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Investigator discussed for Pembrokeshire chief inquiry | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A disciplinary committee looking at "unlawful" pension contributions made to a council chief executive may call in an independent investigator. | |
Pembrokeshire councillors passed a vote of no confidence in Bryn Parry Jones last week over the cash. | |
A special disciplinary and investigations committee meeting was taking place on Friday. | |
Keith Lewis, a member of the ruling Independent Plus Group, was voted chair of the 15-member committee. | |
It will gather evidence about the allegations and decide whether a designated independent person (DIP) should be appointed to continue the investigation. | |
The committee has the power to suspend the chief executive for the purposes of investigating the alleged misconduct. | |
It drew up its terms of reference in public before going into private session to consider the issues. | |
The matter revolves around an investigation by the Wales Audit Office which ruled Pembrokeshire council acted unlawfully by letting Mr Parry Jones, opt out of a pension scheme and receive cash payments instead to avoid potential tax payments. | |
The WAO investigation looked at similar payments to another senior Pembrokeshire officer and to Carmarthenshire council chief executive Mark James. | |
No-confidence motion | |
If the Pembrokeshire committee decides that the allegations against Mr Parry Jones should be further investigated, it must appoint an independent investigator within a month. | |
The committee will then receive a report from the investigator and make a decision based on that report. | |
The vote of no confidence in Mr Parry Jones saw 46 councillors support the no-confidence motion, with three supporting him and three abstentions. | |
Councillors agreed he should face a disciplinary committee following his pensions dispute, which the Wales Audit Office ruled as unlawful. | Councillors agreed he should face a disciplinary committee following his pensions dispute, which the Wales Audit Office ruled as unlawful. |
An investigation by Gloucestershire Constabulary found no evidence to suggest any criminal offences. | 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. | 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. | |
Some staff have previously walked out in protest at Mr Parry Jones. |