New chief set to be appointed next week

Candidates for one of the highest paid public sector jobs in Wales will be grilled by a panel on Tuesday.

Councillors will get the opportunity to quiz the shortlist for the chief executive job at Powys County Council at a behind closed doors council meeting, with the successful candidate set to receive a basic salary of £148,919, plus a “relocation package”.

Councillors will decide whether to go ahead and appoint a new chief executive and, if needed, vote on their preferred candidate.

The process of finding a new chief executive to lead the council’s paid service started in earnest earlier this week when the council’s Employment and Appeals Committee met in confidential session to whittle down the list of candidates.

Recruitment for the role which specified that applications needed to be submitted by September 18 has been handled by head-hunters Solace in Business who focus on executive recruitment.

The job description explains that the council needs someone who is “a highly capable organisational leader, who can draw the best from others to ensure that aspiration and ambition translates into action on the ground”.

The council also expects candidates to be either at chief executive level at a smaller council or at least working at a director level at a unitary authority.

Following a reorganisation of local government in Wales back in 1995, Powys and all other 21 local authorities in Wales are of the “unitary” type. This means that they run all council services such as education, social care, libraries, rubbish/recycling, and housing.

The candidates will also need to have a “visible and engaging leadership presence” and “be comfortable inviting different views and perspectives” while being ready to make decisions.

The need for a new chief executive comes after Dr Caroline Turner left the authority at the end of July, due to ill health, having been absent from work since March due to Long Covid.

Dr Turner took the helm at Powys in February 2019, having been appointed to the role in November 2018. She came to the role from the Isle of Anglesey County Council where she had been an assistant chief executive.

Over the summer, former Swansea City Council chief executive Jack Straw has been in charge as “interim” chief executive.