Plaid Cymru’s Leanne Wood has grilled the Welsh Government Minister for Local Government over the recent pay increase for a senior council official at Rhondda Cynon Taf council.
The Labour controlled RCT council has caused controversy by appointing a new education director on a salary of more than £113,000 a year – £21,000 above the previous rate for the job.
The appointment comes hot on the heels of the council coercing some of the lowest paid staff into accepting lesser terms and conditions after threatening them with a lock-out. The changes resulted in some employees losing 40% of their salary.
The appointment of the new director for education flies in the face of the vision for the future of councils in Wales by Local Government Minister Carl Sargeant.
He wants to see more collaboration, particularly in the senior roles, between neighbouring authorities as a way of saving money.
During plenary, South Wales Central AM Leanne Wood told Mr Sargeant: “Over the last few months, you have made clear your vision for the future of local government in Wales.
“Your aim is for more services to be shared across local authority boundaries to improve accountability, efficiency and the delivery of services.
“I would, therefore, like to hear your view on what appears to be a snub to your strategy by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, which has recently appointed a new director of education on a salary that is £21,000 per annum above the previous rate for the job.
“That comes after some of the lowest-paid employees in the local authority have taken big pay cuts. Would you have condemned this local authority had it not been controlled by Labour?
“Will you, as Minister, now set aside your party loyalties and condemn the actions of this Labour-controlled council?”
In response, Mr Sargeant said: “This is a matter for Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. As Minister responsible for improving public services across Wales, my expectation is that the 22 authorities work will together to drive better services for the public.”
