THE LEADER of Pembrokeshire County Council is expected to give answers to a number of questions surrounding the letter of complaint to the Independent Office for Police Conduct at tomorrow’s (Feb 21) Full Council meeting.
The letter of complaint related to the police’s handling of the Pembroke Dock Grants scandal but there was a five week delay in that letter being sent, and councillors have since been searching for answers.
At a recent meeting of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee in January, Cllr Jacob Williams said the picture painted was one of ‘headless chickens’ and said the Chief Executive did not want to send the complaint because of his ‘cosy relationship’ with the police.
The Chief Executive distanced himself from that and stated he did have a ‘good’ relationship with them.
Cllr Mike Stoddart has submitted three questions asking which officers were involved in deciding who would draft the letter, why there was a lack of clarity as to who the letter should be addressed to and when former Council Chairman, Cllr Paul Harries, rediscovered a rejection letter from Dyfed Powys Police.
When a rejection letter was finally received by then Chairman, Cllr Harries, he simply put the letter in his briefcase and it was not sent out more widely.
When questioned about this in January, Chief Executive Ian Westley did not want to put blame on anybody adding he wanted to focus on getting it right.
It was also revealed that there was a five week delay in sending the complaint, for which the Chief Executive apologised for, but when quizzed about which officers were involved he said it was difficult to say.
Cllr Stoddart’s third question asks why there was confusion in who the letter should be addressed to when it was clear from the council resolution the Independent Office for Police Conduct was identified as the body the letter should be directed to.
A question has also been tabled by Cllr Ken Rowlands relating to those comments made by Cllr Williams. Cllr Rowlands asks the leader if he agrees with Cllr Williams comments.
