19/12/2013 BBC Wales Today

Adebowale show nod remorse. That is all from us. Now we join our news

teams where you Welcome to Wales Today. Our top

story: The Council saved millions closing a care home and turning off

street lights. But the executives at Caerphilly

pocketed unlawful payments and we still don't know who was

responsible. I don't have any confidence that there might have

been other things going on we were not told about.

Our other headlines: It's been a familiar sight across the country,

patients waiting outside A E. Tonight plans for a major

reorganisation of the ambulance service.

The four Welsh rugby regions ask our politicians to sort out the games'

troubles. They might want more to eat but

we'll be finding but why there are no more second helpings on some

school lunch menus. The portion sizes are too small and

it doesn't always taste nice. And we've had snow, sleet, thunder,

hail and rain today. Tonight a warning of ice, and there's more

severe weather on the way! Good evening. One local council

agreed to half ?1 million in unlawful payments to some of its top

bosses, and more than a year on it is still no clear tonight who at the

Council authorised them. The new report by the Wales Audit Office

says no records were kept off the meetings between officers about more

cash for some staff, and that was a conflict of interest for those

involved. A big pay rise for Caerphilly

Council's boss sparked these protests. Today it has ruled

unlawful. Key weaknesses in managing people. Half ?1 million of taxpayers

money paid out unlawfully. There has been controversy at Caerphilly

Council 4/12 months. Protest is over unlawful pay rises. The chief

executive and his deputy arrested and released on bail after a police

investigation into those pay rises. More payments totalling more than

?200,000 were also deemed unlawful by the Wales Audit Office. To date

they told us exactly why they were unlawful. Meetings were held to

decide how much executives would be paid in view of car and holiday

allowances but they were discussing how much to play themselves. A clear

conflict of interest not declared. No clear record of minutes of those

meetings, a lack of clarity as to who made the final decision on the

pavement, and elected councillors were kept in the dark which was

unlawful. Once the decision had been taking it should have been properly

recorded, very clear who took the decision and why, and it should have

been published. The leader of the opposition says there is a way to go

to restoring public confidence. Things are in the process of

changing. I don't have any confidence now that there were not

other things going on that we still have been told about. Throughout

this year BBC Wales have ask to speak to the former and current

chief executive about the lack of transparency. We were told again

today nobody was available for interview from the Council or the

collective Cabinet. But some feel the previous leader of the council

should take some responsibility. My deepest concern is this could

happen under the previous administration and they could know

nothing about it, now the leader of the council knew nothing when he was

deputy leader, and if you take his word that he knew nothing about it,

it was an appalling failure of leadership under the administration.

In response the former deputy -- Peter leader says Labour are trying

to score political points. In a statement I am told steps have been

taken to address some of the issues of concern here. Next month elected

councillors will be able to vote on any further action and next year

another auditor 's report will look at whether this kind of practice was

more widespread. Big changes could be on the way for

the Welsh Ambulance Service. A It's been confirmed tonight that it could

be renamed and overseen by a commissioner. It comes at a

turbulent time. Just weeks ago it emerged patients here wait longer to

be transferred to A E than anywhere else in the UK. Let's talk

to our reporter Jenny Rees. What's the background here?

Viewer probably remember the pictures of ambulances queueing

outside hospitals or stories of patients having long waits for an

ambulance. A review was held earlier in the year looking at how the

ambulance service operated and how this consultation which is out to

date is looking at the change the way it is delivered in Wales. We are

talking even right down to the very name. It could be called the Welsh

Emergency and Clinical Services NHS Trust. Long may that the Minister is

hoping that would reflect the broad range of cover, perhaps triage over

the phone or a paramedic at home who treats you. One of the elements as

well is there would be a committee set up. Local health boards would be

part of that, they would decide what local services they need, then there

would be a commissioner, a new post created, who would oversee the role

and advise the work done by the local health boards, and then they

would also potentially take action if needed, if agreed set standards

are not that they would take action. We don't quite know what that would

be yet. This all comes at a turbulent time

for the Welsh Ambulance Service. Yes. We have had recently, for

example last month was the first for 80 months when targets were met, and

we are talking reaching 65% of the most serious emergencies in eight

minutes. When you are looking at the transfer time from the ambulance to

departments a recent investigation by the BBC found patients in Wales

are waiting longer on average than others around the UK. Have had some

reaction from the Conservatives, a cautious welcome, they say it will

take more than a name change to make significant changes. Remember, these

are just the puzzles, and the public has a chance to give their feedback

until February the 13th. Heavy snow is causing disruption. The preset

conditions are treacherous. This was Powers earlier today. It has seen

heavy snowfall in the last few hours. Similar pictures across the

country. This afternoon snow was falling in the Brecon Beacons. More

heavy rain forecast for tomorrow. Natural resources Wales or urging

people to be vigilant all next week, a full forecast later.

Ian 'H' Watkins, a former member of the band Steps, has received a

public apology at the High Court after his photo was used on a

website reporting on the Ian Watkins abuse case.

E! Entertainment Television apologised for using the picture of

the pop star, who's from Treorchy. If The US company's solicitor

expressed regret for the "distress and damage" its publication had

caused. A man has been given a whole life

sentence for the murder of 17-year-old Georgia Williams, whose

body was found dumped in North Wales. Jamie Reynolds, who's 23,

killed Georgia at his parents' house in Shropshire in May. He pleaded

guilty to her murder earlier this month.

Wales's four rugby regions have written to their local politicians

in their increasingly bitter row with the Welsh Rugby Union. The

Scarlets, Blues, Ospreys and Dragons are refusing to sign a new

Participation Agreement because of what they view as unfavourable

financial terms. Our reporter Cemlyn Davies is outside Parc Y Scarlets

tonight. I have spoken to a number of fans to

date, and they are getting increasingly anxious for the

future. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Yesterday of

course the four regions including the Scarlets united behind the

banner bearing the slogan protect our game. We have learned they have

invited politicians to intervene in this long-running dispute. Amongst

the Christmas cards a letter will be arriving on the doorsteps of MPs and

assembly members in the next few days. Signed by the fall of the

regions it will be a direct appeal to try to gain political backing for

their cause. Yesterday as the four regions came together to launch

banners saying protect our game Scarlets coach Simon Easterby

passionately spoke about how the regions are not just rugby clubs but

as Mrs having to employ the local people. He warned livelihoods are at

risk. In the letter the four regions will state that combined pay

employee around 1000 staff -- they employ. They claim with a combined

turnover of ?30 million they make a direct economic contribution to

Wales in excess of ?50 million per year. The regions have called for an

independent public enquiry to examine how they are funded. If the

regions are looking for strong opinions, politicians will not hold

back. The leader of the Welsh Conservatives is tonight echoing

that call for an enquiry, although Owen Smith has not received his

letter yet. The shadow Secretary of State for Wales, a keen rugby fan,

relieves cloak -- believes club rugby is failing because supporters

haven't warmed to the regional make up.

It has been in crisis for the last decade or more. Each week I see

fewer and fewer fans watching the game, interest at a club level

dwindles. Others are not so sure the political

route is the right one. It is dangerous for politicians to

intervene themselves. We could support the establishment of some

kind of independent arbitrator to find a way through but I wouldn't

want politicians to be part of that. Many people have got their agendas,

we need independent people, politicians are not independent when

it comes to this, they will be starting it from one angle. I want

to see what the supporters want. Many disillusioned Scarlets fans

show their concern for the future. It is a great pity this problem has

written. In a professional game. It needs crowds. We need a team here.

The villages, area needs the Scarlets.

With the letters on the way the Welsh Rugby union remained tight

lipped. The Welsh government says it hopes issues can be resolved quickly

and the clock is ticking. The regions have until New Year's Eve to

agree to a new deal. This evening there is perhaps a

further illustration of the challenges facing the regional game

in Wales and a possible blow to the Scarlets after Leicester Tigers

confirmed they have contacted Rhys recent's representatives regarding a

possible move. -- Rhys Rhys Flint. Elijah was excluded from school but

he has found his feet and made it as an international gymnastics.

A white Christmas comes early, but the weather heading our way looks

pretty severe. If Many schools in Wales have

clamped down on giving pupils second helpings to prevent childhood

obesity. The restrictions are based on new

guidelines from the Welsh Government. But some parents and

school governors are complaining that older children aren't getting

enough to eat. Charlotte Dubenskij reports.

Lunchtime at the school in Powys. All meals are based on Welsh

government guidelines, but a BBC survey has found how councils

interpret them varies across the country. Many schools are now

clamping down on second helpings in the drive to curb childhood obesity,

but that has led to concern. Children and school governors and

teachers have raised with me that even after the school meals they

were very quickly getting hungry, said that led to them snacking late

afternoon. That was an issue. The council wasn't allowing schools to

have second helpings and was giving the same portion size to children

whether they were four years old or 11.

Since that complaint things have improved. Children at the school are

allowed second helpings of vegetables or bread if there is any

leftovers that the county council says any extra portions of puddings

are forbidden. The children here have already had their second is

today. Portion sizes are too small, and it doesn't