LABOUR CALLS FOR WELSH MINISTER INVENTION, AS CARMARTHENSHIRE FUNDING DISPUTES INTENSIFY

The Welsh Government is set to be dragged into a dispute over the City Deal and Ammanford Grant Funding, as the dispute between the Plaid-led Council and Labour intensifies.

On the 11th of April, the Leader of Council made an independent decision to approve a grant application for the redevelopment of the former Lloyds Bank, 1 Quay Street, Ammanford, as part of the Ammanford Regeneration Development Fund.

Mr Andrew Owen, an employee of Carmarthenshire Council, received a grant of £145,236.16 to convert the former bank into private accommodation and office space.

In reaction to the decision, the Labour Leader Cllr Rob James wrote to the Public Service Ombudsman and Wales Audit Office calling for a full investigation into the decision making.

The Wales Audit Office has since replied to Cllr James stating that they were satisfied with the decision made, yet the Labour Leader claims that it “raises more questions than it answers”.

The Labour Leader states that the letter contains inaccuracies, as grant funding has been awarded and that there have been no considerations of officer objectivity, with the applicant being employed by Carmarthenshire Council.

Concerns have also been raised after Carmarthenshire Council this week announced that Sterling Health is to be the private partner for the Llanelli Wellness Village.

Speaking outside of County Hall, Cllr Rob James stated “The language used by the Member of Parliament for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, coupled with the verbal threats I have received from Jonathan and those close to him, are beginning to concern me. It is as if, Plaid have something to hide on these matters.

“I have wrote to Wales Audit Office to request further information on how they came to their judgement, as their letter is littered with inaccuracies.

“It is stated in their reply that some applications have progressed, yet the Council have not awarded any grant funding under the scheme. The reason that we wrote to the Audit Office was after the Council Leader, independently awarded a grant of £145,000 to a Council employee to convert the Lloyds bank into private accommodation and office space.

“It is also stated that the decision was taken on the professional advice of Council officers, despite us highlighting that the applicant is an employee in a key department connected to these applications.

“This is during the same week that the Council announced their private partner for the Delta Lakes project – a company that has only been trading for three years, with links to the largest private hospital in Kent and with one of their Directors being former Council Leader, Meryl Gravell, won stood down last year.

“Every month, I am having to raise questions about the decision making in Carmarthenshire. After Plaid promised the earth to voters, including creating an open and transparent council, they have completely failed to keep their promises to voters and we now have serious questions that need answering.”

The Labour Leader has now written to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Mark Drakeford, calling for a full investigation into both decisions.