Caerphilly County Borough Council’s long-running row over unlawful pay rises to senior bosses could cost a further £263,000, if councillors approve a request from council officers.
Councillors are being asked to approve the funding to cover potential legal costs and the salaries of three top officials on paid leave until the end June. So far, the local authority has spent £2.5 million on these costs.
A request under the Freedom of Information Act revealed the total cost of the row, taking into account the secret pay rises given to around 20 senior officers, was a further £2m.
Caerphilly County Borough Council maintains the cost of the increased salaries should not be included in an overall figure.
Council chief executive Anthony O’Sullivan, his deputy Nigel Barnett and head of legal Daniel Perkins were all suspended on full pay in 2013 in the wake of a report from the Wales Audit Office into the secret pay rises.
The WAO found the decision to award the pay rises was unlawful because Mr O’Sullivan had himself written a report recommending the pay rises and that he was present at a secret meeting that agreed them.
The meeting itself, attended by five councillors, was also unlawfully held because it was not publicised beforehand.
Mr O’Sullivan saw his salary increased from £132,000 to £158,000, although after details of the increase were leaked to the media, the rise was reduced to £5,000.
The WAO report prompted a police investigation and Mr O’Sullivan, Mr Perkins and Mr Barnett were arrested and charged with misconduct in a public office. All charges were later dropped over a lack of evidence, but the three remain on special paid leave while disciplinary proceedings are carried out.
So far, more than £1.7m has gone towards paying the three officers on leave and another £752,000 has been spent on legal costs.
Councillors will either agree or reject the request for more money at a full council meeting on Tuesday, March 7.
A spokesman for Caerphilly council said: “The ongoing disciplinary investigation into three senior officers has resulted in additional costs to the authority totalling £2.5m to date.
“It is important to note that a portion of these costs were incurred during the police investigation which lasted over two years.
“During this time the council was advised that it was unable to undertake its own proceedings and therefore the timescales have extended beyond what was originally anticipated.
“All appropriate steps are being taken to progress this matter as quickly as possible, but the investigation must be conducted fairly and thoroughly in accordance with an agreed statutory process.”
The pay scandal “could cost a further £263,000”, well I predict it will cost a lot more than that. I don’t have a crystal ball but do possess a rational mind, able to think things through toward their probable conclusion – add at least another £1 Million. I have been right every time in my predictions over the last four years that this farce has continued.
Yes at least another £1M probably more until somebody grows a spine and kicks this despicable lot out, then of course we the taxpayer will have to stump up a massive payoff to handsomely reward them for their unscrupulous behaviour.
The council needs a complete re-structure at the top, its the only way things can move forward.
The unlawful secret meeting which involved both Plaid and Labour councillors has led to so much money being lost its disgusting. How people can vote for those responsible is beyond me.
Sadly folk vote for them without engaging their thinking matter and the frightening thing is that after the disgraceful handling of the Caerphilly 3, if Labour are voted in yet again it gives them carte blanche to do whatever they like.
As Council Tax payers we have the right to question how our money is spent – there can be no reasonable excuses for taking so long in bringing this pay scandal to an end.
The longer it runs means a greater waste of public funds.
It’s clear that internal policies also need a major overhaul if it really does take this long to resolve.
And one important final comment – whatever our opinion of the pay scandal, we must remember that the lives of the individuals involved have been put on hold for nearly 4 years,with all the stress that brings upon them and their families,resulting in a human cost.
This could all have been avoided by a speedier resolution.
I agree on all these points and share the view that the investigation into the failure to follow proper procedure, as identified by the Wales Audit Office, should have been rapidly concluded.
As this has not happened I begin to wonder if it is not just the irregularities known to the public that are being investigated but a a far more wide reaching investigation that is looking into matters of which we have, as yet, no knowledge.
I think you are quite right – it will be very interesting to see what the final outcome will be.
Am I being cynical in thinking that the hope is that come May and the local elections,a different political party will be in power and it will then be someone elses problem ?
In your second paragraph you are very perceptive, losing power would prove desirable for Labour. Apart from the pay scandal council debt has risen alarmingly and the incoming administration will be forced to make some hard decisions which wil involve loss of jobs or massive increases in council tax.
There is not the slightest possibility of Lib Dem or Tories being voted in so the choice for voters is either continue the pendulum of a Labour administration for one term and a Plaid administration for the next or vote for real change. Depending on which ward you live in I suggest UKIP or independent. A vote for anything else is a vote to steam on as we are.
As you say Plaid Cymru are most likely candidates as replacement.
I think most people will be surprised that council debt has risen alarmingly – as we are always being informed how well budget and services are being managed !
I believe that some job losses are inevitable along with other budget cuts.
Other reasons that the current leader has announced he his standing down perhaps ?
I,like yourself,believe that come the local elections in May, if Labour is ousted,then the incoming administration will unfold further revelations of which we have,as yet,no knowledge.
I think that in football terminology,that so far the strategy has been “playing for time”…..
Great more money from the tax payer, as a pensioner this will hit me hard when we have to cough up for the bill.