tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post3095482885616411801..comments2023-11-18T08:59:54.598+00:00Comments on Carmarthenshire Planning Problems and more: Operation Koelcaebrwynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233902574832152764noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-1974297958739042232022-02-12T13:51:23.840+00:002022-02-12T13:51:23.840+00:00The Llanelli Star published a letter 10th February...The Llanelli Star published a letter 10th February 2022, reproduced in Friends of Burry Port Harbour, written by Cllr John James titled "Strategy rethink is needed over harbour"<br />The "volte face" stance by Cllr James, has come to late, the damage has been done. Cllr James should consider an apology to the residents, boat owners, and fishermen, for allowing the harbour basin, the marina to be unworkable as such, totally untenable<br /><br />The responsibilities of the elected County Councillor John James is to the electorate who put him on Council and not be subservient to the Senior Officers, and listen to and take notice of the residents concerns.<br /><br />Their are 3 more elected councillors acting for Pembrey and Burry Port all of whom are responsible for the harbours wellbeing and all four should examine their positions as elected representatives on County Council.<br /><br />Carmarthenshire Residents Alliance<br /><br /> Carmarthenshire Residents Alliancenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-87585448056054743572022-02-10T14:20:21.958+00:002022-02-10T14:20:21.958+00:00When M&S has to issue a statement to reassure ...<br />When M&S has to issue a statement to reassure residents they are not closing the store in Carmarthen town and the Debenhams store is turned into another hwb then things do look grim <br /><br />In fact all the town centres are in a downward spiral with shop closures - New Look being the latest - the Council has an allmighty task on their hands are they up to it <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-37000524575215933942022-02-09T04:04:59.253+00:002022-02-09T04:04:59.253+00:00When you think this is replicated 22 times in Wale...<br />When you think this is replicated 22 times in Wales and add in the health this is a lot of money <br /><br />in the levelling up paper from Grove wales seems to languish at the bottom of most of the tables such a poverty etc and has done so for too long <br /><br />We seem to be rewarding failure with these people <br /><br />Nice if you get one of these jobs - no accountablility / no targets / no consequences / job for life rewarded with a big pension <br /><br />Carmarthenshire in particular is on a downward slope - wouldn't look to Wendy walters and her crew to do much about it <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-55976582747177986332022-02-08T13:41:57.165+00:002022-02-08T13:41:57.165+00:00Anon 09:26
Yes, living the dream indeed!
Close beh...Anon 09:26<br />Yes, living the dream indeed!<br />Close behind Ms Walters' bumper pay packet is the Director of Communities on £145k and three more Directors on £132k, an Assistant CEO on £110k and 16 Heads of Service, which includes the hopelessly incompetent Monitoring Officer, on £98k apiece. <br />And that's without adding the pension contributions, which, for each Director for example, is around £25k.caebrwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17233902574832152764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-65334113440261727522022-02-04T09:44:31.061+00:002022-02-04T09:44:31.061+00:00http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/630754.stm
Martin...http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/630754.stm<br />Martin Shipton got 55 votes in the Ceredigion by-election 2000, coming bottom with disgraced former Plaid politician Simon Thomas winning.GARRY W GIBBSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-6810459248825156792022-02-04T09:26:36.785+00:002022-02-04T09:26:36.785+00:00Wales' public sector rich list: The best paid ...Wales' public sector rich list: The best paid officials in the nation<br /><br />Carmarthenshire :<br />Medwin Hughes, vice chancellor, University of Wales Trinity St David: £232,000<br />Wendy Walters Total £179,777<br />Chief constable, Dyfed-Powys Total remuneration: £189,623<br />Chief executive of Hywel Dda health board Total remuneration: £205-210,000<br /><br />we are served well in Carmarthenshire ! living the dream Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-76567040360281677112022-02-04T09:22:20.760+00:002022-02-04T09:22:20.760+00:00"Even more disappointing is the stance of Mar..."Even more disappointing is the stance of Martin Shipton in the Western Mail who has now become a cheerleader for Clement and James over the last two years. Previously a champion of those who could not get justice elsewhere such as yourself, he has been consistently peddling whatever lines he is given by those supporting these two charlatans. Perhape you should send him all your evidence so that he can take a more considered view of what has happened."<br />I think Mr Shipton once stood for election to the then Welsh Assembly in the dim and distant past running on a broadly pro-devolution ticket. This is highly unusual and may be highly significant.GARRY W GIBBSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-69454980933959882152022-01-29T11:47:00.856+00:002022-01-29T11:47:00.856+00:00
its strange the police can investigate and possib...<br />its strange the police can investigate and possibky fine people who ate cake in number 10 year ago but cannot charge people who are suspected of public sector fraud <br /><br />look how the govt wrote off 4billion to fraud under the bounce back loans and is only in the headlines because a tory peer resigned <br /><br />you do wonder because if someone on benefits was found to have done something wrong they would be prosecuted under the criminal law - it beggars belief <br /><br />why have the councilors not taken out a civil action againist these people and those in the tendering unit / audit units not questioned <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-1108898094696117482022-01-25T20:03:03.777+00:002022-01-25T20:03:03.777+00:00
never say never charges can be bought - as any ne...<br />never say never charges can be bought - as any new evidence could trigger a new investigation Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-42795378361879191642022-01-25T15:19:10.409+00:002022-01-25T15:19:10.409+00:00Amongst Marc Clement's tangled web of director...Amongst Marc Clement's tangled web of directorships on Companies House is Calon Cardio Tech. Clement was recently interviewed by WalesOnline for an article about the company. Although I'm sure the firm is perfectly legit, it still lists 'Professor' Clement's company registration address as Swansea University. He was, of course, dismissed from the Uni in 2019 for gross misconduct. Seems it needs an update...<br /><br />Clement also confirms to WalesOnline that Employment Tribunal hearings for himself, the former vice chancellor Richard Davies and two others, all sacked for gross misconduct relating to the Wellness Village scandal, will be held in the summer.... should be interesting....You will recall that the police made it clear that, despite the CPS dropping charges, there was evidence of criminal behaviour. And that evidence also implicated Mark James.<br />As I mentioned in my previous comment, the CPS dropped the case as a key witness was unwell.<br /><br />As for Mark James departure from County Hall, he was allowed to scarper despite rigging the tender, accepting bribes, and trashing the council's reputation. <br />No one even asked him to repay the cash from his illegal libel indemnity and the pension tax avoidance scam. This is unsurprising really given that those who assisted with, and covered-up his criminality, Ms Rees Jones, Chris Moore, Wendy Walters, Emlyn Dole etc acquired their roles from him, in exchange for blind loyalty and silence. But once a thief and a liar, always a thief and a liar, and some of us are keeping track....<br /><br />It has been pointed out to me that Koel is another name for a cuckoo. Essentially a parasite which lays its eggs in other birds nests.<br />Seems appropriate.caebrwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17233902574832152764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-12237048274712480232022-01-17T09:51:34.157+00:002022-01-17T09:51:34.157+00:00@Anon 15:28
Ah yes, the film was set in 1993, pre-...@Anon 15:28<br />Ah yes, the film was set in 1993, pre-dating Mark James' arrival in Carmarthenshire...it seems he was busy in the <a href="https://carmarthenplanning.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-boston-diariesleopards-and-spots.html" rel="nofollow">borough of Boston</a> at the time, tampering with official documents and lying under oath...<br /><br />@Sian Caiach<br />I did ask, in my FOI to Kent Police for any medical reports (anonymised of course) relating to the suspects in the case. It seems they passed all their evidence and documents, including reports relating to Franz Dickmann, onto to South Wales Police, who refused my request.caebrwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17233902574832152764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-69643530586387486892022-01-16T15:44:49.901+00:002022-01-16T15:44:49.901+00:00The convenient illness of one of the accused messi...The convenient illness of one of the accused messing up a Fraud trial reminds me of the Guinness Fraud trials in the 1980'swhere one of the 4 accused submitted medical evidence of pre-senile dementia and was unable to be interviewed. He was Ernest Saunders and subsequently was lucky enough to have complete recovery of his mental powers after a short time in prison.<br /><br />In this trial the 4 business men were caught inflating the price of Guinness shares by manipulating the stock market, thus overvaluing their own stock and allowing a take over of rival firm, Distillers . <br /><br />I wonder if the unfortunate person unable to help with information in the Wellness investigation will be as fortunate as Earnest Saunders and have a complete recovery?? sian caiachnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-11764529243006737922022-01-16T15:28:41.790+00:002022-01-16T15:28:41.790+00:00
watched the film save the cinema about the lyric ...<br />watched the film save the cinema about the lyric carmarthen <br /><br />very enjoyable and identifing how they mixed up the locations <br /><br />One thing missing for me was a character called Mark James - perhaps such a person was too fancifull for the plot !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-74472678296675224852022-01-15T10:25:09.267+00:002022-01-15T10:25:09.267+00:00
It seems the role of a local authority CEO is a t...<br />It seems the role of a local authority CEO is a troubled one <br /><br />The illegal payoff of the Pembrokeshire CEO - the appointment of a Army Major <br />The CEO of sheffield City Council with the drinks scandal with Boris Johnson <br />The ongoing issues with Carmarthenshire Council <br /><br />These are the one we have heard about in the last week - I asm sure there are many other CEO stories <br /><br />Maybe the role needs a rethink and a better mechanism introduced with more checks and balances and transparentancy <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-41135402504670545982022-01-13T12:43:44.381+00:002022-01-13T12:43:44.381+00:00I've now written to the Information Commission...I've now written to the Information Commissioner to appeal against the council’s refusal to provide the information they hold on Operation Koel.<br />I await response.caebrwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17233902574832152764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-29032309172653096112022-01-10T11:00:19.255+00:002022-01-10T11:00:19.255+00:00Politically the silence has been deafening over th...Politically the silence has been deafening over this messy scandal but as I've learnt over the years, most prefer not to rock the boat unless there's political advancement to be made. Those that watch from the wings and say nothing become complicit by their inaction.<br />It's disappointing to say the least that it takes a blogger, ie a member of the public, to expose the scandal in the first place and then to try and get information through FOI. Sadly this has always been par for the course in Carmarthenshire. Where's the outrage, Where's the demand for an independent inquiry?<br />Yes vote wisely in May, better still, if you want change then stand for election.<br /><br />Anon 3rd Jan 20:16<br />Yes it's always the case. The top brass get away with it whereas a mere employee would be fired etc without question.<br />A good example, (although on a lesser scale than his acceptance of massive bribes), was Mark James' use of council computers and staff to research a private complaint about me. It turned out, again through FOI, that around the same time, eight other employees had been either disciplined or dismissed for accessing council computers for personal use. Nothing happened to James of course.<br /><br />@Sian Caiach<br />Well said.<br />Absolutely right, Mr James liked to ensure everything went his way, from rigging elections to tenders, whatever it took, and not forgetting his appalling attempts to control the local press.<br /><br />In the 2012 election I was the subject of a smear campaign by James who conducted it through my opponent, the loyal sitting councillor. It was also in the middle of the libel litigation.<br /><br />My note - Sian Caiach was the only one brave enough in the council chamber to called him out for exactly what he was, an arrogant, vicious control freak. He made sure she lost her seat in 2017.<br /><br />Anon 20:27<br />Indeed! Napoleon is still at large, exerting his corrupt, malign influence elsewhere, and maybe even still lurks in the dark corners of local government...<br />You never know, he may well do business with dodgy Russians one day, or failing that, someone with similar methods of administering justice...caebrwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17233902574832152764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-76464088263976883232022-01-09T21:12:47.448+00:002022-01-09T21:12:47.448+00:00Anon 13:13
Companies House shows several companies...Anon 13:13<br />Companies House shows several companies connected to Victorian Sliders, Victorian House (Sales) Ltd seems to be the main trading arm. It had a £14m grant from the Business Growth Fund last September. Unfortunately it appears they didn't realise planning permission might be needed for the eight recently erected 10-12 metre silos at the factory. However the planning officers and committee duly obliged with the nod of retrospective approval. Hence the newspaper article.caebrwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17233902574832152764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-48814987220595708802022-01-09T20:27:31.848+00:002022-01-09T20:27:31.848+00:00Naughty Napoleons tenure has long expired. How com...Naughty Napoleons tenure has long expired. How come he is still at large?<br /><br />Guess he's yet to do business with any dodgy Russians, they certainly don't rely on the law to administer justice, preferring their own social version.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-49223433041763367342022-01-09T13:13:54.882+00:002022-01-09T13:13:54.882+00:00Possibly off topic.
On the Guardian there is an ar...Possibly off topic.<br />On the Guardian there is an article on planning for silos erected by Victorian Sliders Limited in Cross Hands.<br />Yet looking in Companies House this company has been dormant with zero employees for quite a few years.<br />Is there an explanation for this ?<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-36866262346592617552022-01-09T00:58:44.211+00:002022-01-09T00:58:44.211+00:00Independent Councillors, in my experience of Carma...Independent Councillors, in my experience of Carmarthenshire County Council are far from immune to the dodgy "fun and games" in county Hall. Mrs Meryl Gravell was a fine example of an "Independent" councillor who, as Council leader supported the CEO Mark James to the hilt. She organised her "Independent" Group who acted very much like a political party, to fully support the Council's senior officers who actually ran the council. It will take a real culture change to bring anything that looks like real democracy to Carmarthenshire County Council and few people are brave enough to stand up in the chamber to actually represent their voters and ask for what their own people and heeds.<br />I have been a Commnuity Councillor since 2001 and was a county Councillor for nine years until I lost my seat in 2017 . The returning officer, Mr Mark James, left our Hengoed ward County County result until last and most people had left the hall. Candidates are usually shown the results of the election before it is announced officially. In 2017 Mr Jams for some reason did not do so, jumped on to the stage and invited the candidates to follow and quickly announced the names only of the 2 "clear winners" When later I was give the results I realised I had lost by a small margin and should have had a recount. As Mr James had officially already declared the result I could only have challenged it, and demanded a recount, by going to court at my own expense, He knew I did not have the financial resources to do so and could not conceal his pleasure at getting rid of me. <br />However, in the following months I did sleep a lot better as I no longer felt any responsibility for the County Council and still had my Rural Council seat and so could still represent my ward and its residents at that level.<br />Community and parish councillors, essentially unpaid {although you can claim travelling and other expanses}, I think often do more good work than their County and Borough equivalents.<br /> Sian Caiachnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-28371611447478430052022-01-08T12:37:46.295+00:002022-01-08T12:37:46.295+00:00Error above should have said INDEPENDANT councillo...Error above should have said INDEPENDANT councillor and not INDEPENDANCE.<br />Independence under PLAID control would ruin Wales.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-5125300261972278752022-01-07T21:40:15.923+00:002022-01-07T21:40:15.923+00:00Forget PLAID
Forget LABOUR
Forget CONSERVATIVE
Th...Forget PLAID<br />Forget LABOUR<br />Forget CONSERVATIVE<br /><br />The only hope we have of getting a honest council is to vote INDEPENDENCE <br /><br />POLITICS ARE NOT DEMOCRATIC AND CERTAINLY NOT SUITABLE AS COUNCILLORS.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-24299478032453431452022-01-06T16:27:39.551+00:002022-01-06T16:27:39.551+00:00Anonymous at 10.23
I totally agree with your comme...Anonymous at 10.23<br />I totally agree with your comments, and suggest that even more actions be taken to ensure that the existing County Councillors who for the last five years have ensured the lack of any credibility, never again be given the opportunity to be elected councillors.<br />The opportunity for the electorate to express their disgust for the misuse of power over the last years to the Political Parties involved will never be a more opportune moment for change making.<br />It is the electorate who choose their Councillors to represent their interests at the ballot box. Political Party interests have no place in the democratic management of the affairs of the Local Authority, and further more the councillors are elected to manage the affairs of the Local Authority and not be subservient to the OfficersLocal electornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-41023998532678818412022-01-06T10:23:07.407+00:002022-01-06T10:23:07.407+00:00The 2022 Welsh local elections are due to be held ...<br />The 2022 Welsh local elections are due to be held on 5 May 2022 to elect members of all twenty-two local authorities in Wales. They are being held alongside other local elections in the United Kingdom. The last elections were held in 2017.<br /><br />I think this should be a target to cleanise the Council of at least its senior managers - the James' gang and a fresh mandate from the public re the Councillors <br /><br />The council needs to move on from its disreputable past and start anew<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-974501391725048022022-01-03T20:16:06.520+00:002022-01-03T20:16:06.520+00:00
if a mere employee had tried to manipulate a tend...<br />if a mere employee had tried to manipulate a tender and was found out - it would have been a police matter - fired and loss of pension <br /><br />higher up people those who have the one rule for them and one rule for us seem to get promoted or get a big pay off<br /><br />public sector fraud never seems to be taken seriously - look at those billions lost from the grants - loans from the pandemic measures to businesses money just thrown at them by the UK treasury <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com