tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post8862395289514131769..comments2023-05-08T10:46:34.371+01:00Comments on Y Cneifiwr: The Breckman Case: Dear WilliamUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-13321176292167294162015-04-12T16:16:53.176+01:002015-04-12T16:16:53.176+01:00It is a well-known fact that something is seriousl...It is a well-known fact that something is seriously wrong, not only in planning but throughout the departments of Carmarthen council.It is the Breckman case relating to planning issues involving Andrew Thomas of Maesybont which has been of more than a little interest to me of late.My researches dating back to his purchasing of Blaenpant, his businesses of haulage scrap and horse breeding together with the way applications were determined by the head of planning make interesting reading.It seems he has always been allowed to carry out roadworks and quarrying at will. Not only that, Eifion Bowen has allowed him to complete a substantial road without planning permission the purpose of which could never be justified as agricultural.This new road runs from his huge industrial size sheds and links up with the scrap site which was the the subject of an enforcement notice.If this road is to serve his scrap business then he has been allowed to bring to fruition the plans set in motion from 2001.With his plan completed perhaps this would signal the retirement of Mr Bowen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-54521882189547540842015-04-12T12:00:30.885+01:002015-04-12T12:00:30.885+01:00Jac o'the North has been very quiet these days...Jac o'the North has been very quiet these days.In 2012 after the last programme exposing council and police involvement he stupidly suggested there might be more to what he called a neighbour dispute.I have personally read everything relating to planning and anti-social behaviour and<br />with more and more evidence being exposed to the wider public I would think Jac 'O the North should feel more than a little uncomfortable.He said the programme lacked balance in favouring the Breckman's but if he had contacted the programme producers he would have found they refused an interview.In spite of numerous cctv cameras on their neighbours'property the police never ever looked at it.Why would they it would only confirm the evidence produced by the Breckmans.<br />Lesson learned--don't form opinions until you have ALL the facts.<br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-53230829615140733692015-04-12T10:44:47.887+01:002015-04-12T10:44:47.887+01:00Thanks Y Cneifiwr I will do just that. I hope you...Thanks Y Cneifiwr I will do just that. I hope you and yours are OK. I wish you all the best and a big thank you for being someone who speaks up and gives a platform for others to do the same. If @Caebrwyn is reading this it applies to you too and you do this in spite of suffering the full force of the CEO, his officers and the executive's vindictive acts against you as a critic of their actions against the public interest. I hope the CCC's actions to stamp out free speech and expression comes back to haunt them. Why should their misconduct/maladministration be kept secret away from ordinary members and the public. That is not what democracy is about. <br /><br />Jennifer Brown (whistleblower)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-46122349307464721062015-04-12T06:31:17.681+01:002015-04-12T06:31:17.681+01:00Anon@23.35 Please contact me through the e-mail ad...Anon@23.35 Please contact me through the e-mail address shown at the top right of the blog. Unfortunately for family reasons the next couple of months are going to be quite difficult, and so I am not going to be able to take an active part in this, but I will do what I can.Cneifiwrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08767078276794410524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-43867279568645763282015-04-11T23:35:36.891+01:002015-04-11T23:35:36.891+01:00Since joining twitter I have become aware, also, t...Since joining twitter I have become aware, also, that the CCC is not the only council or even the only public body which treat the public with distain. Whether complainants or whistleblowers public bodies look down on them but have to make a pretence of encouraging them so as they can learn lessons and nip problems in the bud. So many have found themselves becoming stigmatised for speaking out and receive no support from regulators, Ombudsmen or government departments who seem to prefer the status quo.<br /><br />I don't know how these meetings would be arranged but I would be happy to show my evidence to see if others felt it to be as strong as I believe regarding the maladministration/misconduct of the CCC.<br /><br />I would have to rely on Y Cneifiwr to give me a contact number in the first instance if that would be OK with him. Look forward to finding a way to persuade WAG into setting up an independent inquiry & I'm afraid I don't mean by the Ombudsman.<br /><br />We'll see, I hope, WAG listening if enough speak up. These comments to this post have been a wake up call. Good luck to all of you!<br /><br />Jennifer Brown (whistleblower) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-33188257404174331002015-04-11T18:43:14.549+01:002015-04-11T18:43:14.549+01:00Wouldn't it be worthwhile to organise a meet u...Wouldn't it be worthwhile to organise a meet up of many of the very well informed and intelligent people commenting on here. I for one would like to meet and have a chat about a number of cases in Carmarthenshire. It is not only the county council acting with such contempt of the public. Many local councils do the same. I have a lot of evidence regarding one council's treatment towards members of the public including verbal and physical threats and abuse. Needless to say that the police took no interest in any of it as they were being used as harassers by the harassers. If anyone would like to meet up then please, let's get the ball rolling. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-7231367909156894862015-04-11T11:05:06.075+01:002015-04-11T11:05:06.075+01:00I have just sent this to http://www.oggybloggyogwr...I have just sent this to http://www.oggybloggyogwr.com/2012/10/kings-of-their-castles.html as comment to his blog of 2012 concerning the Breckman issue :-<br /><br />I was very interested in the Breckman saga as I, as a whistleblower, had found the CCC attempting to silence and control me by abusing the disciplinary policy. They had discussed, during my disciplinary investigation, whether the Persistent Complainants policy could be used against me; it was decided that some of it's principals might be used but really it was a way of controlling complaints from the public and the Disciplinary policy had more teeth in controlling an employee. It was in 2011 this internal email discussion took place (unbeknown to me).<br /><br />When I saw the Week In Week Out programme, I had already obtained a number of documents under data protection which proved to me the deviousness of the officers and the conflicts of interests being enacted in their successful defence against anyone independent looking into their actions of coverup regarding institutional abuse and the criminal acts against a service user without capacity. I was going through an Employment Tribunal at the time of this BBC programme and was unaware of you bloggers or how bravely you were all trying to keep us (the public) informed about the CCC's shenanigans. I remember I felt an urge to be able to discuss with the those two complainants how the actions of the officers towards them was being repeated against whistleblowers (but did not). Remember the Ombudsman's 2009 report concerning Delyth Jenkins (whistleblower) and his recommendations regarding maladministration. I lost my claim against my unfair dismissal. But am still continuing to push for an independent person or body (the Ombudsman refuses to look into it as I am a whistleblower) to investigate the CCC actions when they fail to follow Whistlblowing, POVA or the Social Services Statutory Complaints policies. Our whistleblowing policy tells us to complain to the Ombudsman if the CCC do not handle our disclosures properly (yet he refuses to).<br /><br />Many of the upper management, involved, have either left or are about to leave but I have been told that if an investigation into misconduct in public office did take place then having left their employment would not prevent them being questioned. I take this to mean they could still be charged with the above criminal act.<br /><br />Anyway both the Breckman and Delyth Jenkins' Ombudsman Reports are still being discussed as examples of the CCCs "Toxic Culture" as are other examples. Lets hope one day soon the Welsh Assembly/Labour Welsh Gov. will actually set up an inquiry into the CCC.<br /><br />Jennifer Brown (whistleblower)<br /><br />Also http://jacothenorth.net/blog/week-in-week-out/ Blog written at time of the BBBC programme of 2012 is an interesting read.<br /><br />C.Adno you are right this is an issue that won't go away.<br /><br />Jennifer Brown (whistleblower) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-9215763952188613872015-04-11T01:22:42.958+01:002015-04-11T01:22:42.958+01:00This is an issue which will not go away.
It is one...This is an issue which will not go away.<br />It is one to which I will be returning.C. Adnonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-18553998366281620202015-04-10T18:51:37.588+01:002015-04-10T18:51:37.588+01:00http://www.senedd.assembly.wales/mgIssueHistoryChr...http://www.senedd.assembly.wales/mgIssueHistoryChronology.aspx?IId=8119&Opt=2Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15266634366939103357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-44568562831026544292015-04-10T18:21:40.808+01:002015-04-10T18:21:40.808+01:00http://reclaimcarmarthenshire.blogspot.co.uk/ Plea...http://reclaimcarmarthenshire.blogspot.co.uk/ Please check out my blog where you will find details on a move to change the way we elect councillors and much more. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15266634366939103357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-10369733881071891392015-04-10T17:10:44.252+01:002015-04-10T17:10:44.252+01:00Just as a matter of interest, Cadno in the Carmart...Just as a matter of interest, Cadno in the Carmarthenshire Herald has written about this in today's edition. With a bit of luck, some of the other media will pick it up - it really needs to be widely publicised.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-8923004686240452982015-04-10T14:49:58.441+01:002015-04-10T14:49:58.441+01:00I started the petition and I have to say that alth...I started the petition and I have to say that although I predicted that there would be absolutely no accountability, I thought I would give democracy a try.<br /><br />A we all know, M James has adopted Vladimir Putin's ways of governance. The people of Carmarthenshire better hope that he never gets his hands on chemical weapons. <br /><br />The only option left to the decent people of Carmarthenshire is to move out of the county, but where? Go west (Pembrokeshire, Bryn's country) and it is just as bad, go east (Cardiff or Caerphilly) and it isn't much better. <br /><br />Surely it is time for the people of Carmarthenshire and those puppets at local council and county council level to grow a back bone instead of behaving like coelenterata. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-11695542394114896522015-04-10T14:16:05.510+01:002015-04-10T14:16:05.510+01:00Perhaps it would be appropriate to be asking quest...Perhaps it would be appropriate to be asking questions in an open letter.<br /><br />First question could be, why did you allow A. Thomas two weeks of bulldozing land on a protected site, before serving an enforcement notice, which then gave him another four weeks to continue.<br /><br />Surely it required a stop notice immediately, or did you decide to turn a blind eye as you have done in the past where A. Thomas is concerned. <br /><br />There are many more questions that should be asked, as to be blunt it...........Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-64891608446496373552015-04-10T11:24:12.250+01:002015-04-10T11:24:12.250+01:00If Mark James and co have nothing to fear and are ...If Mark James and co have nothing to fear and are totally innocent of all accusations levelled against them why the need to influence others and make spurious comments about people seeking truth.This should be dealt with now and by people with the integrity and will to do so.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-68149421894031931372015-04-10T08:14:16.150+01:002015-04-10T08:14:16.150+01:00If the clerk is E. Bowen's partner, it would m...If the clerk is E. Bowen's partner, it would make it much more difficult for the members of the community council to speak freely regarding Blaenpant - it being a highly contentious site. You then have Mark James (CEO) influencing any further assistance the Breckmans tried to get, including letters going out to county councillors advising them NOT to respond to their letters. This is fact. The Assembly advised the Breckmans to seek assistance from all councillors, and this was the result. Why is the question. Clearly someone was worried they would be listened to.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-68474924044643819052015-04-09T22:25:23.975+01:002015-04-09T22:25:23.975+01:00Who would want to discuss failings of the head of ...Who would want to discuss failings of the head of planning if the clerk of the community council is his partner.Has no one heard of pillow talk?<br />Councillor Cefin Campell I know has always taken seriously the issues relating to what has happened on Blaenpant.On the last programme regarding the shocking treatment meted out to the Breckmans I seem to remember welsh government member Rhodri Glyn Thomas suggesting what is needed is an inquiry to explain how the police came to their decisions.In this case I believe the police and council have serious questions to answer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-5934173348810111632015-04-09T21:16:35.973+01:002015-04-09T21:16:35.973+01:00Anon@20.44 The County Councillor, Cefin Campbell, ...Anon@20.44 The County Councillor, Cefin Campbell, was first elected in 2012 after this saga had been running for about 8 years. He tried hard to get the report discussed, and was blocked, and I believe he has been very supportive ever since.<br /><br />The story is by no means over.Cneifiwrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08767078276794410524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-31679046634832554492015-04-09T20:44:43.386+01:002015-04-09T20:44:43.386+01:00Has the local county Councillor made any comment ?...Has the local county Councillor made any comment ?<br />Anon 13.31 The Clerk to a small community council has no power and no influence the members make the decision and make and pass commentsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-19309267206534131632015-04-09T18:12:43.274+01:002015-04-09T18:12:43.274+01:00I have seen the result of how "conflicts of i...I have seen the result of how "conflicts of interest" can put pay to any chance of impartiality during investigations etc. So Annon 13:31 you have made an interesting point. To prove that this is why the CCC are happy to allow this destruction would not be easy but what other reason could there be. We have seen how vindictive the CCC acted towards the complainants in the Breckman issue. Even so far as persuading the police to become pro the wrongdoer and anti the complainant. CCC are well practiced (past masters) in defaming complainants and whistleblowers to neutralise any form of criticism. There must be a secret NVQ "How to silence complainants/whistleblowers by utilising their own complaint/disclosure to discredit&defame enabling Persistent Complainants/Disciplinary policies to be enacted".<br /><br />Jennifer Brown (whistleblower) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-89140798993342471672015-04-09T13:31:07.748+01:002015-04-09T13:31:07.748+01:00As a local person, I have been wondering why the C...As a local person, I have been wondering why the Community Council has been deafeningly silent over the small issue of the total wanton destruction of a protected SSSI/SAC site on land at Blaenpant Farm, owned by Andrew Thomas. They clearly did not voice their concerns whilst it was taking place, nor after its eradication. Surely, as locals, one of them must have witnessed the bulldozing of this land, taking place over several weeks. It was clear to everyone who passed by. Why wouldn't they have asked questions? If I am reliably informed, Mr. E. Bowen's (Head of Planning and Enforcement)partner is the secretary of this local Community Council. Is it possible there is a conflict of interest here? After all, it is very strange that not one of them has had a word to say on this. I do hope that Andrew Thomas is ordered to put back some of the trees he bulldozed along with restoration of the flora and fauna he showed so little respect for.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-56319701569368798422015-04-09T13:01:11.198+01:002015-04-09T13:01:11.198+01:00getting back to the destruction of a protected are...getting back to the destruction of a protected area.There are two people held responsible.Head of planning Eifion Bowen and the chief executive Mark James who has ultimate responsibility for the whole council.I am quite surprised that there has been no word from him.Is he lying low or perhaps organising a response with his<br />supporters---Kevin Madge Meryl Grovel (I love it) and Pam Palmer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-41848256006446908242015-04-09T12:43:36.255+01:002015-04-09T12:43:36.255+01:00I have read that some believe the OMBUDSMAN does n...I have read that some believe the OMBUDSMAN does not have enough power to control the CCC. I disagree, he could do a lot more with the power he has if he used it in the public interest. By not allowing his reports, which show the CCC's rampant disregard to follow their own very good policies and procedures (maladministration), to be made public he is actively protecting the CCC's reputation. He has the power to publish the truth of what his investigation found and his recommendations for actions to put matters right. Whether the CCC accepts these in full or not his reports need to be published widely so as the members and public can scrutinise them.. An LA cannot legally refuse to cooperate with an Ombudsman's investigation. If they do then that can also be in his report. I know the Ombudsman needs to be impartial but for years now he has bent over backwards to support the CCC into improving their practices towards complainants etc. but this has not worked.<br /><br />The most powerful tool he can employ is to allow the members and the public access to his reports so as they can put pressure on the executive via those members to hold both officers and executive to account when they continue to disregard his recommendations and the public interest. We, the voters, will then know who cares about their constituents' interests and who is happy to just leave everything in the hands of the Officers and Executive without question. Electors can change the membership but unless made aware of what is taking place against their interests then nothing will change. If more of the public were aware of how many others were suffering from the misconduct in public office by the executive and officers of this LA they would be able to support each other in persuading the police to investigate this criminal offence. Complainants and whistleblowers could ask for information concerning themselves under the Data Protection Act from the CCC which could then be used as evidence of misconduct in public office. I personally have such evidence but if others also had such the police might be persuaded to look into the actions of the CEO and his officers. <br /><br />There are three methods to try which might hold the CCC accountable and obtain change:<br />1) To persuade the Ombudsman who fails to utilise fully what powers he does have to start using them. 2) We with the knowledge of the wrongdoing of the CCC and lack of action by our representatives could vote for change which would accomplish nothing in the short term; or 3) we can somehow get together and approach the police with our own evidence of misconduct in public office and persuade them to look into the matter.<br /><br />Jennifer Brown (whistleblower)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-5379673783287020212015-04-09T10:53:15.624+01:002015-04-09T10:53:15.624+01:00Why should the Council receive 'concessions...Why should the Council receive 'concessions' from the Ombudsman if he is independent and impartial?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-77306780127541750312015-04-09T10:45:44.651+01:002015-04-09T10:45:44.651+01:00I am not confident at all that giving the Ombudsma...I am not confident at all that giving the Ombudsman more powers would make any difference whatsoever, and as it stands, it seems a terrible waste of public money to carry out these investigations and produce damning reports, yet no one is held to account. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-1987686712563823742015-04-09T08:53:02.055+01:002015-04-09T08:53:02.055+01:00The Ombudsman most certainly should be afforded mo...The Ombudsman most certainly should be afforded more powers.<br />Our only hope in attempting to expose alleged Misconduct in Public Office is for our A.Ms to push for a Public Inquiry. Which brings us to the letter from Mark James to the Petitions Minister. Wielding that kind of influence through the back door is a sure fire way to prevent any form of redress for any member of the public. Truly rotten. The Ombudsman must be given more powers. It is the only way forward. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com