As expected, last week's Western Telegraph was silent on the
subject of Cllr Wyn Evans' (IPG) appearance before the county
council's standards committee which upheld the Ombudsman's finding
that he had breached the code of conduct by failing to declare
his interest during a planning committee meeting where a friend's
planning application was determined (Media
blackout).
Indeed, Cllr Evans spoke out in favour of the development, which
was contrary to the council's planning policy, and moved the proposal
that it should be given consent.
As the development was against policy it had to go to full council
for final approval and, despite a challenge from Cllr Michael
Williams (Plaid), who suggested that he should declare his interest,
Cllr Evans again spoke in favour of the application, adding for
good measure that: "I am pleased to call the applicants friends
of mine".
Furthermore, during the course of the investigation into Cllr
Williams' subsequent complaint, Cllr Evans told the Ombudsman
that he had received no training in the Code of Conduct.
This was simply untrue because the report to the standards committee
contained details of three training events involving the Code
which he had attended.
Unfortunately, not a word of any of this appeared in the local
papers.
Of course, we don't have state controlled media in Pembrokeshire,
but I sometimes wonder if it it would make much difference if
we did.
It also struck Old Grumpy as rather odd that, even after Michael
Williams had pointed up the possibility that Cllr Evans might
be in breach of the Code, nobody from the top table suggested
that he should declare an interest in his friend's planning application.
Contrast that with my experience when the Chief Executive threatened
to report me to the Ombudsman for speaking on a matter in which
he believed, mistakenly, that I had an interest (Under
fire).
What's sauce for the goose . . . .
As several readers have pointed out, despite failing to report
Cllr Evans' serious abuse of power, both the WT and the Mercury
found space for the ongoing row in the Punch and Judy show that
passes for Haverfordwest Town Council.
This features Cllr Donald Twigg, who, it is alleged, swore at
the deputy mayor and got a bit 'tired and emotional' at some cheese
and wine function.
Complaints were made to the Ombudsman who decided the matter was
not worthy of investigation.
Now, according to the WT, the mayor has told the paper that "an
appeal against this decision is being strongly considered".
At least the townspeople are getting their moneys worth in entertainment.
This is not the first time that "Twiggo" has been in
the firing line.
Old Grumpy remembers the occasion when Sheriff Don stole the mayor's
thunder by jumping up on the dais during an army march past.
The council responded to this display of bad form by setting up
a "Procedures and Protocol" committee which used to
meet in private to iron out these vital questions of precedence.
This of particular importance in Haverfordwest because, in addition
to the Mayor, deputy Mayor and Sheriff, there are two Mace Bearers
and a Sword Bearer to accommodate.
Nobody can accuse them of failing to take themselves seriously.
But perhaps the most glaring example of civic conceit I ever witnessed
in my time as a newspaper reporter was a Pembroke Dock town council
meeting in the Pater Hall.
Perhaps I should explain that I didn't attend out of choice.
As editor of the Mercury, Grumpette had the last word on the deployment
of staff.
At one time I suspected that I was being sent out at night to
cover town council meetings as some form of punishment for leaving
my clothes on the bedroom floor or failing to clean the bath after
me.
But I now realise that it was simply that she didn't have to pay
me overtime.
But to return to Pembroke Dock town council where one evening
the mayor, Cllr David Jones, complained that he didn't have a
robe.
Apparently, when he attended official functions, the MC would
first call for the robed mayors to step forward.
This included the leading citizens of such ancient places as Tenby,
Pembroke and Haverfordwest and, in Cllr Jones' own words: "this
leaves me standing at the back with the riff raff [or was it hoi
polloi]".
When I reported these remarks in the Mercury it caused some consternation
in Milford Haven council because the town's Mayor went about unrobed
and, by necessary implication, must be a member of Cllr Jones'
riff raff/hoi polloi.
There was quite a bit of huffing and puffing, but when I suggested
sending a gun boat across the Haven to level Front Street all
went quiet.
That's the trouble with these people: all talk and no action.
PS. The Mayor of Pembroke Dock now has a robe and a proper hat,
though, I'm ashamed to admit, I'm not sure about Milford Haven.
Must try to get out more.
Gordon Brown's single-handed rescue of the world's financial system
has left me gasping with admiration.
And almost as dramatic is the rescue of his own political reputation.
From zero to hero in the space of a couple of weeks.
No doubt Gordon's plan to refloat the banks and avoid financial
meltdown is well thought out and has a good chance of success,
but it is the way it is being sold to the public that really impresses.
Mr Brown's mantra "global solutions for global problems"
and the frequent use of the word "global" whenever a
government spokesperson is interviewed can be roughly translated
as 'not me guv'.
But Northern Rock was a purely domestic problem caused by a flawed
business model - borrowing short to lend long - which the FSA,
as the regulatory authority, should have called time on long
ago.
Ditto Bradford and Bingley, which had all its eggs in the basket
marked 'buy to let'
And, of course, it was Chancellor Brown who stripped the Bank
England of its supervisory role over the banks and gave it to
the FSA.
Furthermore, Labour has won the last two elections because of
the feelgood factor that resulted from the banking industry's
ability to devise ever more ingenious schemes that allowed us
to painlessly spend next year's salary (why worry about all that
debt when the value of your house was going up by 15% a year).
Though Mr Brown may have pulled the banking system out of the
fire it is too late to prevent a severe economic downturn.
In 18 months time, when the next election is due, it will be difficult
to sell the message that while you might have lost your job and
your house, it would have been a whole lot worse if we hadn't
bailed out the banks.
I suspect Mr Brown knows this which is why I wouldn't be surprised
if he tries to take advantage of this temporary spike in his popularity
by calling a snap election.
Seeking a fresh mandate from the British people for our proposals
for far-reaching reform of the world financial system, or somesuch.
The soaring rate of inflation is already causing belt-tightening
here at Grumpy Towers.
Noticing that Tesco had hiked the price of my favourite sausages
from £2 to £2.25 (Cumberland of course - though not
a patch on the ones my grandmother used to make) Grumpette cut
me down from three-a-day to two.
According to classical economic theory, this reduction in demand
should have led to a fall in price.
But it seems that big companies like Tesco are above the laws
of supply and demand.
Grumpette tells me the sausages have now gone up to £2.49,
which, as the mathematicians among you will already have worked
out, comes to 42.5p each
She is now threatening to cut my rations down to one and when
I protested that a man shouldn't be sent out to face the world
on a half-empty stomach, she suggested I fill up with shredded
wheat.
That would be the final straw - at least that's what they taste
like.
Gordon Brown can't expect my vote if he can't arrange things so
that a man can start the day with a full English.
Mind you, by the glum look on his face, I expect he's a bowl of
porridge man himself.
back to home page