Agenda item

To submit the report of the Cabinet Member for Corporate Support  (attached).

Submitted - a report by the Cabinet Member for Corporate Support requesting that the Council, as the Accountable Body for the North Wales Economic Ambition Board’s employment and financial matters, approve the Board’s decision to set the salary level for the post of Programme Director at £96,304 - £106,304.

 

The Leader, who was also the Chair of the Ambition Board, provided an explanation on what the role of the Programme Director would entail.

 

During the discussion, concerns were expressed by individual members on the following grounds:

 

·         A risk that the North East area would benefit more than the North West area from the Growth Deal.

·         The linguistic requirements of the post of Programme Director.

·         The immorality of offering a salary of over £100,000 to the post-holder when families in Gwynedd were dependent on food banks.

·         Reservations whether or not the Growth Deal would manage to attract a £1bn investment to north Wales, as alleged.

 

In response to these concerns, the following was noted:

 

·         Appointing someone to the post of Programme Director was not this Council's decision. Instead, it was the cross-party decision of the Economic Ambition Board, namely the Leaders of the six Councils, in consultation with representatives from the private sector and colleges.

·         The Constitution of the Ambition Board noted that consensus was required across the six Councils to every decision.  As no agreement had been reached on the linguistic matter, it was agreed to compromise that the Welsh language would be 'desirable' for the post, and also an additional skill should two candidates be on a par following an interview.

·         Gwynedd Council was the Host Authority for the Ambition Board as it had been established as a Council that did things right. In order to act appropriately in this case, the Council was required to give formal approval to the salary level of the post of Programme Director as it was above £100,000.

·         All of the Leaders would be aware of the question regarding high level salaries, but as the Programme Director would be responsible for attracting an additional £1bn investment from the private sector (towards the £280m that would come from both Governments), it was absolutely essential to get the right person to lead this important work of disseminating growth across north Wales.

·         Any questions regarding what the Ambition Board did were matters for future discussion.

 

A registered vote was called for on the proposal.

 

According to Procedural Rules, the following vote on the motion was recorded:

 

 

 

In favour (45)

 

Councillors Craig ab Iago, Dylan Bullard, Stephen Churchman, Annwen Daniels, Elwyn Edwards, Alan Jones Evans, Aled Evans, Peter Antony Garlick, Simon Glyn, Gareth Wyn Griffith, Selwyn Griffiths, Annwen Hughes, John Brynmor Hughes, R.Medwyn Hughes, Nia Jeffreys, Peredur Jenkins, Aled Wyn Jones, Anne Lloyd Jones, Berwyn Parry Jones, Charles W.Jones, Elin Walker Jones, Gareth Jones, Huw Wyn Jones, Eryl Jones-Williams, Cai Larsen, Beth Lawton, Dilwyn Lloyd, Dafydd Meurig, Dafydd Owen, Dewi Owen, Edgar Owen, W.Roy Owen, Nigel Pickavance, Dewi Wyn Roberts, Elfed P.Roberts, John Pughe Roberts, Mair Rowlands, Paul Rowlinson, Dyfrig Siencyn, Gareth Thomas, Hefin Underwood, Catrin Wager, Eirwyn Williams, Elfed Williams and Gruffydd Williams.

 

Against (11)

 

Councillors Anwen Davies, Alwyn Gruffydd, Louise Hughes, Aeron M.Jones, Elwyn Jones, Eric Merfyn Jones, Kevin Morris Jones, Gareth A.Roberts, Angela Russell, Gareth Williams and Owain Williams.

 

Abstaining (2)

 

Councillors R.Glyn Daniels and Judith Humphreys.

 

The Chair noted that the proposal had been carried.

 

RESOLVED that the Council, as the Accountable Body for the North Wales Economic Ambition Board’s employment and financial matters, approve the Board’s decision to set the salary level for the post of Programme Director at £96,304 - £106,304.