No. | Item | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Question from: County Councillor Iain McIntosh Subject: Reported misuse of tarmac
Question:
I’d like to enquire about the reported misuse of tarmac by the Powys County Council highways team. This was reported by the BBC in July 2021 here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-57854192 and also New Civil Engineer website here - https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/powys-councils-highways-team-under-investigation-for-irregularities-19-07-2021/.
The reports followed minutes of two meetings published by the Llangynog community council. The first meeting was in July 2020, published here https://www.llangynog.org/meetings_council.php?id=1806 where they state;
“Reports of contractors selling excess tarmac when road still needs resurfacing etc. Resident had substantial length of drive - 20m x 3m 6inch deep and rolled by council contractors when road was unfinished CCLR B. Davies to inform PCC. Action CCLR B. Davies.”
The second meeting took place in September 2020, published here; https://www.llangynog.org/meetings_council.php?id=1807 where they state;
“CCLR Davies contacted the relevant portfolio holder in respect of tarmac being laid on a private road. He received an immediate response, an officer was sent out to look at the incident, he was met by Cllr Morgan, I. Davies and Evans. The officer was concerned, and is going to investigate. CCLR B. Davies has received a phone call to say that an investigation is being pursued.”
Following both sets of community council minutes, and the press and media reports, can the portfolio holder confirm what the findings of the investigations are please, to include,
1. How much tarmac has gone missing in both weight and monetary value. 2. Over what period of time has tarmac been going missing from this authority. 3. The findings of Dyfed Powys Police and this authority. 4. The number of council staff involved. 5. Are investigations carried out by the authority and Dyfed Powys Police now complete?
It has also been suggested to me that at least four members of council staff, who were found to be involved with the missing tarmac, were suspended pending investigations by the authority and Dyfed Powys Police, but subsequently offered their jobs back before investigations were complete? Can the portfolio holder confirm if this is accurate and if so, why members of staff were reinstated during ongoing investigations and, by whom?
Minutes: Response by the Portfolio Holder:
The criminal investigation by Dyfed Powys Police is still ongoing and it would not be appropriate to comment on this work at present.
Please be advised that the service takes any such matters extremely seriously and is working closely with Dyfed Powys Police to assist with the review of the procedures and processes within the Highways Service.
|