It looks like the Head of Planning at Carmarthenshire Council is becoming a bit of a liability - so much so that Mark James, Chief Executive, has had to make an apology to the Leader of the Welsh Conservatives Nick Bourne AM on his behalf! It concerns the letter referred to in this post from Eifion Bowen, Head of Planning to the leading AM accusing him of prolonging the planning issues around Mr Humphreys and the Mill at Felin Wen.
Mr James has, of course, managed to combine a apology with the usual character assassination of Mr Humphreys. (it is, of course an apology 'in the style of Mark James' but an apology it is)
Talking of liabilities and apologies, you may remember I mentioned a Mrs Breckman in a previous post, 'Smoking Guns' .The planning issues are no longer relevant, what is very relevant is the decision to label Mrs Breckman as a persistent complainant, brand her as a liar and a troublemaker to all and sundry for so long. Not to mention accusing her of doctoring evidence. What is disturbing is that over the years officers from the planning department, including the Head of Planning have visited the site on numerous occassions and, until the last breach, decided to find 'nothing wrong'.
Then the Planning Inspector pops in for twenty minutes and agrees entirely with Mrs Breckman.
What has been going on? The Planning Department are now attempting to cover their backs by considering enforcement action.
What is now clear from Mrs Breckman's evidence is that these senior officers, including the Head of Planning and even, it seems, the Chief Executive, knew she was right all along.
Mrs Breckman, along with Mr Humphreys, ourselves, and many others have appealed for the Welsh Assembly to step in and investigate, properly, Carmarthenshire Planning department, one pensioner nearly starved himself to death on the steps of the Senedd in a bid for justice. Quite why the WAG Planning division is so reluctant is a mystery - to be fair, local individual Assembly Members have shown great concern, done their utmost to help and have attempted to bring countless cases to the Assembly officials but to no avail.
This situation cannot go on much longer.
I am currently waiting for a response from the Welsh Minister for Local Government to see whether the Welsh Assembly have any power to remove the new found, and illegal, ability of the Council to use taxpayers money to sue the unfortunate residents of Carmarthenshire for libel. (Although, of course, we know they have already done so). If the Assembly are not prepared to act over this or the endless complaints concerning the planning department then perhaps it is no more than an expensive, useless quango providing just another tier of government bureaucracy and jobs for the boys.
Hopefully 2011 will see them prove me wrong
Libel
Here's an article from today's Telegraph, Steam buffs sell engine to pay libel bill which demonstrates the need for libel reform - 13 people read the 'words complained of' (apart from members), damages were £7500 and the costs?.....a staggering £335,000!
UPDATE 12th JANUARY
Mr Humphreys has responded to Mark James' character assassination -
Mr James has, of course, managed to combine a apology with the usual character assassination of Mr Humphreys. (it is, of course an apology 'in the style of Mark James' but an apology it is)
Talking of liabilities and apologies, you may remember I mentioned a Mrs Breckman in a previous post, 'Smoking Guns' .The planning issues are no longer relevant, what is very relevant is the decision to label Mrs Breckman as a persistent complainant, brand her as a liar and a troublemaker to all and sundry for so long. Not to mention accusing her of doctoring evidence. What is disturbing is that over the years officers from the planning department, including the Head of Planning have visited the site on numerous occassions and, until the last breach, decided to find 'nothing wrong'.
Then the Planning Inspector pops in for twenty minutes and agrees entirely with Mrs Breckman.
What has been going on? The Planning Department are now attempting to cover their backs by considering enforcement action.
What is now clear from Mrs Breckman's evidence is that these senior officers, including the Head of Planning and even, it seems, the Chief Executive, knew she was right all along.
Mrs Breckman, along with Mr Humphreys, ourselves, and many others have appealed for the Welsh Assembly to step in and investigate, properly, Carmarthenshire Planning department, one pensioner nearly starved himself to death on the steps of the Senedd in a bid for justice. Quite why the WAG Planning division is so reluctant is a mystery - to be fair, local individual Assembly Members have shown great concern, done their utmost to help and have attempted to bring countless cases to the Assembly officials but to no avail.
This situation cannot go on much longer.
I am currently waiting for a response from the Welsh Minister for Local Government to see whether the Welsh Assembly have any power to remove the new found, and illegal, ability of the Council to use taxpayers money to sue the unfortunate residents of Carmarthenshire for libel. (Although, of course, we know they have already done so). If the Assembly are not prepared to act over this or the endless complaints concerning the planning department then perhaps it is no more than an expensive, useless quango providing just another tier of government bureaucracy and jobs for the boys.
Hopefully 2011 will see them prove me wrong
Libel
Here's an article from today's Telegraph, Steam buffs sell engine to pay libel bill which demonstrates the need for libel reform - 13 people read the 'words complained of' (apart from members), damages were £7500 and the costs?.....a staggering £335,000!
UPDATE 12th JANUARY
Mr Humphreys has responded to Mark James' character assassination -
8 comments:
I have to say I find M James's letter to Nick Bourne A.M. highly amusing, and whats more childish. Are we really to believe that a member of the public has contributed to the local authorities action against Mr. Humphries?? Why would a member of the public, who has already contributed to the authorities costs by way of their council tax, want, or feel the need, to contribute a second time. This member of the public, if it's true, needs protection against themselves. One would have to be pretty stupid or mentally ill, to do such a thing! I for one don't believe it for one second. More than likely, another lie from the now totally discredited top circle of this despotic council.
I couldn't agree more with Jambogil. The first thing that occurred to me when reading this tosh, was that the poor person who has donated this money was actually donating it towards Mr. Humphries costs!
Thanks for your comments. If Mr James' flippant remark about the cheque is true it raises a few serious questions. It is very strange that Mr James finds it not only amusing but acceptable for the Council to recieve a payment such as this whilst a particular Planning and Legal matter is ongoing. It could easily be misinterpreted...a bit like 'swimming pool donations'!
Oh god, yes it gets worse. Who could forget the swimming pool donation? I felt also that if it were true, then this money should have been returned to the poor soul who is clearly not in charge of their faculties. Secondly whose pot did this donation go into! Theres a question!
have watched this case along with several others in carmarthenshire and swansea and they all bear a striking similarity in that the local authority refuse to believe or investigate residents concerns that agricultural sites are being blatently used for other purposes. It has become the norm for the relaxed regulations around applications on agricultural grounds to be exploited at the cost of the environment and the amenity of neighbours. I am aware that for six years CCC have told Mrs Breckman that her accusations that a haulage centre and horse business are false and unfounded. I hope certain Directors are squirming and I hope that all those Local Councillors who turned a blind eye, and they will know who they are, step forward and are counted now. This will all come out in the public interest.
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)
Shame on you CCC and your representatives.
david, swansea Report abuse
How apt is Einsteins quote relative to members failure to control certain practices used within CCC. " Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of the truth ". Perhaps councillors, who it is rumoured are there to run this authority, and, represent those who elect them, should ponder on this enlightening and profound statement.
There is a comment relevant to this post here;
http://carmarthenplanning.blogspot.com/2011/01/planning-department-management.html#comments
http://www.smgblog.co.uk
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