Pembrokeshire County Council staff who are members of the trade union UNISON are to hold a vote of no confidence in chief executive Bryn Parry-Jones.

It follows what the union described as a 'debacle of the recent extraordinary meeting' of Pembrokeshire County Council, where a bid to suspend Mr Parry-Jones over the 'unlawful' payments scandal failed.

UNISON Branch Secretary Vic Dennis said “Our members want their voice heard”.

He added: “If this was one of our own members being investigated by the police in relation to such a serious matter then without doubt they would have been suspended until the outcome of any investigation.”

“You can travel up the road to Carmarthen where the chief executive has stood aside in relation to the WAO report. Of course this is the right thing to do, especially for anyone in such a senior civil servant position where there is an investigation into potential unlawful practices.”

UNISON Area organiser Hugh McDyer said: “When we see some of our lowest paid members such as Homecare staff losing up to a third of their wages and being privatised in the name of “value for money” it is beyond belief that they can bring a barrister in to a public meeting to defend their pension payments to a chief executive.

"We would all like to know the cost and find out who is paying for the Barrister’s services?”

“Our members should be able to have complete confidence in their leadership and clearly that it is no longer the case in PCC”

“It is surely inconceivable now for Bryn Parry Jones to preside over the European ballot as returning officer, the people of Pembrokeshire must have complete confidence in the election process.”

“We are now responding to calls for our membership to conduct a ballot in relation to a Vote of No Confidence in the Chief Executive.

"The members deserve to have their voices heard and we will be taking steps to organise the ballot immediately”.