the LGA,
spent a week with the Council in mid-February.
The process involved engaging with elected members, employees
and a wide range of people connected with the Authority to get views
and perspectives.
The report highlights a number of areas of good practice while also
identifying areas for improvement.
For instance, the peer team was impressed with the Council’s delivery
in relation to social care integration which the Authority’s partners
view as being ‘leading-edge’ within Wales.
Partners also pointed to an improved set of relationships with the
County Council.
The peer team found that the Cabinet’s Programme for Administration
provided increased clarity around priorities and noted delivery of the
vision.
Examples included removing the tolls on the Cleddau bridge; plans to
enhance digital infrastructure and related broadband connectivity
across the county and building new council housing.
The team complimented the Council on how it has addressed the
budget gap to date and the bold decisions taken – including raising
Council Tax – and noted the progress its transformation programme,
especially the technology element and the much-enhanced ability for
staff to work in more agile ways.
The report includes twelve recommendations including building on the
locality planning model used for health and social care; tackling
relationship issues and strengthening corporate processes including
decision-making, transformation, organisational development and
communication.
In a joint statement Council Leader, David Simpson, and Chief
Executive, Ian Westley, said: “We are both very grateful to the peer
team for facilitating and sharing the review and making
recommendations that they believe can improve how the Council is
run.
“We are as one in recommending to all senior leaders – members and
officers – that the report and its recommendations should be accepted
by the Council as a whole.
“The team noted the real commitment, extensive goodwill and huge
pride our employees have in serving their communities.
“The current crisis has underlined the dedication of employees and
elected members to Pembrokeshire and its communities. This
dedication, working alongside the resources of our public, private and
third sector partners, cannot be underestimated.”
The statement added: “The peer challenge and the resulting report
has held up a mirror to the Council and highlighted the need for it to
tackle some difficult issues. We know that Pembrokeshire County
Council can, and will, address the report’s recommendations.”
Councillor Neil Prior, Cabinet Member for Transformation and IT,
said: “I welcome the constructive challenge that the report brings and
the Council will develop a detailed action plan to address the report’s
recommendations.
“Of course, at the moment we must devote our efforts to tackling
Covid-19 and keeping all our communities safe but that doesn't stop
us from being absolutely committed to our improvement journey.”
A copy of the report is available at:
https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/improvement-planning/how-do-we-
know-whether-or-not-we-are-improving
Crime
Hakin man stole Tesco goods to fund drink and gambling addictions
A 35-YEAR-OLD man stole almost £800 worth of goods from Tesco Extra in Haverfordwest to fund his alcohol and gambling addictions, a court has heard.
Five thefts from same store
Luke Brunton, 35, visited the store on five separate occasions between February and May 2025, taking items including pillows, duvets, Lego sets, Pokémon cards, alcohol, crisps and a saucepan set.
The first theft took place on February 27, when Brunton stole four packs of pillows, a double duvet, a cool pillow, a cuddle cushion, a Batman Lego set and a BMW Lego set, worth £167.50.
On March 1 he returned and stole Pokémon cards valued at £144. Three days later, he stole Baileys, vodka, Jack Daniel’s, three pillows, crisps and a saucepan set, worth £192.69.
The final offence took place on May 21, when Brunton again stole alcohol, pillows and toilet roll. The value of those items was not given to the court.
Addictions reduced
Brunton, of St Lawrence Close, Hakin, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week, where he pleaded guilty to five charges of theft.
The court was told the offences also breached a conditional discharge imposed by Kent Court for previous theft matters.
His solicitor, Michael Kelleher, said: “At the time, he was drinking to excess and was also gambling to excess.
“The shoplifts funded those habits, both of which were addictions.”
Mr Kelleher said Brunton’s drinking and gambling had significantly reduced since the offending.
Brunton was sentenced to a 24-month community order. He must complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 66 hours of unpaid work.
He must also pay £761.79 compensation to Tesco, a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.
Crime
Uxbridge motorist banned after Pembrokeshire drug-drive stop
Driver was heading home after visiting former girlfriend when police stopped him on the A477
A WEST London motorist has been banned after being caught driving on the A477 in Broadmoor with a cocaine metabolite and cannabis in his system.
Danny Small, 32, was stopped by police carrying out routine checks at around 11:30am on January 28.
After providing a positive roadside drug swipe, Small was taken to a police station, where blood tests showed he had 157mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit is 50mcg.
He also had 2.9mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2mcg.
Small, of Little London Close, Uxbridge, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week, where he pleaded guilty to two drug-driving offences.
Probation officer Julie Norman told the bench that Small had been visiting his former girlfriend in Pembrokeshire and was driving home to Uxbridge at the time of the offence.
Ms Norman said Small was a regular cannabis and cocaine user.
“This helps treat his undiagnosed ADHD,” she said.
“He didn’t think the drugs would still have been in his system, as he’d consumed the drugs several days earlier. But drugs can often remain in the system for several weeks.”
Small was sentenced to a 12-month community order, during which he must complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
He was fined £80 and ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs. He was disqualified from driving for 15 months.
News
Uxbridge motorist banned after Pembrokeshire drug-drive stop
Driver was heading home after visiting former girlfriend when police stopped him on the A477
A WEST London motorist has been banned after being caught driving on the A477 in Broadmoor with a cocaine metabolite and cannabis in his system.
Danny Small, 32, was stopped by police carrying out routine checks at around 11:30am on January 28.
After providing a positive roadside drug swipe, Small was taken to a police station, where blood tests showed he had 157mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit is 50mcg.
He also had 2.9mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2mcg.
Small, of Little London Close, Uxbridge, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week, where he pleaded guilty to two drug-driving offences.
Probation officer Julie Norman told the bench that Small had been visiting his former girlfriend in Pembrokeshire and was driving home to Uxbridge at the time of the offence.
Ms Norman said Small was a regular cannabis and cocaine user.
“This helps treat his undiagnosed ADHD,” she said.
“He didn’t think the drugs would still have been in his system, as he’d consumed the drugs several days earlier. But drugs can often remain in the system for several weeks.”
Small was sentenced to a 12-month community order, during which he must complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
He was fined £80 and ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs. He was disqualified from driving for 15 months.
-
Crime6 days agoMilford Haven man jailed for breaching domestic violence protection order
-
News6 days agoCrash on Freeman’s Way causes school-run chaos across Haverfordwest
-
Health4 days agoWoman jailed assaults on police, harassment and XL Bully possession
-
Crime4 days agoMilford Haven woman spared jail despite string of shop thefts
-
Crime6 days agoPortfield Gate man faces careless driving allegation after Tufton crash
-
Community3 days agoThe gentle giant behind the tattoos
-
Local Government6 days agoPembrokeshire faces accessible housing shortage as 403 people wait for homes
-
News7 days agoBrexit at 10: How Britain was sold a dream that cost us dearly






