A motion calling for a vote of no confidence in the leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council has been withdrawn over concerns it could have interfered with disciplinary proceedings against three senior local authority bosses.
Chief Executive Anthony O’Sullivan, Deputy Chief Executive Nigel Barnett and Head of Legal Services Daniel Perkins are all on paid leave while an investigation takes place over their roles in the long-running council pay scandal.
Secret pay hikes were awarded to 20 senior council bosses back in 2012 and the decision to do so was subsequently deemed unlawful by the Wales Audit Office.
The row has rumbled on for more than four years and has cost millions of taxpayers’ money.
Cllr Colin Mann, leader of the opposition Plaid Cymru group, said: “The Plaid Cymru group tabled a motion of no confidence in the current council leader [Keith Reynolds] which would have led to public discussions on the case of the three chief officers, who were initially suspended and are now on special paid leave.
“This was due for consideration at next week’s full council meeting.
“We did so because of concern that the changed status of the three officers was not reported to all councillors and the time it has taken to resolve this matter.”
However, after a meeting with the council’s Interim Chief Executive Chris Burns, the motion has been withdrawn.
Cllr Mann explained: “It was indicated to me that discussion of this issue at the full council might prejudice ongoing investigations into the actions of the three officers.
“I made it clear to the chief executive that I was anxious that this matter is resolved as soon as possible – something he is also keen to do – because of the continuing major financial impact on the council which is seriously affecting all residents of the county borough.”
Labour’s Keith Reynolds, pictured right, told Caerphilly Observer he was disappointed the vote was not going ahead.
He said: “It would have provided the opportunity for some honesty and truth to emerge rather than the desperate view of Plaid Cymru.”
Cllr Reynolds said he was as frustrated as anyone else over the length of time the matter was taking to be resolved, but said a statutory process had to be followed by the council’s disciplinary committee, which Plaid Cymru has two councillors sitting on.
He added: “This is desperate tactics by a desperate party which has given up hope of winning the election in May.”
It runs on and on and on and on and on and on. As Mrs. Doyle used to say on ‘Father Ted’. This is a comedy too, but not as funny.
Indeed, the only one’s laughing are the Caerffili three and their solicitors whilst counting their ill gotten gains.
Thinking about it… Plaid brougt up this motion of no confidence them rapidly withdrew it. Deliberate attempt to keep it in the public eye and then stop Labour protesting, clever in their eyes. The fact is that the secret remuneration committe was made up of both Labour and Plaid, in fact the deputy leader of Plaid was on that committee. I can’t wait until the election!