News
Cllr David Simpson: ‘I wasn’t sacked, I resigned’
Cllr Jamie Adams: Simpson says he is ‘a capable boy with bad judgement’
THE HERALD can reveal the story behind the shock departure of popular and respected County Councillor David Simpson from the Council Cabinet. In an official statement, the Council have claimed he was sacked. Councillor Simpson, however, a Justice of the Peace, told The Herald that the truth is that he resigned.
CLLR SIMPSON: ‘I RESIGNED!’
CONCERN about the conduct of a fellow Cabinet member was one of the reasons why David Simpson decided to step down from the Cabinet and leave the IPPG.
Councillor Simpson described the efforts of Cllr Rob Lewis to derail the investigatory committee into Bryn Parry Jones as the key reason for his decision to resign.
Speaking with our assistant editor Jon Coles on Friday afternoon after his departure from the Housing portfolio he has held for eight years, Councillor Simpson said:
“I decided to go that because of some of the things that have gone on. Two members came to me, Peter Morgan and Mark Edwards: Mark was very, very concerned that Cllr Rob Lewis the Deputy Leader was trying to intimidate Peter; particularly that pressure was being applied to stop Peter appearing before the Committee (investigating CEO Bryn Parry Jones) next Monday. Rob Lewis was doing his best to dissuade Peter from attending.
“I had heard about this over the preceding days while I had been away on holiday. I met with Peter and Mark yesterday evening and what they said was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I made a decision then that I would resign.”
Cllr David Simpson: “the straightest and best man on the whole Council”, said Cllr Peter Morgan
The Herald spoke to The Havens representative Peter Morgan about what David Simpson had told us.
Cllr Morgan told The Herald: “David is the straightest and best man on the whole Council. If there was ever anyone you want to talk to about a problem you are having, it is him; everyone on the Council will tell you that about him. Pembrokeshire County Council can’t afford to do without him.”
He added: “I spoke with David last night and said that Rob Lewis has spoken to me about appearing before the investigatory committee. My position is that pressure won’t work on me. I will do what is right. When I spoke to Jamie Adams last night, I told him the same thing.”
Pembrokeshire Herald readers will recall that it was Cllr Rob Lewis who acted as Bryn Parry-Jones’ intermediary when Peter Morgan and Mark Edwards were summoned to meet the CEO and subjected to a foul-mouthed tirade for voting that he should be asked to return money paid to him unlawfully by the Council. Cllr Lewis was also suspended from the Council for his underhand activities in using the Council’s facilities to run the IPPG’s last election campaign. He is widely credited with creating the dodgy dossier handed by Monitoring Officer to Tim Kerr QC ahead of February’s vote of no confidence in Bryn.
The Herald understands that Rob Lewis arranged a meeting between Peter Morgan and Laurence Harding, the Council’s own Monitoring Officer who is supposed to ensure members abide by the Code of Conduct. We understand that the meeting took place in the members’ room at County Hall, where Peter Morgan found the Monitoring Officer waiting to see him.
We put Laurence Harding’s involvement to Peter Morgan, who confirmed: “Laurence Harding met with me to discuss my attendance at the investigatory committee on Monday (Sep 29). He told me that if I didn’t want to attend, if I just left him a signed note it would all be okay and I wouldn’t have to go.”
Monitoring Officer Laurence Harding: Encouraged Cllr Peter Morgan that he could make a written submission instead of being questioned by councillors on Monday’s CEO disciplinary investigation.
“CABINET HAVE BEEN KEPT IN THE DARK”
On the subject of his meeting with Jamie Adams this morning, David Simpson said:
“I met with Jamie Adams, the Leader, this morning (Friday, Sept 26). I have had concerns for several months, if not two years, about the make-up of the Cabinet, about the dissemination of information down to the Cabinet, and the fact that the Cabinet is a two tier system. You have the leader and his two deputies and then the rest of the Cabinet; the rest of the Cabinet are just kept in the dark.
“I have been unhappy with this for the last two years and I have told Jamie that on many occasions and have been dissatisfied. There have been several instances over the last few months that I have been unhappy with.
“Last night, after meeting with Mark and Peter, I spoke to Ian Westley, the acting Head of Service, to tell him of my resignation. I also phoned Lyn Hambidge, who has been especially supportive during my time in Housing. She was vital to the achievement of my first goal in housing, which was to drive down the amount the Council was paying in bed and breakfast for homeless people. That was over a million pounds a year when I started and I think was under £20,000 last year.”
County Hall: News of Simpson’s departure from cabinet a shock to many
HOW ADAMS SPUN THE NEWS
When The Herald discussed the morning’s events with David Simpson, a very different picture emerged than that reported by the Council. Cllr Simpson told us:
“I met with the leader this morning. He told me he was getting rid of the two deputies, which is something I had hoped for, although I was disappointed they were remaining in the Cabinet, and there were also two members coming out of Cabinet. One was David Pugh, which I thought was a good move after the debacle with the grants scheme, and then he informed me that the other one was going to be me. I was aghast and reminded him that I put more hours into my Cabinet role than he did, or any other member of Cabinet and I have never embarrassed him like others have in the past and have been very supportive of him.
Cllr Simpson added: “When the email from Bob Kilmister suggesting that I could be a leader of a “Grand Alliance” came round, I knew nothing about it. I laughed about it really and thought it was a marvellous thing to do – from Bob Kilmister’s point of view – to put the cat among amongst the pigeons.
“I told Jamie that I had not envisaged being sacked and I came here this morning intending to resign – and that can be verified by Ian Westley and Lyn Hambidge – and so I told him, before you ask me to step down, I resign.
“I drove five minutes down the road to County Hall; phoned Sue Sanders, who does administration for members and asked for the form to sign as I was resigning from the Cabinet and the Independent group – I think it was impossible for me to remain in the group and preserve my own integrity – and she said: “Haven’t you looked at the website yet?”
“It was clear everything had been pre-planned, but the fact remains I resigned.
THE DOWNFALL OF THE IPPG
On the subject of the Leader, Cllr Simpson said: “I think Jamie Adams is a very capable boy at public speaking but has a lot of bad judgement in the people he appoints. I haven’t got a lot of time for him anymore. I fully supported that man as leader. I told him I was there to support him. I told him that Cabinet was there to support him. But unfortunately he doesn’t confide in Cabinet.”
“I have told Jamie Adams that under no circumstances would I stand against him. For the last two years I have been asked to stand against him on a number of occasions. On each occasion I have refused because I thought he needed a chance to get on with the job. I have also had disputes with him in as much I do not like some of the decisions and appointments he has made. But I was Cabinet member and he was the leader.”
“I have no intention of starting a campaign for me to be leader against Jamie Adams. I never wanted it. I don’t want it now.”
One of the key points the Justice of the Peace made when we spoke to him he said “I can see the downfall of the Independent group.”
“Brian Hall is trying to form his own group at the moment and he supposedly has several members. If you take three or four people out of the Independent Group plus Brian Hall, you are taking votes away from Jamie and his majority.
“Jamie will lose his position. He is doing it himself. He is on the self-destruct button.
THANKING THE STAFF
“Housing has been my passion for the last eight years. I have been wonderfully supported by the housing staff over the last eight years. I can tell you that everyone in that department gives 110%. They are fantastic and helped make my job a lot easier. Where I go from here I don’t know. Being in the opposition was the furthest thing from my mind in my entire political career.”
The full report of David Simpson’s straight-talking interview will be in next week’s Pembrokeshire Herald: Issue 66, Friday October 3.
PLANS to convert a garden shed to a holiday let at a Pembrokeshire seaside village with the highest rates of second homes and holiday lets in the county have been turned down.
In an application before Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Shabnam Banihashem of 19a Wesley Road, Little Haven sought permission to convert a rear garden shed, already replace with a summerhouse, to holiday let accommodation.
Local community council The Havens had objected to the scheme, saying it has concerns over parking and highway access arrangements, and concerns about impact on Highway traffic safety-related matters.
The park’s building conservation officer had recommended the plans be refused despite it being a “relatively hidden and constricted site” with a likely low impact on the conservation area, saying there “is likely to be an impact on character due to extra traffic – and the potential for setting a worrying development”.
An officer report recommending refusal said: “The Authority has concerns in connection with the proposal due to the impact upon the residential amenity of the host dwelling, and its immediate neighbours, the impact upon the character of the Little Haven Conservation Area due to the potential for additional traffic, and due to the proposed summerhouse being unsuitable in terms of size for the use of holiday letting.
“Ordinarily, when a proposal would result in the creation of a single residential unit, a financial contribution towards the provision of off-site affordable housing would be required [in accordance with policy].
“However, in this particular case, the unit being proposed would not be suitable for long term residential use due to the limited size of the unit. As such, had the proposal been deemed acceptable, the Authority would have imposed a condition restricting the use of the unit to C6 – short term holiday let.
“Given that it would not have then been possible for the unit to benefit from current permitted development rights between C3, C5 and C6 uses, a commuted sum would not have been sought.
“Overall, it is considered that the proposed development would have an unacceptable impact upon residential amenity, and upon the character of the Little Haven Conservation Area.”
The application was refused on grounds including “introducing a significantly greater level of noise and disturbance than the current situation, to the detriment of the residential amenity of neighbouring properties,” and impact on the conservation area.
A previous national park report, based on the second homes council tax premium payable to Pembrokeshire County Council, has said nearly two-thirds of properties in Little Haven are either second homes or holiday lets.
For the main centres of settlements within the national park, second home rates, at the time of the 2023 report, were: Tenby 28.07 per cent, Saundersfoot 29.35 per cent, St Davids 20.86 per cent and Newport 30.6 per cent.
For smaller communities within the national park, some of the figures were even higher: Amroth 47.37 per cent, Broad Haven 36.58 per cent, Dale 39.47 per cent, Lawrenny 28.57 per cent, Marloes 29.66 per cent, Moylegrove 22.64 per cent, and Wisemans Bridge 35.71 per cent.
Topping the list, by a large margin, were: Nolton Haven 60 per cent, and 62.96 per cent Little Haven.
Passengers diverted as Fishguard-Rosslare service still affected
FISHGUARD ferry services have faced another day of disruption, with early hopes of a return to normal sailings dashed again this morning (Tuesday, April 8).
The 1:30am sailing of the Stena Nordica was once again cancelled, marking several consecutive days without service on the Fishguard-Rosslare route. The vessel has not sailed since the early hours of Saturday (April 5).
Stena Line has blamed a combination of adverse weather and an ongoing technical issue for the disruption, which began when Saturday’s 2:00pm sailing was delayed and subsequently cancelled. This also resulted in the evening return crossing from Rosslare being called off.
Passengers affected by the cancellations were either transferred to the Holyhead-Dublin route or remained on board in the hope of a later departure.
Among those onboard on Saturday was George Holland, a regular ferry passenger, who had planned a day trip. He reported that the ferry was busy, with 96 vehicles and many families travelling at the start of the Easter holidays.
Despite expectations that Sunday services might resume, sailings remained suspended, and affected passengers were rerouted via Irish Ferries’ Pembroke Dock to Rosslare service.
Hopes were again raised for a resumption of service on Monday (April 7), but that afternoon’s 2:00pm sailing and the corresponding evening return crossing were also cancelled.
A spokesperson for Stena Line said: “Due to a technical issue with Stena Nordica, sailings on the Rosslare-Fishguard route were cancelled over the weekend and on Monday, April 7. Engineers are working onboard to resolve the issue, and it is currently anticipated that sailings will resume at 1:30am on Tuesday, April 8.”
However, the scheduled early morning crossing did not take place, with Stena’s website again citing a technical issue. Passengers were again transferred to Irish Ferries.
At the time of writing, today’s 2:00pm departure from Fishguard and the 7:30pm return from Rosslare remain on the schedule.
A HEMP user has appeared in court after claiming a legally purchased CBD product caused him to test positive for an illegal drug.
Daren Bradbury, 54, from Seven Steps Road in Sageston, told police he had taken cannabidiol (CBD), a substance derived from the hemp plant and sold legally in the UK. However, blood tests revealed that he had 2.3 micrograms of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in his system — just over the legal limit of 2mcg.
THC is the psychoactive compound in cannabis that causes intoxication and remains a controlled substance under UK law.
“He received the CBD from the internet, believing it didn’t contain THC,” said Bradbury’s solicitor, Michael Kelleher, when the case was heard at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.
“He handed the packet to the police and was surprised that the test came back positive — albeit only 0.3mcg over the limit.”
Bradbury was stopped by officers on December 4 while driving on the A477 at Milton. A roadside test proved positive, and subsequent analysis confirmed the presence of THC.
He pleaded guilty to the drug driving offence, but Mr Kelleher requested an adjournment to gather further evidence from the CBD supplier.
“We would like to raise a ‘special reasons’ argument as to why the defendant should not be disqualified from driving,” he said. “We hope to obtain proof from the vendor that the CBD should not have contained THC, as the defendant believed it was perfectly legal.”
Mr Kelleher added that CBD products can be legally purchased both online and in pharmacies.
Magistrates adjourned sentencing until May 1.
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Michael Evans
September 26, 2014 at 9:15 pm
Jamie Adams has brought nothing but shame on this great county of ours. I look forward to the day when that irritating smirk is wiped off his face when he is forced out of office and sent back to his farm where he belongs! !!
tomos
September 26, 2014 at 10:15 pm
Gordon Bennet, we don’t want honest and decent ppl in the iPG – SACK ‘EM, oh, hang on you have :((
Stephen
September 27, 2014 at 12:28 am
As someone who has just stopped working for the local authority (in a somewhat different capacity), I am amazed to see how very close to my own experience the story Cllr. Simpson has to tell is. I think there is something deeply ingrained in how the council operates, from the very highest echelons to the very lowest levels, which is about opportunism, bullying, and an earnest desire to get one over on anyone who dares demonstrate the slightest dissent.
We may lose out in the short term, but it is the authority – and the residents of Pembrokeshire – who will lose out long-term, as the council continues to purge itself of anyone other than forelock-tuggers, yes-men, those who lack the imagination to object to anything their self-imagined “betters” could come up with, and those too frightened by seeing what happens to others to risk sticking their own necks out.
It’s not a brilliant way to do business.
Allen
September 27, 2014 at 8:52 am
Once again we see the name Rob Lewis cropping up.This man should be expelled from the cabinet forthwith,His behind the scenes antic’s are unforgiving.
Dave Edwards
September 27, 2014 at 9:28 am
Has anyone measured Jamie’s nose lately/ it looks longer than last week!
Cynthia Williams
September 28, 2014 at 2:22 pm
Obviously whoever is in charge of the cabinet is off his rocker! Make no mistake, David Simpson is a great loss to the County and surrounding areas. He was the only cabinet member who delivered on his policies.Well done and thank you for your work David. If only there were more honest councillors like you who passionately wanted to make a difference to Pembrokeshire. Cllr Simpson re-established the relationship with the communities; recognising that people are more informed these days and wish to participate more and to take greater control over their own lives and their communities, and creating a means by which that element of power could be returned to people. He is anchored in the community and put the community role first and foremost in anything he does.A great loss and shame. I hope he continues to strive forward and be successful in the future.
Bob smith
September 28, 2014 at 3:14 pm
Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end for the downfall of Jamie Adams. He should look in the mirror for a true reflection of bad judgment. Cllr simpson is a credit to Pembrokeshire and may he continue to do so. I watch with anticipation and hope tha he strives to continue to make truth and transparency in the council for the benefit of all.
Christina Simpson
September 28, 2014 at 5:43 pm
As the wife of David Simpson I am obviously biased. However after watching and listening from the wings I feel compelled to comment on the events of the past few days. First and foremost I am absolutely disgusted by the disgraceful way Jamie Adams has treated David. It appears to me that the more committed you are to your cabinet role and the more hours you put in, the less you are thought of. I know how hard David has worked over the past eight years and how he has spent time building relationships with officers and staff. The amount of phone calls, emails and text messages of support that he has received since Friday is testament to the respect that he has gained from the people of Pembrokeshire. How many messages of support has Jamie Adams received I wonder? He quite obviously wanted rid of David because he had an opinion and was not afraid to voice it but isn\\’t that what the so called \\” independent group\\” is meant to do……be independent? David was doing the job he was meant to do and doing it extremely well but that counted for nothing in Jamie Adams\\’ view, he only wants people who will toe the line on his cabinet. Finally I would like to personally thank the many people who have shown such amazing support for David and say to you all, don\\’t put up with this farce any longer, do something to make change happen in Pembrokeshire and get rid of these leaches on our society. We need people who are there for the right reasons, people who do the job they are elected to do for the good of Pembrokeshire, not people who are there to line their own pockets. There has been far too much moral corruption for far too long and David has been penalised for trying to fight it from the inside. It is my greatest hope that a change is about to come to our County.
Dylan jones
September 28, 2014 at 9:56 pm
\”It is a reflection of the state of democracy in Pembrokeshire that a man of David Simpson\’s stature should be brought down by a bunch of power-hungry chancers. Although he seems reluctance to make a bid for the for the Leadership, it is my belief that, should he decide to do so, he would have the overwhelming support of a vast majority of right thinking members.\”
SM1968
September 29, 2014 at 7:00 pm
Come on David Simpson, the momentum is with you,as is I suspect a huge backing from colleagues and public, take Jamie down, takes his allies with him, and then take charge and sort this mess out.
Dylan Williams
September 30, 2014 at 6:00 pm
Could not agree more with SM1968! Come on David “put the cat among amongst the pigeons” and herald the downfall of Jamie Adams! You have the support, momentum and the backing of many around you – together we can make a change – never have so few had the potential to do so much with so little. This is an opportunity to make real change to Pembrokeshire and its people. What else can you lose? we are all proud of the hard work you have done and the potential and ability left in you as a CCLR is overwhelming.