Councillor under fire after critical audit report

A FORMER council leader has called for Pembrokeshire’s current most senior councillor to “make way” following a critical Audit Wales report.

A review of the handling of last year’s departure of the county council’s chief executive – and the £95,000 payment he received – was published this week and a “serious breakdown in governance” was highlighted.

Former leader Councillor Jamie Adams responded to the report while on a trip to South Africa, calling it “a damning judgement against the current coalition administration and its leader”.

Cllr Adams, leader of the Independent group at County Hall, added: “The report clearly highlights unlawful decisions, blatant lack of accountability and transparency overseen and instructed by Councillor David Simpson and his administration. Cllr Simpson now needs to go and make way to someone who commands the respect and confidence of the electorate and of the council “.

Cllr Adams’ tenure as leader included the period of former chief executive Bryn Parry-Jones’ £330,000 pay-off in 2014.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service contacted Cllr Simpson for a response.

A Pembrokeshire council spokesman said: “The council meeting which is scheduled for February 1, 2022 is the appropriate forum for this matter to be democratically debated in an open, public session. It would be inappropriate for further questions to be taken until that process has been followed.”

Labour group leader and cabinet member Councillor Paul Miller said the group believed “Cllr Simpson has and is doing an excellent job leading Pembrokeshire council and he retains our full and absolute support and confidence.”