News

Wales Audit Office query over Bryn’s £330k

Published

12 years ago

October 29, 2014

Cashing in: Bryn Parry Jones

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL was thrown into chaos on Wednesday (Oct 29) when the controversial settlement agreement with Chief Executive Bryn Parry-Jones was ruled UNLAWFUL by the Wales Audit Office. Focussing on the proposal to compensate Mr Parry-Jones for loss of pay supplements he had previously deemed unlawful, Anthony Barnett from the Wales Audit Office, issued what he described as an “unprecedented” note debarring the Council from proceeding with the payment.

However, in a surprising twist, the Council says it has now reached agreement with the Wales Audit Office and the settlement agreement will proceed as scheduled.

A Council spokesperson told The Pembrokeshire Herald that the Council and its legal advisors have been in discussion with the Wales Audit Office since BEFORE the meeting of Council on 16^th October and have “reached a consensus with the Auditor”.

The spokesperson concluded: “The Council will not be incurring any unlawful expenditure.”

The revelation that the Council was discussing matters with the Wales Audit Office before October’s vote is sure to raise many more questions about the majority group’s commitment to investigating the serious allegations made against Mr Parry-Jones.

Speaking on Wednesday, Labour leader Cllr Paul Miller said: “The Welsh Audit Office has backed up what it has been saying all along and has declared Bryn Parry Jones’ pay-off from Pembrokeshire County Council as “unlawful expenditure.” After speaking with Anthony Barrett (the Appointed Auditor) on the telephone tonight, he informed me that his concerns over unlawful payments focused specifically around the pension contributions that formed part of the settlement. Contrary to reports by the council that a deal had been struck, he also confirmed that it had not and that he still sees the pay-off as unlawful.”

Cllr Miller added: “As I said in my response to Jamie Adams’ comments that he believes the payoff was the right thing to do – the payments were unlawful, nothing has changed and Bryn should finish being investigated for gross misconduct. Bryn’s position is clearly untenable while this sorry saga drags on but we now have a chance to make sure this unjust and “unlawful” pay-off doesn’t go ahead.”

Cllr Miller concluded by saying: “The council have released a statement tonight claiming that they have changed some of the wording in the settlement and the Auditors concerns are now resolved. I have spoken personally to the Deputy Auditor General for Wales, Mr Anthony Barrett, twice this evening and he has confirmed that he has not agreed to remove the stop notice and will not be doing so while the element relating to the Chief Executive’s pension remains in the agreement.”

Cllr Jacob Williams said on his blog: “I have spoken to Mr. Barrett this evening and he confirmed that contrary to the council’s statement, no agreement had been reached but that ‘a number of options’ were available to resolve the impasse, which may require an extraordinary meeting for all councillors to re-ratify a new deal.”

“Mr. Barrett also told me, among other things, that he raised his concerns over the content of the settlement agreement with officers PRIOR to the meeting on the 16th where the golden handshake was approved. Needless to say, councillors were NOT informed about this during the secret debate, despite several questions being asked – I can say this with some certainty as I was one of the councillors who queried this very topic.”

He added: “I have also become aware of other matters this evening, relating to the settlement agreement and the original pension opt-out scheme dating back to February, that I certainly intend to pursue.”

Cllr Bob Kilmister commented on the developments, saying: “The decision of the Appointed Auditor Anthony Barrett to issue an Advisory Notice to Pembrokeshire County Council halting the agreement to terminate the employment of Chief Executive Bryn Parry – Jones because it is in his view “unlawful” looks like yet another avoidable crisis for the Council and especially the Leader Jamie Adams. During the secret debate held on Oct 16, I asked Jamie Adams if this settlement had been cleared by the Welsh Audit Office, as we could not afford any more expensive interventions. His reply as recorded by the minute taker was: The Leader’s response to your query was that the S151 Officer and WAO had discussed the matter. That he was not privy to those discussions, but understood they were accepting of the position. They were mindful that Members have all information and that is why he encouraged the opportunity for the presentation by Eversheds on the strengths and weakness of the DIP. He also stated that the Public Services Minister had had the opportunity to see the settlement.”

Cllr Kilmister added: “Eversheds made no comment at all following my question. Part of the settlement concerned pension payments which had already been deemed “unlawful” by the Welsh Audit Office. It was therefore extremely predictable that the WAO would come to the same conclusion again, which is why I queried the matter. This looks like it could become another avoidable and costly fiasco.”

He concluded: “Many members were persuaded by the argument that voting for the settlement would bring about a swift and speedy end to this issue. This now looks a forlorn hope. I repeat my call for Jamie Adams to resign and for a new broad based administration which can provide the county with the fresh start to be formed.”

Local Government

Mayor and deputy mayor appointed in Milford Haven

Published

3 hours ago

May 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MILFORD HAVEN TOWN COUNCIL has congratulated Cllr Mark Woodward after he was inaugurated as the town’s new Mayor and First Citizen.

Cllr Woodward was formally appointed on Monday evening, with Cllr Kathy Gray confirmed as Deputy Mayor.

Following the ceremony, Cllr Woodward said it was a “true honour and privilege” to take on the role, adding that it was something he had “never in my wildest dreams imagined would happen to me.”

He thanked his fellow councillors for their trust, as well as residents who had sent messages of congratulations.

Cllr Woodward also paid tribute to his wife Eva, who now becomes Mayoress, saying her support had helped make the moment possible.

He said: “I promise I will do my absolute best and fight hard and passionately for my beloved adopted town.”

With Cllr Gray serving as Deputy Mayor, Cllr Woodward added that residents could “rest assured it will not be a quiet year.”

Local Government

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park chief to be honoured by Gorsedd Cymru

Published

3 hours ago

May 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PARK CHIEF RECOGNISED

PEMBROKESHIRE Coast National Park Authority Chief Executive Tegryn Jones is to be honoured by Gorsedd Cymru at this year’s National Eisteddfod.

Mr Jones has been named among those who will be admitted to the Gorsedd in recognition of their achievements and contribution to Wales, the Welsh language and local communities.

He will be admitted in the Blue robes, which are awarded to people who have given distinguished service in areas including public life, local and national activity, journalism, media, sport, science and law.

Originally from Lampeter and a fluent Welsh speaker, Mr Jones has played a prominent role in Welsh public life through a career spanning environmental, educational and community leadership.

Before joining Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, he served as Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy and also worked for the General Teaching Council for Wales.

He was nominated for his work in education, youth work and the environment, as well as for developing environmental initiatives at both local and national level.

In Pembrokeshire, he is also closely associated with the development of Welsh-medium education through his long-standing involvement with Ysgol Caer Elen in Haverfordwest, where he was the first Chair of Governors.

Mr Jones said: “It is a great honour to be recognised by Gorsedd Cymru, particularly in a year when the National Eisteddfod returns to Pembrokeshire for Eisteddfod y Garreg Las.

“The Welsh language belongs to all our communities, and I have been very fortunate to work with so many people who care deeply about its future, whether through education, culture, the environment or public service.

“The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is one of the jewels of Wales and provides an outstanding landscape that contributes to the environmental, social and economic goals that are essential to Wales’ future.

“I am very fortunate to lead the National Park Authority and extremely proud that this work has been recognised by the Gorsedd.”

This year’s National Eisteddfod, Eisteddfod y Garreg Las, will be held in Llantwd, North Pembrokeshire, from August 1-8, 2026.

The event will be especially significant as it marks 850 years since the first recorded Eisteddfod was held in Cardigan in 1176, just across the river from this year’s Maes.

News

New RSPCA poll shows opposition to badger culling in Wales

Published

4 hours ago

May 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR CULLING ‘NOT THERE’, CHARITY SAYS

NEW polling from RSPCA Cymru suggests there is no clear public support in Wales for badger culling as a way of tackling bovine TB.

The charity says the new Welsh Government must “listen to people’s love of wildlife” after a survey found that just over a quarter of people in Wales actively support the culling of badgers.

The polling, released today (May 13), comes as 96 Members of the Senedd prepare to take their seats in the newly-expanded Welsh Parliament, with bovine TB expected to become one of the major animal welfare and farming issues facing the next administration.

RSPCA Cymru said only 27% of those surveyed supported badger culling, while 46% were opposed. A further 28% said they did not know.

The charity is calling on Plaid Cymru, which is seeking to form a minority government following the appointment of Rhun ap Iorwerth MS as First Minister, and on MSs from all parties, to reject culling and focus instead on what it describes as a science-led, cattle-focused approach.

The survey of 1,033 adults in Wales found that 63% of respondents were uncomfortable with badger culling being carried out using lethal methods approved by government authorities.

More than two-thirds, 68%, said they were uncomfortable with public money being used to fund the culling of badgers.

The polling also suggested that the issue could affect political support. More than half of those surveyed, 52%, said they would be less likely to support a political party that backed badger culling, while only 7% said they would be more likely to do so.

RSPCA Cymru said the figures showed that badger culling was “unsupported by a clear majority” of the Welsh public.

Billie-Jade Thomas, senior public affairs manager for RSPCA Cymru, said: “How the new Welsh Government approaches bovine TB will be one of the biggest talking points concerning animals in Wales in the coming years.

“This polling should remind all newly-elected Senedd Members that the Welsh public cares about how badgers are treated, and politicians must listen to people’s love of wildlife.

“There is a clear lack of public support for badger culling in Wales, and those supporting such action could see their support wane among their constituents.”

She added: “Wildlife control and badgers were featured in several parties’ Senedd manifestos, including Plaid Cymru, Wales’ new biggest party.

“We now hope MSs from all political groups recognise that badger culling is unsupported by a clear majority of the Welsh public, and they should instead prioritise a science-led, cattle-focused approach to combatting bovine TB.”

The polling also found that almost 98% of people in Wales consider protecting Welsh wildlife to be important, with 69% saying it is very important.

Badgers were among the most popular species named in the survey, with 73% of respondents choosing them as one of the species they were most concerned about when asked to select their top three.

RSPCA Cymru said badgers remain one of Britain’s most distinctive and misunderstood wild mammals.

Ms Thomas said: “Badgers are such wonderful creatures and, like all wildlife, deserve to be treated with kindness and respect.

“A growing body of evidence suggests that the majority of bovine TB infection occurs between cattle, with scientific evidence suggesting that badger culling is not an effective way to reduce the disease in cattle.

“The new administration must always tackle bTB in a way which does not needlessly pose a threat to one of our most distinctive, well-loved yet misunderstood species of wildlife.”

RSPCA Cymru’s manifesto for the seventh Senedd, Securing A Better Future For Animal Welfare in Wales, calls for badger culling to be rejected, describing it as ineffective and inhumane.

The poll was carried out online by Savanta between April 24 and May 12, 2026. Figures were weighted to be representative of adults in Wales.