Cllr Rob James, leader of the Labour opposition group on Carmarthenshire Council gives his views recent developments over the unlawful libel indemnity clause. Refreshingly clear and straight to the point, it's worth a watch.
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I have made my views on the matter crystal clear and my efforts to obtain documents from the recent 'working group' meeting can be read here. There's plenty of background on this blog, including the CRWG meeting here.
(Just to be clear, the opinions expressed below, and on this blog are mine alone, not views expressed by Cllr Rob James)
I don't need to elaborate, I've done so many times but I will say, yet again that this clause is unlawful, or, in the real world, illegal. Despite the endless denials and desperate attempts to discredit the Auditor, and anyone else, Mark James knows it too. Since the Auditor's findings in 2014 he, and head of law Ms Rees-Jones have deliberately and continually misrepresented the legal position and misled councillors, and used precious public resources to do so.
What is worse, perhaps, is that our pious church-going chief executive 'persuaded' Plaid council leader Rev Dole to betray his own conscience, u-turn, and sing from the same, profoundly un-Christian-like hymn sheet.
It is very much in Mark James' interest, and it is his intention, to try and reinstate the clause or at least overturn the label 'unlawful'. Who knows, perhaps he's hoping for a knighthood... He has never repaid the unlawful cash and, without a pang of conscience, breached the undertaking to hand over the damages back to the council.
Whatever happens this issue will not go away, despite the administration's best attempts to muddy the waters, kick it into the long grass, or any similar metaphor.
Whatever your views on the libel case itself, it is extremely important that the clause is completely removed.
As for accountability, it is my honestly held opinion that Mr James and Ms Rees-Jones should both have been sacked over this fiasco four years ago. There's still time.
10 comments:
History heretofore disregarded by authority now being investigated over impropriety
from within. Reveille at last. Inside out hallelujah.
Mark James, Ms Rees-Jones et al can argue till the cows come home about the unlawful clauses, but they fail to address the fact that the auditor also states that “…the Chief Executive was present at the Executive Board meeting, did not declare an interest in the item on the agenda, and therefore in my view took part in the decision-making process whilst having a disqualifying financial interest in the outcome of the decision. In my opinion, the decision of the Executive Board is unlawful for this further reason.” Although Mr James’ memory rather conveniently seemed to fail him on this matter in court.
Nice and refreshing to hear a straightforward honest statement from a local politician. This statement from Rob James will put pressure on Plaid to do the proper thing if they wish to avoid losing votes to Labour. Look forward to Plaid’s response .
Anon 11:56
Yes, Mr James' convenient memory loss in court was simply laughable, and under oath as well. Shameless.
knighthood? You are having a laugh.
Is james that dim to not be aware of the requirements for qualification of such titles and honours? Indeed it seems not, for if this moron thinks he is going to get knighted for services to himself or country (certainly not Wales or the UK) he will have a rude awakening. The rules have changed James and your actions positively preclude you getting anything apart from perhaps a passing scowl from those you fawn over.
The rest of the masses simply observe you with the contempt you deserve.
All that money and no friends. Enjoy the retirement when it comes, you will have plenty of time to count all the money and remember, you cant take it with you, so why not re-invest it in something useful, like giving back to the society you so obviously treat with such contempt.
Little man, or napoleon syndrome is lost on you, but not the rest of the world.
Don’t worry Rob ,it’s the other James they are writing about.
Wonder what the CEO's tax returns look like given all the pies in which he has fingers? https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/sep/01/uk-tax-avoiders-face-being-blocked-from-honours-list
@Redhead
I would imagine the CEO's tax affairs are, shall we say, complex and interesting, well, interesting to the taxman perhaps, and let's not forget his business affairs in Cardiff Bay..
With regards to the Honours, I happen to have mentioned this at the end of a previous post here.
We all know this has been nonesense for years. A constitution only has in it what is specifically included!
An item cannot in that sense be suspended, it is either in or not.
Suspended means not in!,
The issue is that it is ruled unlawful but those who need to act accordingly , the councillors, have failed to do so .
The Chief executive knows this well enough but is confident the councillors dare not take him on , so continues this charade. There is no clause it went as soon as it was suspended.
Your lily-livered councillors are a disgrace. Let's hope they are NOT expecting their reward in heaven!
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