An error in the accounts
A slightly late but rather surprising response arrived this morning to my Freedom of Information request concerning a staff member listed in the Council's Statement of Accounts as earning over...
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Ombudsman reports, councillor emails...still in the long grass
The minutes of a recent Policy and Resources scrutiny meeting (July 31st) have just been published and contained within are a couple of good examples of how to kick uncomfortable and embarrassing...
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A simple planning question....
Great letter in this week's South Wales Guardian from a Llandovery resident and worth sharing below. In May I reported that the town's Heritage Centre and museum had suddenly closed to make way for a...
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Eric Pickles; 'Abuse of state powers as councils threaten bloggers with arrest'
@EricPickles has announced today he will be issuing new guidance which will formally open up planning appeals to be filmed, tweeted and reported. The full statement from DCLG is below.Mr Pickles also...
View ArticleUnison statement; Carmarthenshire Council and the Towy Community Church
Followers of this blog will be aware of my lengthy and ongoing Freedom of Information battle to require Carmarthenshire Council to disclose correspondence and meeting notes concerning their involvement...
View ArticleCarmarthenshire Council - Mrs Angry's post
Please click on the link below and go and have a read of Mrs Angry's post, published today about Carmarthenshire Council, the issue of transparency and also the Towy Community Church. Mrs Angry is, of...
View ArticleEric v Lesley, Round 3...and a visit to Carmarthenshire
After the most recent criticism from Eric Pickles towards the Welsh Government's complacency regarding filming council meetings etc, I wrote a brief email to the Welsh Minister for Local Government,...
View ArticleAutumn term
The Autumn Term at County Hall appears to be lumbering into action with the agenda for next Wednesday's full council meeting now published. The meeting will be webcast of course, and with a fair few...
View ArticleCaerphilly council fraud investigation continues
As this blog has followed the continuing investigation into Caerphilly Council's Chief Executive Anthony O'Sullivan and his acting successor, Nigel Barnett, the latest news, such as it is, is that both...
View ArticleLibel case - Permission to Appeal decision
I have been granted permission to appeal on one ground relating to Mark James’ counterclaim, and my legal team have now filed a request with the Court of Appeal for an oral hearing at which I will...
View ArticleCllr Caiach's letter in the paper - and the Scarlets' pennies.
Cllr Sian Caiach's letter below was published in this week's South Wales Guardian, it is self explanatory. Regular readers will be aware of the background of the Parc Y Scarlets stadium which 'wouldn't...
View ArticleL..is for Listening - September council meeting
The usual commentary of full council meetings is no longer necessary as you can watch it for yourself, you are welcome to go straight to the archived webcast here if you wish (should be on there...
View ArticlePlanning - Practising what we preach
Interesting report in the South Wales Guardian this week over the refusal to allow a butcher in Llandeilo to replace his windows with UPVC when many of the surrounding properties have already done so,...
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Tegwen and the old boys' brigade
This week's Llanelli Star reports on a recent altercation at a meeting of Llanelli Rural Council. A "men only" invitation to a £35 a head gala dinner from the Welsh Guards Rugby Reunion Club in aid of...
View ArticleLocal government transparency - Welsh Minister responds
During last month's mid-summer spat between Eric Pickles and the Welsh Government over filming meetings, blogging etc (see here) I dropped a line to Ms Lesley Griffiths, the Welsh Local Government...
View ArticleLibel indemnity 'unlawful'
Carmarthenshire Council's Appointed Auditor, Anthony Barrett, has told the council he is of the view that the indemnity granted to the Chief Executive of Carmarthenshire Council, Mark James was...
View ArticleDefending the indefensible
Council leader Kevin Madge has reacted to Rhodri Glyn Thomas's plea for the Welsh Government to place in Carmarthenshire Council in 'special measures' with a statement to the press seemingly...
View ArticleThe Carmarthenshire Cash Cow
Further to my earlier post 'The stadium again...that sinking feeling' it should come as no surprise that the Executive Board approved the continuing bail out of the stadium and the club. Despite the...
View ArticleLetters to the paper
One unintended consequence of the decision to webcast council meetings, something which probably shouldn't have come as a surprise, is a sense of personal embarrassment that others, aside from the...
View ArticleBudget meeting - Cllr Caiach's letter
As Cneifiwr has already mentioned a 'Budget Seminar' for councillors and er, invited guests will be held at Y Ffwrnes theatre, Llanelli on the 21st October. Cneifiwr and I assume our invites must have...
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