Caerphilly: Council leader reveals secret details of £209,000 payout

The email came about after Chris Moss of Blackwood contacted Mr Morgan to complain about the settlement.

In a response, written two days after the settlement was agreed, the council leader said: “This is a long-standing issue that needs to be addressed carefully as it is a requirement for us to adopt a Welsh Government policy in this area to follow. which we have no control over, but deals with how these matters are handled in relation to senior officers.”

Morgan said the amounts quoted in the press do not reflect the amounts received by the former CEO “as they also include costs relating to national insurance and pensions that the council is legally required to pay out”.

“A significant portion of the payment relates to statutory payments that the board would have to pay regardless of how or why the CEO left the organization,” he added.

“Although these matters were included in the report, the various media chose not to refer to them.”

The report was said to have been seen by councilors at the meeting where the settlement was agreed last week, but has not been published by the council or formally shared with the press.

Morgan added that he did not believe the council had anything to fear from going to a tribunal, but “given the timescales involved and the costs we are incurring in this process, I hope you can see that a settlement is the best outcome for the residents.”

He said: “I understand this will be difficult for some people to understand, but the negotiated settlement was the lowest cost option for the council, and has concluded this matter once and for all, which is so much more preferable and cost-effective. , then to drag on for a few more months.”

His email referred to the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (Wales) Regulations 2006, externalwhich covers disciplinary procedures for chief executives and other senior council officers.

It says no action can be taken without the appointment of a designated independent person.

The email did not provide details of the amounts, but BBC Wales understands that an alternative process to the settlement was expected to cost more than £500,000.