Absent council chief executive misses out on top job with South Wales Fire

The chief executive of Caerphilly County Borough Council has missed out on the top job with South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Caerphilly Observer understands.

Christina Harrhy was shortlisted for the role of chief fire officer but was beaten to the top job by Fin Monahan, an RAF Air Vice-Marshal.

Ms Harrhy has been on long-term sick leave for around nine months – on full pay – prompting questions from councillors about the capacity of the authority’s management team and the cost to taxpayers.

There have also been reports of “tensions” between Ms Harrhy and other senior colleagues.

Last month an email was sent to deputy chief executive Dave Street from Plaid Cymru councillor Gary Enright. In it, Cllr Enright said he had been approached by two councillors from other local authorities asking him about the Caerphilly chief executive’s application to SWFRS and asked for clarity on the situation.

In a separate email to Mr Street, Blackwood councillor Nigel Dix also raised concerns around the capacity of the council’s management team.

The council created the roles of deputy chief executive, and a deputy section 151 officer, in May this year to boost its capacity and cover any absences of leave.

In his response to Cllr Dix, Mr Street said: “Clearly the CEO’s absence means we don’t have the capacity we would have hoped and in essence we find ourselves with the same corporate management team [CMT] capacity as we had before the post of deputy CEO was created.

“On a positive front we have successfully recruited a Deputy Section 151 Officer who is at the forefront of addressing the financial challenges we face.

“Of course, a fundamental responsibility of the deputy CEO is to step into the role of the CEO should they not be available for any reason and that is very much how we are coping now. I can assure you no aspect of our responsibilities are not being fulfilled, however clearly CMT members are having to prioritise and that is why I’m so anxious that staff are given space to concentrate on the issues that really matter.”

Opposition group leaders have since met with the deputy chief executive and the council’s monitoring officer Rob Tranter.

Cllr Dix, who is the leader of the Independent group, said: “We have been assured by the deputy chief executive that the council are following all appropriate policies and are doing all they can to resolve the matter in a timely manner.

“The deputy chief executive has assured me that he will keep all party leaders fully informed.

“Clearly this matter needs to be resolved, as quickly as possible, to ensure the council can function properly and improve services for the people of Caerphilly.”

In the financial year to April 2023, the chief executive’s salary, plus pension contributions, was  £177,413.

Plaid Cymru councillor Lindsay Whittle, who leads the opposition group on the council, has called for clarity on the situation – especially with regards to the chief executive’s interest in the South Wales Fire and Rescue job.

He has also expressed concern about the cost to taxpayers over the continued absence.

He told Caerphilly Observer: “I have had meetings and I have been putting enormous pressure on the authority to make a public statement.

“I am assured that similar meetings are being held and that things should come to a head by September.”

Labour’s leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “It remains a HR matter and people deserve confidentiality in these circumstances.”

A Caerphilly County Borough Council spokesman said: “All we can say is that the chief executive is not in work at present and, as we have a duty of care to maintain confidentiality in regard to this matter, it would not be appropriate to comment further.

“The council has arrangements in place to ensure there is sufficient capacity within the senior leadership team at this time.”