Wednesday, 29th April, 2015
And they’re off!
Four councillors will battle it out for Pembrokeshire County Council’s chains of office next month.
Nominations closed today for this year’s vice-chairmanship post which will be determined by the unique contest in two weeks’ time.
Four of the five names touted in my previous post allowed their names to go forward on the ballot paper at the authority’s May 15th AGM.
Cllr. Lyn Jenkins, Solva, IPPG
Cllr. Tony Brinsden, Amroth, unaffiliated independent
Cllr. Pearl Llewellyn, Monkton, IPPG
Cllr. Ken Rowlands, Johnston, IPPG
In an interesting deviation from the IPPG ruling party’s usual custom, three of its members will fight each other, and one opposition contender, Cllr. Tony Brinsden.
The party’s long-running convention – to adopt just one official nominee for the job – was dropped this year amid unprecedented competition among its ranks.
The four-way contest comes after the cancellation of a secret IPPG group meeting scheduled for Monday night (27th) where signed-up independent party members were expected to adopt their favoured candidate.
It is thought this divisive approach – to adopt just one candidate – was abandoned after at least one of the party’s hopefuls threatened to decamp if they put their name forward and lost the nomination.
With a narrow 31-29 majority, the loss of just one member would have catastrophic consequences for the IPPG’s leader, Cllr. Jamie Adams, who controls the party’s patronage.
Without majority status Cllr. Adams would lose hold of key positions of authority and paid posts which, as council leader, are in his gift to appoint.
The council’s constitution provides that the vice-chairman automatically becomes the following year’s chairman – and this ‘automatic elevation’ is regarded as a key factor behind this year’s stiff competition.
The upcoming AGM will elect the last vice-chair during this council term who’s guaranteed to serve as chairman.
Next year’s vice-chair will first have to survive re-election by the public in the ward they represent in order to be able to assume the 2017 chairmanship.
The four hopefuls will appear on a ballot paper given to each of the county’s sixty councillors – who will cast their votes by secret ballot – at the authority’s AGM on May 15th. The winner will succeed the chairman-elect Cllr. Wynne Evans who won the 2014 vice-chair contest.
The authority’s civic allowance for vice-chair is £2,200 on top of the standard councillor salary of £13,800, whilst the chairman – the outgoing incumbent is Cllr. Tom Richards – receives a £7,700 top-up.
It remains unclear at this stage if any council rules preclude Pearl’s pooch from using the chairman’s limo.
And any suggestions that three of the four councillors photographed will be feeling dog rough after next month’s AGM really aren’t helpful.
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What party does the pooch represent? Diggy Doggy Party?
If Ken wins next month will the last councillor to alight the gravy train please turn off the engine…
I suspect there’s an IPPG master plan to split the opposition vote by getting non ruling group members to propose ruling group contenders.
I wonder which genius thought that one up. Could it be one of the ‘Vincent Davies four’?
You’re doomed if Pearl the Girl gets it.
Vote for me, or the dog gets it.
I’m glad you made it clear the pooch isn’t mine!!
Hi Tony, yes, that was deliberate – I didn’t want my readers to think you possessed anything less than bulldog spirit!
Whereas Tom Richards possesses an entirely different type of spirit.
On an unrelated matter I see cabinet member Huw George bleating in the Western Telegraph about victims of scams in the county and how “anyone could be taken in” by one.
He says “These scams are incredibly convincing and many people in Pembrokeshire are being targeted” before advising victims to call trading standards.
Huw, don’t be such a hypocrite. Your IPPG pulled off one of the greatest scams in the county’s history with the shenanigans in the BPJ cons.
And I think a close runner up to that is the Pembroke Dock grants cover ups. Who knows what else is buried out there?
May I suggest that with another royal likely to be born in the next few days, who will have to be fed and watered by the taxpayers, and extravagant promises being made by politicians which of course will not cost the average “working family” a penny out of their wages, most people in Pembrokeshire do not care who becomes the Vice Chair of Pembrokeshire County Council.
Look at the sample we have on offer, Cllr Llewellyn who has jumped ship more times than most, Cllr Rowlands elected as a Labour candidate but defected to the IPPG, Cllr Brinsden the ex policeman originally elected I believe as a Liberal Democrat and Cllr Jenkins who stood I believe as an independent but joined the IPPG.
The electorate’s mistrust of the actions of national politicians has surely filtered down to many of the county councillors on Pembrokeshire County Council.
We have heard a great deal over the last few weeks from national politicians during the election campaign about supporting a group of people described as “working families”. Perhaps before being chosen as a future so called leader of PCC, each candidate could identify who in their opinion this relates to.
Jacob, time zones in Stackpole may be different to East Williamston but if you are electing a Vice-chair for May 2015-2016 with automatic elevation to Chair for May 2016-2017, why will the next PCC elections in May 2017 be a relevant factor?
Sorry Jacob, having reread your piece I see that I am mistaken as to your reasoning. Too much canvassing, not enough of Old Grumpy’s Chilean Merlot!
On past form, the poodle must be favourite.
Flashbang, perhaps the greatest scam of all is that pulled off by those councillors who stand as independents and then join the ruling party once the votes are safely counted.
I have a copy of Cllr Huw George’s 2012 election address and I can find no mention of his past or future membership of the IPPG. Inadvertent omission, or deliberate concealment?
As Cllr George says: “These scams are incredibly convincing and many people in Pembrokeshire are being targeted“!
Which one is the poodle?
Keanjo: apart from the canine, you have a choice of three.
There is something slightly unedifying about councillors scrambling for the gold chain. Perhaps removing the thirty pieces of silver attached to it may help ease the rush.
Two suggestions: a “Dutch auction” for the lowest bid from any candidate, just to see how low they can get. Or a version of Pembrokeshire’s Got Talent, with candidates performing an act to demonstrate their “talent” to gain votes.
On one hand the ratepayer should gain, or alternately should be entertained on the other!
As we now have the issue of the royal sprog out of the way, perhaps readers of this website, especially those that are councillors, could advise us of any special talents that they believe are crucial for the position of vice chair.
I would ask them to perhaps give us their opinion who is the most suitable candidate but we still have Laurence Harding lurking in the shadows.
Nice to see youth being promoted for the election, they all seem to be milking the system for extra dosh. What we need is new blood not follow my leader.
I suggest a ‘Hunger Games’ type of trial for the contenders…though with the amount of knives out, everyone has an equal chance of being stabbed in the back.
Why do we need a Vice Chairman? If the Chairman is unavailable, the previous year’s Chairman could deputise.
I will go with The Hunger Games, how entertaining that would be, my imagination is running riot!
The IPPG candidates probably prefer to think of this as a sophisticated race akin to ‘Mastermind’, but their calibres tell me it has more of a ‘Weakest Link’ feel.
Hopefully Tony Brinsden will ‘Strike it Lucky.’ If you’re reading this Tone, please ‘Play Your Cards Right’!
And if Pearl loses Jamie will have to pull off the ‘Sale of the Century’ to stop her walking away. If ‘The Price is Right’, he’ll succeed.
As for the rest of the IPPG, what did they call that show presented by Chris Tarrant…
Properly chairing an organisation with workings as complex PCC is no mean feat. It actually requires an individual of some calibre. Do the candidates provide CVs that unambiguously demonstrate they have the ‘smarts’ to do the job? I would be interested in things like:
– Prior (appraised) experience as a Chair of suitable bodies.
– Formal training in the skills needed.
– A minimum level of education that demonstrates adequate cognitive skill.
– Good language, literacy and numeracy skills.
– Above average constitutional knowledge.
As a minimum we would want to know that they can count votes correctly, read and comprehend notes slipped under the table and eloquently deal with opposition objections.
Better governance see!
A mole tells me that the IPPG held a secret meeting on Tuesday afternoon where prospective vice-chairs were able to present their cases. Only half the members turned up.
I am told that The Voice of Johnston droned away from a five-page script, so the no-showers can consider themselves lucky.
Word is that no decision was taken as to the favoured candidate.
Brian, sounds like a suitably qualified “Presiding Officer” option would fit the bill, with a potential saving of the Chairman’s and Vice Chairman’s salaries as a bonus.
Is there anyone who can meet the job requirements? (I would add impartiality to the list).
I wonder if councillors will be given this new option, or has it been turned down by “the powers that be” already?
John, an independent professional Presiding Officer seems to be a good idea to me and in view of the required qualifications, he could also fill the post of the Monitoring Officer thus incurring no additional cost to the Authority. Appointments could be made on a three year contract basis.
Hi Keanjo, the presiding officer option isn’t intended to be filled by an officer but by a councillor who would chair full council meetings instead of the chairman. The chairman’s role would still exist but would be limited to wearing the civic chains to buffet receptions around the county as the ‘face of the council.’
I don’t recall if the presiding officer option has been considered here in Pembrokeshire, but I can’t imagine there would be any appetite for it among the ruling party.
Incidentally, the candidates hoping to become the next monitoring officer are due to be interviewed tomorrow by the senior staff committee.
Keanjo, I just wonder why the council’s legal beavers don’t appear to have made councillors aware that they have this option? There is after all a report to Thursday’s full council meeting on members’ salaries for 2015/16.
Perhaps this became law when mysterious forces within the council decided what was best for the council, without giving councillors a say or properly informing them.
Incidentally, the presiding person is statutorily a presiding member, must therefore be a councillor and cannot be the Monitoring Officer.
Surely there must be an odd Councillor JP kicking about with an ability for impartial judgement and who would command cross party confidence of most councillors?
If the council has considered this option, I would be interested to see the report and reasons why it failed. Perhaps this is another potential Constitutional reform “kicked into the long grass”.
It will be interesting to see if it features in the council’s new improved constitution when it appears.
With reference to voting, the council Leaders of Cardiff and Carmarthenshire (the CEO debacle cited as one such reason) have been moved on.
They are both Labour group councillors and have accountability over and beyond the role as Leader of the Council, but there is no such accountability here for Farmer Adams.
Are those that form the IPPG happy with the route the Council follows or are they unwilling or unable to challenge the Leader?
“Political accountability” is needed in Pembrokeshire and the sooner the better.
Watching the webcast from yesterday’s meeting I cannot believe it took so long to discuss the topic about signatures on documents.
With all the technology available there is no need to drive around the county. Comments made by Huw George were laughable. I thought the Muppets show had finished on TV but yesterday’s meeting brought it back to life.
To save money you can start shipping out the people whop never get involved. Near the end of the meeting the number of empty seats with councillors having left is another concern. They left early to avoid the traffic on the bypass.
Major reform is required. The areas of responsibility should double in size and the number of councillors should be cut in half saving 30 times £13k. Finally, does Jamie Adams ever answer a question?
Congratulations Tony Brinsden, you did it without selling your integrity.
Look out, look out angry Owen about! How long before he joins the ruling group?
Interesting elevation for Keith Lewis however. New Cabinet member imminent I reckon.
Just as a matter of interest, did BPJ have any part in the general election as returning officer or whatever he was?
I too could not believe the fuss about all signatures being required “on one bit of paper”. Apparently this does not appear to be a statutory requirement, but rather a PCC administrative requirement, for whatever reason.
Having established there was a technical solution, why did councillors persist in trying to set out the mechanics? Surely this have been for officers to sort out?
Am I alone in being embarrassed by the time wasted in the paper, pencil, and counting procedure over the ballot process? It hardly inspires confidence in an “efficient” council. Surely, an electronic voting system is possible these days.
The “empty” seats is of concern, I wonder how many absentees attended the post meeting annual bun fight? (By the way this seemed to be a more egalitarian affair with everyone being invited to one do).
Congratulations to Tony Brinsden. It was my pleasure to second his nomination. It was a victory, but it must not be the last. The existing clique that presently run the authority must be swept aside.
The Acting Head of Paid Service has started to make a difference to the internal workings of the council, with officers being allowed to manage their departments without the dead hand of an out of control CEO stifling any initiatives. It is now up to IPG members to do likewise.
There are signs of unrest within the IPG, which only keeps its disciples toeing the line due to the largesse of Jamie Adams.
When I spoke in support of Cllr Brinsden I pleaded with them to do something different, and move away from the past twenty years of one party control. It’s sad that so few displayed the required courage, but enough did.
Well done Tony. It took great courage to put your name up for election. The people of this county owe you a great debt of gratitude.
Well another own goal for Jamie, appointing a deputy leader at £33k per annum and announcing it the day the new chairman is sworn in.
Is this person real? I thought we were supposed to save money. One rule for some and another for others. Now who can stop this shambolic outfit? They are costing us a bloody fortune.
The shortest debate last Thursday was on Members’ remuneration. It was just a case of moved, any against, no, thank you next item.
I was expecting at least one of the opposition to move an amendment suggesting, bearing in mind the economic situation, all members would accept a 10% cut but I was disappointed. Now that would have been interesting.
So Michael Williams, Plaid Cymru (Party of Wales) is proud that he seconded the nomination of Cllr Brinsden for the position of Vice Chairman. Surely with his party’s aspiration to govern Wales, as seen in the parliamentary elections a week or so ago, he should have been proposing one of his party members for the position. Maybe the problem is most are drawing salaries working full time elsewhere.
According to Cllr Michael Williams, with Mr Parry-Jones having left the scene, council employees are now showing signs of initiatives. Council employees initiatives normally mean ensuring their own survival, at great cost to those paying council tax.
I would agree with you Keanjo that many of those councillors, especially those with generous police and civil service pensions in their back pockets, could have set an example and taken a pay cut or not demanded any extra for a few more hours work.
After spending many years travelling around his police beat in taxpayer provided transport, Cllr Brinsden could leave the council limo in the garage. Or perhaps he is in need of the same security as Cllr Richards.
The Wales Audit Office wants to know everybody’s views about PCC. Let’s make sure we tell them about the goings on in the last 2 years.
http://mypembs.audit.wales
Some things to mention:
– Jamie Adams being paid for his several years of backdated travel expenses claims.
– The grant fiasco in Pembroke Dock.
– BPJ’s pay off.
– Payment of unlawful pension monies to two senior officers.
– Leased Porsche.
– Education needed Welsh Government intervention.
– Mik Smith and the treatment of the whistleblower.
I am sure there are lots more to add. Let’s get Pembrokeshire back on a firm footing.
Welshman 23 is right. Everyone who is concerned about the shenanigans in County Hall should use the link he provides and tell the Wales Audit Office what his/her views are.
Might I suggest that anyone who is exercised enough to submit views to the WAO look up the Audit Committee agenda for 13 April 2015, item 17 (WAO Audit Plan 2014/15) and the minutes of the meeting. This draft audit plan sets out the matters that the auditor is aware of and that will be looked at.
The auditor has identified “Legality Arrangements” as one risk! The audit team will audit significant novel or contentious decisions and transactions to consider whether they are lawful. (Page 5 of 22).
No doubt this should include unnecessary costs incurred by the council to protect and defend the council’s position in a number of areas where its administrative processes and decisions have been challenged, both on grounds of lawfulness and reasonableness.
I am sure all ideas will be welcomed, although as the council, or at least some councillors will be keen to stress, this will all incur (unnecessary) additional expenditure in audit fees.
The auditor is not bound to investigate everything. However, after years of identifying and praising the council’s strong corporate management ethos, at both senior officer and council leadership level, may now, following recent events, be more open to the thought that the council is not infallible and is not always right.
I wonder when the new improved constitution will be unveiled, and whether we will be given consultation rights? It is after all the document that should protect us from abuses of power.