Council CEO's £280k payout likened to a 'lottery win'

A council that agreed a £209,000 payout to its chief executive two years ago has revealed the total cost is now £280,654.

Christina Harrhy had been absent from her role at Caerphilly Council for nearly a year due to a "confidential employment issue" when a £209,000 settlement was reached in October 2024.

Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni MS Lindsay Whittle, who led the Plaid opposition group at the time of her departure, said he was "staggered" by the total cost of the payout, which has increased by £71,000 - likening it to "a lottery win".

The council said it was inappropriate to comment on individual cases, adding the cost of the payout was in the council's accounts.

Plaid Cymru opposition leader Charlotte Bishop described the increase as "a revelation" and "a shock… because we were not informed of the final total cost".

"Given the public interest, I would have expected to be informed rather than having to rummage through the council’s lengthy statement of accounts," she said.

Harrhy was appointed in 2018 and was on a salary of £148,773 in 2022-23. She went on sick leave in November 2023.

After being found fit to work in January 2024, it is understood she raised concerns about working relationships and trust relating to Labour leader Sean Morgan and a senior officer.

The payout was agreed in a behind-closed-doors council meeting where members were warned not to disclose details of the settlement or they would risk breaching the authority's code of conduct.

"People struggling with cost of living and higher council taxes will rightly be shocked," said Whittle, noting Harrhy "was the second chief executive to leave Caerphilly with a "massive pay-off".

In 2021 the authority gave its former chief executive Anthony O’Sullivan, who was sacked in a pay row and had been away for work on paid gardening leave for a number of years, a £97,500 pay-out.

The council said it "would not be appropriate to comment on employment matters relating to individuals but we can confirm this matter was agreed by full council and the costs are clearly detailed in the council’s accounts".

Following her departure, Harrhy was a senior officer at Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen councils.

Earlier this year, she was appointed chief executive of the newly-formed Disused Tips Authority for Wales by the then Labour Welsh government – a role with a £120,000 salary.