Following yesterday evening's urgent Executive Board meeting there has been total silence from County Hall. It is not even clear what the purpose of this 'informal' meeting was. According to Kevin Madge it was to update Members on his meeting with the police the previous day, others insist it was to determine whether the Chief Executive should be immediately suspended.
Rumours are circulating that Kevin Madge is under pressure from Cardiff Labour HQ to suspend the Chief Exec, the Chief Exec, apparently, has flatly refused to go. Further rumours suggest that Meryl Gravell and the independent members on the Board are going to defend his position no matter what.
If this position remains, presumably the police investigation will commence with all involved remaining in situ, surely a completely nonsensical situation.
Plaid Cymru AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas has issued the following press release, and set up a petition. Please sign, whatever your political persuasion;
Rumours are circulating that Kevin Madge is under pressure from Cardiff Labour HQ to suspend the Chief Exec, the Chief Exec, apparently, has flatly refused to go. Further rumours suggest that Meryl Gravell and the independent members on the Board are going to defend his position no matter what.
If this position remains, presumably the police investigation will commence with all involved remaining in situ, surely a completely nonsensical situation.
Plaid Cymru AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas has issued the following press release, and set up a petition. Please sign, whatever your political persuasion;
Council’s leadership faces community petition of no confidence
Following the astonishing events in County Hall, and the failure of the council leader to suspend the authority’s Chief Executive when the police announced a criminal investigation, Assembly Member Rhodri Glyn Thomas has today launched an online petition for members of the public to express their lack of confidence in the Council leadership.
On Monday, the Plaid Cymru opposition councillors will be submitting motions of no confidence in 3 members of the Council’s executive board. They will also be submitting a motion to suspend the chief executive.
AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas said the petition he has established is for all residents of Carmarthenshire, irrespective of political persuasion, to send a strong message to county hall before those motions of no confidence are discussed.
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr Assembly Member, Rhodri Glyn Thomas said:
“It’s been over two weeks since the damning Wales Audit Office reports were published. Over two weeks and not a scrap of leadership has been forthcoming from the council leader, Kevin Madge.
“His and his executive board colleague’s unwavering defiance of the Auditor’s findings, and their attempts to defend the indefensible has seen the First Minister of Wales dragged into the mess.
“Plaid Cymru, and more importantly, the public recognised the seriousness of the situation fifteen days ago but the council leadership has done next to nothing.
“It is crystal clear that Carmarthenshire is bereft of leadership. It is also clear that only Plaid Cymru’s motions of no confidence can bring any sense of authority back to the council.
“I see this as a petition for all residents of Carmarthenshire irrespective of political persuasion. I want residents to sign our petition and send a strong message to the leadership of county hall that their actions are dragging the good name of Carmarthenshire through the mud.
“Our petition can be signed by visiting my website www.rhodriglynthomas.org/petitions”
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Having just watched Pembrokeshire Council webcast meeting with regards to the pension scandal I suggest readers watch the archive. It was astounding.
When it came to the vote to suspend the Chief Executive it transpired that the monitoring officer of the council had given Tim Kerr QC a brown envelope (in the car) containing press cuttings from those who had expressed an opinion in the press that the CEO should be suspended or resign.
It didn't contain names of those who had expressed an alternative view.
Just before the vote, Mr Kerr QC warned that those Cllrs may have to withdraw over prejudicial interest, he didn't mention the envelope until pushed on the issue. At first he insisted that the envelope had been given to him anonymously.
Disgusted opposition councillors finally walked out. The Leader then tried to have the vote anyway but fortunately the proposer of the motion withdrew it before he could get away with that one.
I leave the rest of the farce for now, I'm sure our Pembrokeshire bloggers will update us with all the details.
Let's hope there are no similar 'envelope' incidents in Carmarthenshire....