Council Crisis: Petition of no confidence in council leadership

The drama continues with a debate currently in full flow in Pembrokeshire. The neighbouring county council may be a basket case, but anyone familiar with the conduct of council meetings in Carmarthenshire will be struck by the quality and openness of discussion. Just imagine - a council where councillors are not hectored, lectured and bullied, and where they are allowed to speak and ask follow-on questions. Perhaps the absence of council officers from the meeting may have something to do with it.*

At the same time, isn't there something surreal and deeply humiliating about having a London barrister, brought at no doubt phenomenal expense to Haverfordwest, to speak in a meeting of a Welsh council and dish out advice on the employment contracts of senior officers, and which councillors may or may not vote?

That is what Carmarthenshire has to look forward to in just under a fortnight.

In the meantime, events continue to unfold in Carmarthenshire. Here is an announcement from Rhodri Glyn Thomas. Please sign the petition.

* I spoke too soon. The meeting was manipulated and strings pulled to such an extent that most opposition councillors decided to withdraw after they had effectively been threatened with action under the code of conduct.

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Following the astonishing events in County Hall, and the failure of the council leader to suspend the authority’s Chief Executive when the police announced a criminal investigation, Assembly Member Rhodri Glyn Thomas has today launched an online petition for members of the public to express their lack of confidence in the Council leadership.

On Monday, the Plaid Cymru opposition councillors will be submitting motions of no confidence in 3 members of the Council’s executive board.  They will also be submitting a motion to suspend the chief executive.

AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas said the petition he has established is for all residents of Carmarthenshire, irrespective of political persuasion, to send a strong message to county hall before those motions of no confidence are discussed.

Carmarthen East and Dinefwr Assembly Member, Rhodri Glyn Thomas said:

“It’s been over two weeks since the damning Wales Audit Office reports were published.  Over two weeks and not a scrap of leadership has been forthcoming from the council leader, Kevin Madge. 

“His and his executive board colleague’s unwavering defiance of the Auditor’s findings, and their attempts to defend the indefensible has seen the First Minister of Wales dragged into the mess.

“Plaid Cymru, and more importantly, the public recognised the seriousness of the situation fifteen days ago but the council leadership has done next to nothing. 

“It is crystal clear that Carmarthenshire is bereft of leadership.  It is also clear that only Plaid Cymru’s motions of no confidence can bring any sense of authority back to the council.

“I see this as a petition for all residents of Carmarthenshire irrespective of political persuasion.   I want residents to sign our petition and send a strong message to the leadership of county hall that their actions are dragging the good name of Carmarthenshire through the mud.

“Our petition can be signed by visiting my website www.rhodriglynthomas.org/petitions”