THERE has still been no cabinet investigation into “failings” at Pembrokeshire County Council regarding its dealings with a convicted paedophile once employed as a youth worker.

Hakin county councillor Mike Stoddart has been behind a push to reveal what really happened in the case of Michael ‘Mik’ Smith who was given a reference to foster children by the then head of youth services, despite complaints about his conduct.

Cllr Stoddart called for an independent report into the matter - that found “only luck” prevented him fostering and highlighted concerns about how complaints about Smith were dealt with – to be made public.

It was finally published, after much debate, in June 2017.

Smith was convicted of sexual offences against children and jailed in 2014.

At full council last week Cllr Stoddart asked :”Can the leader give a progress report on the investigation set up by Cabinet in June 2017 into the authority’s failures during its dealings with former youth worker Mik Smith?”

Members heard that two attempts at setting up a task and finish group to look into the issue had failed and another meeting was scheduled for June 4.

Cllr Neil Prior said: “We will be sitting down with a blank piece of paper to agree terms of reference so we can move forward. It’s been a difficult matter.”

He also said that an independent chairman would be appointed, prompting Cllr Stoddart to ask how much had been spent on independent consultants and how much was budgeted for future costs.

Cllr Stoddart, who attended the previous meeting where an attempt to agree terms had been “fruitless”, said: “There were three independent consultants at that meeting. I understand an independent consultant is to be chairman, I don’t recall that in the resolution of cabinet.”

Cllr Prior said he would find out the figures and provide them to all members.