THE need for a new chief executive at County Hall will be debated by councillors over the coming weeks after it was decided not to put a ceiling on potential pay for the top job.

Councillors had been due to discuss the salary for the next chief executive at Full Council yesterday (Thursday) but council leader Cllr Jamie Adams derailed the agenda item by adding an amendment that called for the role of chief executive be “defined and assessed” before any monetary decision was made.

He raised the question “do we have to have a chief executive?”

Labour group leader Cllr Paul Miller had tried to raise a similar point with reference to an agenda item referring to chief officer vacancies, calling for a pay and grading review of all senior posts, but was stopped from taking the matter further.

Cllr Adams said that he was “reluctant” to set a salary for a chief executive before going through a process of defining the role. He made reference to unitary authorities in England which have manger led directors rather than chief executives.

“Rather than committing to a salary here today, I move that we refer this matter to the senior staff committee for it to consider various options. All I’m suggesting is setting the role prior to defining the salary,” said Cllr Adams.

Cllr Adams amendment, which was approved by 31 votes, states that the senior staff committee identify and assess options for the role of head of service and reports to council for a decision on salary level.

The senior staff committee is classed as a public meeting but tends to go into private session due to the discussion of individual employee information.

In a prepared statement Cllr David Pugh backed Cllr Adams proposal adding that councillors would have to be “mindful of setting a salary level to attract the best possible candidates”.

Cllr Paul Miller was one of a number of councillors that agreed that options should be discussed but felt a ceiling of £130,000 for the top role could be put in place, as recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel recently.

“I don’t think anyone in Pembrokeshire wants us to vote to pay someone more than £130, 000,” said Cllr Bob Kilmister. “We have to put the cap on the salary, then we can work the rest of it out.”