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| No confidence vote against Pembs council chief passed | No confidence vote against Pembs council chief passed |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A vote of no confidence has been passed against the chief executive of Pembrokeshire council in a row over unlawful payments to senior officers. | A vote of no confidence has been passed against the chief executive of Pembrokeshire council in a row over unlawful payments to senior officers. |
| Councillors agreed he should face disciplinary committee on the matter. | Councillors agreed he should face disciplinary committee on the matter. |
| The vote followed a dispute over cash he received in lieu of pension contributions which the Wales Audit Office ruled as unlawful. | The vote followed a dispute over cash he received in lieu of pension contributions which the Wales Audit Office ruled as unlawful. |
| Council leader Jamie Adams survived an earlier vote of no confidence at the same extraordinary general meeting. | Council leader Jamie Adams survived an earlier vote of no confidence at the same extraordinary general meeting. |
| The vote on Mr Bryn Parry-Jones saw 46 councillors support the no-confidence motion with three supporting him and three abstentions. | |
| After surviving his no-confidence vote, Mr Adams then led the charge against the chief executive at the EGM on Friday. | After surviving his no-confidence vote, Mr Adams then led the charge against the chief executive at the EGM on Friday. |
| Twenty nine councillors had supported Mr Adams, with 20 voting against and one abstention. | Twenty nine councillors had supported Mr Adams, with 20 voting against and one abstention. |
| Action considered | Action considered |
| Mr Adams surprised councillors at the meeting when he said he had no confidence in Mr Parry-Jones. | Mr Adams surprised councillors at the meeting when he said he had no confidence in Mr Parry-Jones. |
| "There are elements of confidence I have in the chief executive and some concerns," he said. | "There are elements of confidence I have in the chief executive and some concerns," he said. |
| "No individual can operate within this particular environment." | "No individual can operate within this particular environment." |
| The public were then asked to leave while councillors discussed a motion about possible disciplinary action against Mr Parry-Jones. | |
| They rejected a call to immediately suspend him by 26 votes to 22, before considering whether to set up a committee to consider the allegations against him. | They rejected a call to immediately suspend him by 26 votes to 22, before considering whether to set up a committee to consider the allegations against him. |
| The meeting voted to establish a 15-person committee to investigate issues relating to Mr Parry-Jones's conduct. | |
| The disciplinary and investigations committee is likely to meet next week and will have the power to suspend the chief executive if it believes there are sufficient grounds. | |
| The chair will also have the power to suspend the chief executive in an "emergency". | |
| Mr Parry-Jones currently remains in post. | |
| Earlier on Friday, Pembrokeshire council said there was nothing in its standing orders requiring a chief executive to resign if a no confidence motion being passed. | |
| Local government expert Jeff Jones described the vote of no confidence as "symbolic". | Local government expert Jeff Jones described the vote of no confidence as "symbolic". |
| He said that while the chief executive would be expected to consider his position, the role would have been designed so that he could not be forced to resign by councillors. | He said that while the chief executive would be expected to consider his position, the role would have been designed so that he could not be forced to resign by councillors. |
| Payment inquiry | Payment inquiry |
| The matter revolves around an investigation by the Wales Audit Office which ruled Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire councils acted unlawfully by letting Mr Parry-Jones, another senior Pembrokeshire officer, and Carmarthenshire chief executive Mark James opt out of a pension scheme and receive cash payments instead to avoid potential tax payments. | The matter revolves around an investigation by the Wales Audit Office which ruled Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire councils acted unlawfully by letting Mr Parry-Jones, another senior Pembrokeshire officer, and Carmarthenshire chief executive Mark James opt out of a pension scheme and receive cash payments instead to avoid potential tax payments. |
| An investigation by Gloucestershire Constabulary found no evidence to suggest any criminal offences, but another police inquiry has since been launched following the discovery of new information. | An investigation by Gloucestershire Constabulary found no evidence to suggest any criminal offences, but another police inquiry has since been launched following the discovery of new information. |
| In July, Pembrokeshire council said it would take no further action to reclaim the money against Mr Parry-Jones and another unnamed senior officer involved. | In July, Pembrokeshire council said it would take no further action to reclaim the money against Mr Parry-Jones and another unnamed senior officer involved. |
| Some staff have previously walked out in protest at Mr Parry-Jones remaining in post. | Some staff have previously walked out in protest at Mr Parry-Jones remaining in post. |
| On 15 August, Mr Adams said the chief executive would take a "period of absence" in the "best interests of the authority". | On 15 August, Mr Adams said the chief executive would take a "period of absence" in the "best interests of the authority". |
| It was revealed on Tuesday that Mr Parry-Jones was back on duty, but working from home. | It was revealed on Tuesday that Mr Parry-Jones was back on duty, but working from home. |
| Labour group leader Paul Miller has said he was unhappy with the way the matter was being handled, and has called for a formal suspension and disciplinary process for the chief executive. | Labour group leader Paul Miller has said he was unhappy with the way the matter was being handled, and has called for a formal suspension and disciplinary process for the chief executive. |
| Pembrokeshire council webcast Friday's meeting. | Pembrokeshire council webcast Friday's meeting. |