Transparency call over council chief’s company
ACOUNCIL chief executive says he is unable to answer questions about the business model of a private construction company he has set up with two associates.
Mark James, the chief executive of Carmarthenshire county council, is one of three directors and shareholders of a firm called Building and Estate Solutions Today Ltd, which was incorporated at Companies House on March 10 this year.
The other directors are Steven Corner, 46, who owns 100 ordinary shares in the company, and Mark Carter, 44, who owns 10 preference shares.
Mr James, 58, owns 20 preference shares.
All three men’s address for correspondence is in east London.
The nature of the company’s business is described as “other specialised construction activities not elsewhere classified”.
Earlier this week we reported how Mr James was chairing a management company that was in conflict with a number of residents at a large private housing estate in Cardiff Bay called Century Wharf over short-term lets to people attending stag and hen parties who were making noise in the early hours of the morning. Mr James wrote to one resident saying that some owneroccupiers were as anti-social as some of those on short-term lets. He added: “There is a cancer in parts of CW [Central Wharf ].”
Documents filed at Companies House show that as well as being a director of three management companies associated with Century Wharf, Mr James is also a director of Building and Estate Solutions Today Ltd.
We asked him what the purpose of the company was, how he had got involved and whether the council was aware he was a director of this private company.
He responded: “Yes the council is aware and has given consent. It is a non-executive position in a company which has been set up to assist leaseholders elsewhere in the country who have problems with serious build defects.
“It has been created to assist those in need.
“We have received many such requests and were simply unable to assist. Hence the company being set up to try to do so.”
We sent Mr James a series of follow-up questions by email, asking: “Could you explain a little further how the company will operate?
“When you say the company ‘has been set up to assist leaseholders elsewhere in the country who have problems with serious build defects’, what will the assistance consist of?
“Will it be a paid-for service? Where will the revenue come from? Is it intended to have employees, and if so approximately how many?”
He responded: “As I explained, I will not be involved in day-today matters. So I cannot answer your questions. Also the company is in its infancy and has yet to start trading.
“It is intended that the company will assist where there are defect or potential defect issues, providing advice and guidance.
“I have a non-executive position, providing advice if required where I can to assist. My position is not a paid position.”
Plaid Cymru councillor Alun Lenny, who represents Carmarthen Town on the county council, said: “I have had people coming up to me in the street asking me what is going on with the chief executive.
“I think we need clarification, for Mr James’ sake as well as for the perceived image of the council.
“I also think it would be helpful if senior officers, like elected members, had a register of interests that was accessible via the council’s website. That would provide greater transparency.”