The chief executive of Caerphilly County Borough Council has been suspended.
Boss Anthony O’Sullivan has agreed to the suspension after a damning report was published this week by the Wales Audit Office.
The highly critical report deemed the way pay rises were awarded to council bosses unlawful and has prompted a police investigation.
A spokesman for Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “The Wales Audit Office has recently published a Public Interest report which requires investigation.
“In the circumstances the Chief Executive has recognised the difficulty that this creates in terms of him fulfilling his responsibilities as Head of Paid Service, and that his continued attendance at work during this period would not be appropriate.
“He has agreed, following discussions with the leader, to be suspended from his duties pending the outcome of these investigations.”
There are others that should be suspended aswell.
I agree others should be ,the whole lot of them need investigating ,too much hush hush going on,lets hope it will all come out in the open very soon.
I nearly fell off my chair when I read that "Boss Anthony O'Sullivan has agreed to the suspension" does this indicate that had he not acquiesced he would still be allowed into the council offices?
In 1997 I was working in Shrewsbury with some colleagues when word came that our boss, the second most senior person in the paper mill we worked, had been suspended. This suspension was pending an inquiry into dealings this person had engaged in with a supplier that appeared to benefit him financially.
He was escorted from the site and taken to his home, his company car remained impounded at the mill for examination in case there was evidence contained within it. He was allowed to take nothing apart from the clothes he stood in. Additionally he was not allowed on company property and warned not to talk to anyone who worked for the company not involved in investigating his alleged wrong doing.
That is the correct procedure and contrast with the unhealthily ‘matey’ approach the council seems to be adopting. I agree with ‘Jan’ that there are others who should be suspended too in the interests of helping the police conduct a proper inquiry. Let us hope Avon and Somerset police send someone quickly who will explain to the council leadership how to conduct an investigation in an appropriate manner.
While the majority of us are struggling to pay bills and put food on our tables it is so comforting to know that some of us have no such concerns. If fuel prices rise…..we’ll award ourselves a pay rise. If food prices go up…we’ll award ourselves another pay rise. Electricity and gas prices rise…..no problems….we’ll award ourselves another pay rise! *Simples*
How do you agree to be suspended? Nice to see Harry Andrews face – another week of silence from Labour. They have a pop at Plaid for running to the papers but their silence says it all.
I expect he'll be on full pay while he's suspended.
The police, of course, would not be required to investigate ` procedural`governance issues in relation to the processes followed in Caerphilly Council Offices or any other authority for that matter, that process has already been judged by the Official local government policeman, the Auditor General for Wales, and found to be unlawful in a number of respects.
The only role the Avon and Somerset Police could possibly have would be to follow the evidence in respect to assessing if Criminal Activity has taken place in the Caerphilly Council Offices, that could mean offences of "Misfeasance in Public Office", now that IS a SERIOUS criminal offence. But innocent until proven guilty. Unlawful? – Illegal? what`s the difference when public servants should all be acting above reproach?.
I thought he was the Chief Exec and not a politician. So quite why we need the political doublespeak of him having agreed to his own suspension is baffling.
What next, will he take up a keen interest in gardening or be wanting to spend more time with his family.
This 'matey' approach only gives rise to the impression that whilst we may not be all in it together, they apparently are. You would think that their primary concern would be acting to restore public confidence in both elected representatives and the administration itself. Unfortunately they seem to be all too preoccupied with other notions.