After receiving answers to a six-part question regarding the business relationship between ORA International Ltd and Cllr Brian Hall, Cllr Mike Stoddart told Thursday's Pembrokeshire County Council meeting that he still felt there had been a 'cover-up'.

He was told by council leader Cllr John Davies, that the firm (managing director Dr Michael P. Ryan) was still employed as economic development consultants to the authority, that the company's contract would be reviewed at the end of the month and that officials knew of the relationship in early autumn 2000.

Cllr Davies said the report into the issue had already cost £11,000 and agreed the question needed to be asked. He understood the councillor's appetite for the issue, into which he had delved for so long, but he asked if Cllr Stoddart now accepted the findings of the district auditor (DA), an independent adjudicator and guardian of the public interest.

"I do not accept the DA's conclusion and I suspect, not for the first time with this authority, that there has been a cover-up," Cllr Stoddart replied.

He pressed for an accurate date when the chief executive became aware of the business relationship between Dr Ryan and Cllr Hall, rather than the generalisation 'early autumn 2000'. Cllr Davies said that after a four-year gap it was difficult to give a more specific date.

Cllr Stoddart referred to inconsistencies in the evidence given and said he intended to find out the truth of what had been going on.

He also tabled a notice of motion seeking consent to the publication of material relating to the county council in the Audit Commission for Wales report on the investigation, and this was referred to the corporate governance committee, as was a notice of motion seeking amendment to the constitution and composition of the standards committee.

CLLR Stoddart tabled a notice of motion seeking consent to the publication of material, relating to the county council, in the Audit Commission for Wales report on the investigation into Cllr Brian Hall's relationship with ORA International, and this was referred to the corporate governance committee, as also was a notice of motion seeking amendment to the constitution and composition of the standards committee.