tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post2809800926351297186..comments2023-11-18T08:59:54.598+00:00Comments on Carmarthenshire Planning Problems and more: City Deal - a scandal in the making, and the wrong man for the job?caebrwynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233902574832152764noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-63218686738577051882018-08-28T09:42:28.745+01:002018-08-28T09:42:28.745+01:00Anon 09:17
Hi, the dodgy MOD deal has been mention...Anon 09:17<br />Hi, the dodgy MOD deal has been mentioned several times on this blog, most recently in October 2017 <a href="https://carmarthenplanning.blogspot.com/2017/10/hazardous-chemicals-and-history-lesson.html" rel="nofollow">here</a><br />Earlier this year one of the companies run by the two well known individuals, Hydro Industries, formed a 'partnership' with Swansea Uni and in particular with one of the City Deal key players, Marc Clement, who has an interesting history himself. The 'partnership' looks set to capitalise on the public cash which will be funnelled into the City Deal.<br />As usual, these 'arrangements' never stray far from old boys network. It's all very cosy.<br /> caebrwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17233902574832152764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-31822104022656429012018-08-28T09:17:18.289+01:002018-08-28T09:17:18.289+01:00Never seen any questions raised on the blog about ...Never seen any questions raised on the blog about the questionable purchase and sale of the former RN site in Llangennech by Carms CC. This was all processed on the same day. Bought from MOD for a peppercorn amount in the morning and sold the same day to 2 well known individual with links to the Scarlets and Welsh Rugby. I believe the amount involved was only £80k for a site worth a million.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-50258177882253128712018-05-03T17:43:07.946+01:002018-05-03T17:43:07.946+01:00
Putting up Kevin Madge to be Chair of CCC, a man ...<br />Putting up Kevin Madge to be Chair of CCC, a man fully implicated in the unlawful payments which benefited the chief executive financially, shows the the Labour Party is more interested in crawling back into favour with the elites by rewarding Kevin for his despicable actions, rather than making choices as to the best and most appropriate person for the job. Integrity counts for nothing in the County Labour Group. Many of these councillors were elected on the coat tails of Jeremy Corbyn, a man who I suspect would certainly not have chosen Kevin.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-12908305227557624912018-04-30T12:31:42.630+01:002018-04-30T12:31:42.630+01:00Thank you for the comments.
Thanks for the insight...Thank you for the comments.<br />Thanks for the insight Sian, your observations are spot on, as always. Sinister and disturbing just about sums it, or him, up. <br />I blogged about the City Deal 'presentation' to councillors <a href="http://carmarthenplanning.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/allowances-penny-pinching-and-city-deals.html" rel="nofollow">here</a> - a memorable exercise in hot air and buzzwords. As Anon 07:56 recalls, Sian's questions, which referred to the future financial risks and the suitability of the Delta Lakes site were met with ill-concealed anger and denial by Mr James. The financial risks are self-evident, and as for the site, I've also been following the planning submissions from NRW and they are not happy, not one bit.<br /><br />An interesting comment from Anon 13:25... there has obviously been tension between the ego-ridden little men, and the latest report from the Neath Port Talbot CEO rather confirms this; "Our last report apparently caused quite a stir in certain quarters and we are well aware of the critical comments surrounding the “negative” position that this Council has taken over the past year or so. However, there is no room for ambiguity on such a long term financial commitment of this scale and clarity is required..." Unfortunately, this has all played into the manipulative hands of that ego-ridden little man from County Hall, Carmarthen.caebrwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17233902574832152764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-15780368114485640432018-04-30T10:17:22.696+01:002018-04-30T10:17:22.696+01:00Superb post summing up the high financial risk ass...Superb post summing up the high financial risk associated with this project. In fact "financial risk" probably underplays the situation - "looming financial disaster" feels more like it. I'd be less worried were it not for the CV of Mark James - his trail of waste of millions from the public purse(s), combined with his Svengali-like influence and control over a bunch of (mainly) decrepits who still have the scales over the eyes after all these years. It's a grim situation.Tessanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-141932273882546772018-04-30T08:59:02.777+01:002018-04-30T08:59:02.777+01:00With so much evidence of highly questionable condu...With so much evidence of highly questionable conduct against this controlling CEO it's astounding there hasn't been a vote of no confidence for bringing this council into disrepute. Of course, the Leader (the irreverent Dole) being just one of his disciples he feels safe - for now!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-69817617277459394272018-04-30T08:55:45.101+01:002018-04-30T08:55:45.101+01:00Addendum to comment @ 30 April 2018 at 07:56 – apo...Addendum to comment @ 30 April 2018 at 07:56 – apologies for the incorrect link, it should read:<br />…..Also the choice of ‘exclusive partners’ for the project seems to be lacking sound judgement - see https://westwalesnewsreview.wordpress.com/tag/kent-neurosciences-ltd/ - but I’m sure Mr James will ensure that the rose tinted spectacles will remain firmly nailed to councillors’ wooden heads.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-518906285041180012018-04-30T07:56:34.145+01:002018-04-30T07:56:34.145+01:00Following the presentation of the city deal to cou...Following the presentation of the city deal to council by Mark James, I recall that Sian Caiach was met with a chorus of disdain from councillors followed by a petulant dressing down by Mr James. This was because she had dared to raise concerns about the interest costs on the loans required and the suitability of the site. It now appears that her concerns are shared by Natural Resources Wales as far as the site is concerned in their response to the planning application S/36948 – <br />“We have significant concerns with the proposed development as submitted. We recommend that you should only grant planning permission if the scheme can meet the following requirements and you attach the conditions listed in the attached appendices. Otherwise, we would object to this planning application.”<br /><br />Also the choice of ‘exclusive partners’ for the project seems to be lacking sound judgement - see http://www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/home/council-services/planning/search-for-a-planning-application/ - but I’m sure Mr James will ensure that the rose tinted spectacles will remain firmly nailed to councillors’ wooden heads.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-28877533948299813772018-04-29T19:09:51.661+01:002018-04-29T19:09:51.661+01:00Excellent hard hitting post backed up with facts. ...Excellent hard hitting post backed up with facts. I really can't understand why the WG does not intervene.Keanjohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05712816955263616297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-58599421938151727592018-04-29T16:15:23.271+01:002018-04-29T16:15:23.271+01:00Yes indeed - we need to know what exactly are they...Yes indeed - we need to know what exactly are they afraid of, as Sian Caiach said there is something sinister and disturbing at CEO level.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-8765382973469679662018-04-29T15:05:30.706+01:002018-04-29T15:05:30.706+01:00https://westwalesnewsreview.wordpress.com/2018/02/...https://westwalesnewsreview.wordpress.com/2018/02/18/swansea-bay-city-deal-hot-on-advertising-cool-on-facts/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-5374430249769896942018-04-29T13:53:32.751+01:002018-04-29T13:53:32.751+01:00"They are afraid, not asleep. "
Maybe I..."They are afraid, not asleep. "<br /><br />Maybe I was wrong when I stated the Councillors were asleep (28 April 15:56).<br /><br />Now maybe someone can clarify what the Councillors are afraid of.<br /><br />Are they all afraid of the same thing ? Why on earth do they vote en-bloc ?<br /><br />Democratic they are definitely not !!<br /><br />Until that is known then we cannot move forward.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-88837850106454544962018-04-29T13:25:32.413+01:002018-04-29T13:25:32.413+01:00Mark James acquired his lead role in the City Deal...Mark James acquired his lead role in the City Deal arrangements because Steve Phillips, Chief Exec NPT, fell out with Rob Stewart, Leader Swansea City Council. Mr Phillips being too pushy as far as Mr Stewart was concerned apparently, and so Mr James stepped in to put his arm around Mr Stewart. Steve Phillips has been as awkward as he can be ever since. It seems there are a lot of ego ridden little men in the Swansea Bay City Deal family!! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-19930794984487369662018-04-29T12:49:58.178+01:002018-04-29T12:49:58.178+01:00When this deal was proposed I was the only County ...When this deal was proposed I was the only County Councillor that voted against it. All the the others present voted for it after a glitzy presentation and the message that it was the only option to revitalise the economy of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire's largest town. <br />My colleagues did not sleepwalk into this, they were led by their party group leaders who presumably were persuaded by Mr Mark James & co. that this was a wonderful scheme and a sure thing to get jobs for the area. All of the group leaders are councillors of some experience but have not learned much from their years on the county council. In the 9 years that I was on the council several large schemes funded by the council did not provide the promised jobs and boost to the economy and some required even more investment than planned, some of it, such as the profits from the sale of the Parc y Scarlets overflow car park, being donated covertly, without any formal disclosure to the councillors.<br />As veteran County Councillor Eryl Morgan once said to me "Sian, they treat us like mushrooms, kept in the dark and fed on sh**". The Carmarthenshire Councillors do know that they are not in charge and that they are frequently not consulted prior to decisions which they are then asked to rubber stamp under heavy pressure. They are afraid, not asleep. <br />The group leaders, with one eye on the illusion of the power of leading the Council, are fearful of upsetting the senior officers they see as the "kingmakers". Being leader certainly bumps up your salary and gives your party more press coverage but it is hollow as long as the officers are really running the show.<br />Representative democracy does fall down when the representatives are just not able to properly represent you. There is a culture in Carmarthenshire County Council which I found quite sinister and disturbing, even though I did not support the lunatic projects. <br />The good thing about losing my seat on the County last year is that I no longer feel the least bit responsible for the farcical goings on. I certainly sleep better now!It is a shame though, that this very questionable scheme is wasting time and public money. Cllr Sian Caiachnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-7515361288606279662018-04-28T15:56:56.081+01:002018-04-28T15:56:56.081+01:00When this deal plan started I stated that it appea...When this deal plan started I stated that it appeared to be a planned deal that would make CCC bankrupt.<br />I am now, more than ever, convinced of that.<br /><br />Now if this does not wake our councillors from their sleep then on their heads be it.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com