Three senior bosses at Caerphilly County Borough Council have appeared in court charged with misconduct in a public office.
Chief executive Anthony O’Sullivan, 55, of Ashley Grove, Penydarren Park, his deputy Nigel Barnett, 51, of Cwrt Neuadd Wen, Aberbargoed, and head of legal Daniel Perkins, 48, of Tudor Crescent, Brynmawr, appeared at Bristol Crown Court on September 2.
The trio had been due to enter a plea at the hearing, but the case was adjourned until October 3.
None of the men, all released on unconditional bail, entered a plea.
A trial date of January 5, 2015 has been set with the trial expected to last between three and four weeks.
The court appearances follow a police investigation into huge pay rises awarded to senior council bosses.
O’Sullivan, Barnett and Perkins are currently suspended from the council on full pay.
They should’nt be paid to sit on their large backsides while they are waiting for their day in court.
Mark, I do not see there is a choice in paying these people awaiting trial. They are innocent until proven guilty and if the court finds that the former is the case the council would find itself in the difficult legal position of forestalling the due legal process which wouid prove very expensive.
The court needs to consider all the evidence and may well decide that there are others who have a case to answer and that one, two or all the defendants are innocent. I am content to let justice take its course, the real scandal in my opinion, is not that these men are being paid whilst on bail but that their wages, and those who may replace them, are far too high. It is time realistic wages were paid to top council officers. There is no way that they could earn this amount of money in the private sector.