NEW “shocking comments” from former NPTC leader
A new extract of a recording with former Neath Port Talbot council leader Rob Jones shows “blatant and completely inappropriate use of public funds” according to Neath Senedd candidate Sioned Williams.
During the unreleased tape, Rob Jones is heard telling Labour party members:- “Once you have got your candidates set out for 2022. (The) candidates put a newsletter out (saying) ‘I’m canvassing the council to get allotments, I’m canvassing the council to do up the industrial site. What you do, is that you send me a list, I can then incorporate that into our forward programme. You say that you are canvasing, I say to officers, I want the industrial site changed, I want the allotments looked at, I want this, that and the other. (Your saying) ‘I’m canvassing to regenerate the industrial site, ‘I’m canvassing to get new industrial units’ ‘I’m canvassing to get allotments’.”
“18 months down the line ‘I have succeeded, where Plaid have failed’.”
“Because you drive your mission statement and set-out what you want based on what we as a Labour party can achieve. But unless I know where you want to drive these things, I may be putting resources into an area that you don’t want. It is not so much as going out to the community and asking them what they want, it is what we as a Labour party can deliver on the promises.”
Recording
The recording is from a Labour party meeting which Rob Jones attended in Pontardawe in October 2019. The meeting was set-up by the Pontardawe Labour branch to allow Rob Jones to discuss the proposed Primary school changes in the Swansea Valley. The school proposal is currently suspended due to comments made by the former leader during that meeting.
The suspension does not go far enough for some parents who feel that the whole process has been predetermined by Rob Jones and his colleagues from word go. The process has seen the resignation of both the Pontardawe Labour ward chair and vice chair, both claiming lies and inaccuracies within council records.
The former Vice-Chair Alun Kremszczesniak said “We naively thought that we could have a conversation with the leader and discuss the best way forward for our schools in the Valley. It was obvious from early on that Rob Jones had no interest in listening and the council had already made their mind up (about the schools). He lied throughout the meeting and it was all about him (Rob Jones) convincing the Labour members in Pontardawe. He seemed to want to choose the council candidates that fitted his agenda and would tow his party line. It was a wake-up call to a lot of us, I know of a few members who have left the party specifically because of that meeting; but sadly, Labours issues in Neath Port Talbot go far deeper than Rob Jones. How he got to power in the first place is depressing and why more Councillors haven’t spoken against him is tragic”.
“Corruption and lies”
It is questions over the predetermined outcome of the schools which have caused fresh calls for a public enquiry into the closure of Godre’r’graig Primary school. With parent Ben Holdsworth saying “Corruption and lies. The foundation of every Rob Jones decision. The only way to the whole truth surrounding Godre’r’graig, that everyone should demand is a public enquiry. If he and the heads of Neath Port Talbot Council can wrongly force the closure of this school, then they can do the same to any other school in the borough and it is important everyone sees this.”
There have long been concerns with Parents and residents about the way that Godre’r’graig Primary school was closed. Rob Jones compared a report on the hillside behind the school to the Aberfan disaster despite numerous experts stating it is a false comparison. It is understood that the former leader persuaded cabinet, head teacher and chair of governors to close the school. Within the community questions remain as to his motives, with many parents wanting an independent enquiry as to whether the decisions made by the council were impartial or with an eye to forcing the merger of schools in the valley.
Chair of Governors
The Chair of Governors for Godre’r’graig Primary School has also called for a full enquiry and told us that she is “very concerned that the consultation documents regarding the new 3-11 school in Pontardawe have provided misleading information to the public regarding the Godre’rgraig School site. Simply stating that is not possible to return to the school site is incorrect. In the very unlikely event spoil heap movement, by implementing appropriate remedial measures, the site would remain safe. We find it hard to believe these measures would cost as much as an unwanted new super school.”
“As a governing board we don’t believe that decisions the council are making are based on the interests and needs of pupils and parents at Godre’rgraig School. We don’t believe that the governing body are being informed of decisions made in a timely manner, nor are we being given full information about the reasoning, costings or motivation behind these decisions. We have always felt the hidden agenda has been to find a way to close the school. I have never understood why. Godre’rgraig was a thriving, friendly, caring and welcoming school in a lovely community.”
The lease for the temporary school at Cwmtawe comes up for renewal over the summer holidays. The residents living either side of Godre’r’graig Primary School have recently been told that there are no concerns with a landslip to their houses and so it is hoped that pupils will be able to return to the school in September.
Labour Projects
These latest comments from the former Leader of NPT council come a month after his resignation as leader. The comments will again question whether Labour backed projects have been favoured to non-Labour projects by Rob Jones and the borough council.
There was strong condemnation from Sioned Williams, Plaid Cymru Senedd Election Candidate for Neath. “These shocking comments appear to reinforce the allegation of blatant and completely inappropriate use of public funds for political purposes by Labour run Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. This further underlines the need for an investigation by the Auditor General into this matter, which was called for by Plaid Cymru when the recording of Cllr Rob Jones first came to light, but disappointingly and puzzlingly rejected by the Labour First Minister, Mark Drakeford.”
“It is vital, as we approach the Senedd election, that the residents of Neath Port Talbot have complete faith in their elected politicians and that public spending is allocated according to need, rather than apparently serving the party political tactics of the Labour Party. I think the constituents of Neath deserve to know what their Labour representatives, Jeremy Miles MS and Christina Rees MP, have to say about this matter.”
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Why are so many councillors/ AMs/MPs, etc so dishonest with their snouts in the troughs? I know not all, but it seems too many only care about themselves and to hell with those they are meant to serve.
Definitely a 10 they all need looking into I have said umpteen times they are saying school not safe for children but never mention not safe for the ones living opposite obviously they don’t count
Following the reports of a new extract from a recording with former Neath Port Talbot council leader Rob Jones, the Chief Executive of Neath Port Talbot Council has issued the following statement.
Karen Jones said:
“Councillor Rob Jones brought the matter of the recording to the council’s attention on the evening of Friday 5 March 2021. Councillor Jones also referred himself to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales for investigation.
“In the week that followed, I initiated an additional, external, independent review of the current systems and processes that support capital investment decision making and the protocol that governs the relationship between councillors and officers. This review is being led by Rod Alcott, a former senior manager with the Wales Audit Office. He is being assisted by Jack Straw, former Chief Executive of the City and County of Swansea. Referrals were also made to the Auditor General and South Wales Police.
“A written report from the external, independent review will be presented to the Council’s Governance and Audit Committee which is chaired by Cllr Del Morgan, Plaid Cymru Group, detailing the findings of the review and any recommendations that the reviewers consider are appropriate.
“To avoid prejudicing proceedings, we will be making no further comment about the content of the recording until the investigations are concluded and reported.
“I have however, recently written to the owner of the recording and requested that they supply a full, unedited copy so that this can be considered, both as part of the Ombudsman’s investigation and the additional independent review. As yet, this copy has not been forthcoming.
“I would urge anyone else who believes they have evidence that is material to these investigations to come forward and pass this on to the investigating bodies so that it can be taken into account.”
Gerrymandering and Corrupt officials – councillors AM’s and MP’s is widespread. It’s getting the evidence and more importantly getting official bodies to listen – when they too are riddled with corruption.
FGM – Police – Social Services – Government ALL SILENT. Why?
And the list goes on 3500 practicing Muslims allowed to congregate in public to coincide with Eid YET the take-up of Vaccine amongst this demographic is low. BLIND EYES once again being turned for the sake of keeping votes safe and not people!