Caerphilly County Borough Council’s interim chief executive is expected to be given the job full time, following the sacking of Anthony O’Sullivan in October.
The council has had an interim chief executive since 2013 when Mr O’Sullivan was suspended amid claims relating to pay rises given to senior officers, and then placed on special paid leave.
Since Mr O’Sullivan’s sacking, the council has been on the hunt for a replacement.
A source told Emily Gill of the Local Democracy Reporting Service that following an interview process last month, the appointments committee has put forward the council’s interim chief executive Christina Harrhy as the preferred candidate.
The source said that two candidates were considered but it was Ms Harrhy who came out on top.
A full council meeting will take place next week to vote on the appointment.
Before the full council makes a decision on the appointment, councillors will vote on whether the meeting should be held in public.
In a report, officers recommended that the meeting should take place in private because the appointments process has not yet concluded and the applicants have a right to privacy.
If appointed, Ms Harrhy will see her salary reduced by nearly £4,000.
As the interim chief executive, Ms Harrhy’s annual salary is £143,949. However, in November, the full council passed a motion to reduce the new chief executive’s salary to a flat rate of £140,000 per annum.
At a full council meeting on Tuesday, March 3, it was agreed that along with the capping of the chief executive salary, the role of deputy chief executive would be scrapped. The move had cross-party support.
Council leader, Cllr Philippa Marsden, said: “When I became leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, I said it was important that everybody contributes savings to ensure our vital services are maintained. This includes those on the highest salaries.”
Ms Harrhy has spent more than two years in the interim role after taking over from Chris Burns in January 2018.
Before that, Ms Harrhy was the corporate director for communities at the council and had has previously held roles with Carmarthenshire and Torfaen councils.
Caerphilly council declined to comment.