Compulsory CRB checks likely for councillors

5:10pm Sunday 17th February 2013 in County News

Criminal record checks look set to be made compulsory for all councillors on Pembrokeshire County Council.

Cabinet members adopted a notice of motion submitted by council leader Councillor Jamie Adams, which stated: “In view of the role of county council members engaging with potentially vulnerable children and adults, it should be mandatory that ALL members of Pembrokeshire County Council hold a current enhanced CRB certificate.

“This will ensure that constituents and the wider public are suitably assured and members are effectively in a position to demonstrate and ultimately lead an overtly responsible attitude towards safeguarding in its widest context.”

The cabinet will report its decision, which was made at a meeting on Monday (February 4th), back to council for determination.

The CRB check costs £44 for each disclosure application, but Cllr Adams said the cost would be “fairly minor”

because the majority of members already hold a CRB certificate as school governors.

Cllr Adams said: “I think we should be leading from the front in terms of not just being seen, but doing something positive in terms of our own individual position regards safeguarding.”

Cabinet member for safeguarding and children’s services Councillor Sue Perkins said she was “absolutely disturbed” that some members had not had a CRB check.

“I’m amazed that we have members of this council that will not do this,” she added.

Cabinet member for economy, tourism and communities Councillor David Pugh asked whether the information would be published online and added: “I think it should be.”

Pembrokeshire County Council chief executive Bryn Parry-Jones said the council clearly could not display the certificates, but would be making a public disclosure once the process had been undertaken.

Cabinet member for environment and regulatory services Councillor Huw George said: “This is a declaration from us as a council and as individuals. It is clear where we are going from the outset.”

Comments(16)

AdmiralFoley says...
6:29pm Sun 17 Feb 13

Am I the only one who thinks it would have been better if they'd brought in compulsory IQ tests?

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sammychips says...
7:14pm Sun 17 Feb 13

I have worked for the council as a lsa for 12 years and have had to have a crb check every 3 years no probs but the last time i had one i received a **** letter saying my crb check was due for renewal and to do it asap ye fine but as im a employee by the council then they should have been upto date when renewals were due i felt quite intimidated by the wording of the letter like i said i work in a school and yes i agree all councillors should be crb checked as well as volunteers plus visitors etc etc why do councillors think they are immune to checks they are meant to be safe guarding against everything so i think they should be checked they are earning more than us and seem to think they are exempt from such checks

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sammychips says...
7:55pm Sun 17 Feb 13

just to add to my comment the poor old chief ex and senior staff hav had their pay freezed since 2008/2009 bless them now with this pay equal pay being introduced it is now even harder for us LSA'S many have lost their SEN allowance but they will still have to cope with being bit/spat /kicked and abused in many ways because of their special needs we will still do our job but to whose expense should we have to put our health and mentality at .THE CHIEF EXEX WNT HELP BECAUSE HE HASN'T TOOK A A PAY CUT.JAMIE ADAMS WNT HELP BECAUSE HE IS NEW TO THE JOB AND QUITE FRANKLY USELESS TALK ABOUT TITANIC

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Kiwitaff says...
11:50pm Sun 17 Feb 13

I would have thought CRB checks would be a compulsory requirement for anyone in the public sector with responsibility for young children including elected members. A CEO who has been in post seventeen years is only now getting to grips with a basic requirement.

This is a public disgrace.

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Tttoommy says...
9:42am Mon 18 Feb 13

A CRB check only means that someone hasn't been caught yet. In other words the Councillors and the staff are getting away with things that would be "criminal" in the real world - only joking guys

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Tttoommy says...
9:46am Mon 18 Feb 13

I see you say that Bryn parry-Jones did make a comment (about keeping things secret suprisingly) Telegraph Journalists Did you see him or was it a "press release"? Does he really exist? or is the £200K PA just split between the councillors - the Council does after all come across as a rudderless ship

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Andrew Lye says...
12:53pm Mon 18 Feb 13

On the other hand, councillors see constituents and others in the course of their duty.
Could they ask for a CRB check of all their constituents before they meet THEM?
I have to have a CRB for my work, but I do get sent to see customers who could be a danger to ME....
(As said above, a CRB is only any good if a person has been caught and they are a snapshot as at the time of the CRB).

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Doc Malik says...
1:59pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Andrew Lye wrote:
On the other hand, councillors see constituents and others in the course of their duty.
Could they ask for a CRB check of all their constituents before they meet THEM?
I have to have a CRB for my work, but I do get sent to see customers who could be a danger to ME....
(As said above, a CRB is only any good if a person has been caught and they are a snapshot as at the time of the CRB).
There are jobs and roles for which CRB checks are desirable. I was not aware that being a constituent (or, bearing in mind the Council's track record, victim) was one of them.

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Doc Malik says...
2:02pm Mon 18 Feb 13

AdmiralFoley wrote:
Am I the only one who thinks it would have been better if they'd brought in compulsory IQ tests?
IQ tests are an arbitrary measure of il ability. The only intellectual capacity required by a Pembrokeshire County Councillor is to recognise those times when it is necessary to say "Yes, Bryn." or - if your a member of the ruling group - which brown envelope is yours.

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Tttoommy says...
5:08pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Doc Malik wrote:
AdmiralFoley wrote:
Am I the only one who thinks it would have been better if they'd brought in compulsory IQ tests?
IQ tests are an arbitrary measure of il ability. The only intellectual capacity required by a Pembrokeshire County Councillor is to recognise those times when it is necessary to say "Yes, Bryn." or - if your a member of the ruling group - which brown envelope is yours.
Are you saying the officers and councillors of that fine upstanding democratic institution corrupt?
Surely Not otherwise the Police would be interested wouldn't they (even If the more senior officers were or were not also Masons)

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Rockface says...
5:15pm Mon 18 Feb 13

I can't see how the CEO will be able to make a public disclosure due to the data protection act. The information on these checks are for the employer/employees eyes only.

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Kiwitaff says...
12:05am Tue 19 Feb 13

I agree with Rockface, How can the CEO make a public disclosure other than to say what percentage of the elected members have been cleared by the CRB check (hopefully 100%).

It would also be in the public interest to know the names of elected members and senior public servants who are members of the Welsh Masonic Lodges.

Perhaps that might be the most appropriate public disclosure.

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Rockface says...
6:01pm Tue 19 Feb 13

In addition to the above. If any elected members did have a conviction of some kind. What can be done about it? Rehabilitation of the Offenders act will cancel out any action being taken. I thought the CEO would have know this - If he is actually real?

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Tttoommy says...
9:46am Wed 20 Feb 13

Does this come across as bryn is telling the councillors what they should be doing? Do these thickos not realise they are in charge? Apparently Sir Humphrey, our servant is telling our elected reps what to do!
PS Will Bryn have a crb check?

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Rockface says...
9:56pm Thu 21 Feb 13

Tttoommy wrote:
Does this come across as bryn is telling the councillors what they should be doing? Do these thickos not realise they are in charge? Apparently Sir Humphrey, our servant is telling our elected reps what to do!
PS Will Bryn have a crb check?
Bryn is not real! Bryn is not real!

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Tttoommy says...
9:25am Fri 22 Feb 13

Rockface wrote:
Tttoommy wrote:
Does this come across as bryn is telling the councillors what they should be doing? Do these thickos not realise they are in charge? Apparently Sir Humphrey, our servant is telling our elected reps what to do!
PS Will Bryn have a crb check?
Bryn is not real! Bryn is not real!
LOL, it makes sense - we are throwing almost £200K down the drain every year on nothing!

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