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Caerphilly Council has disclosed that the total cost of a payout agreed with its former chief executive, Christina Harrhy, has risen to £280,654, significantly higher than the initial £209,000 figure announced two years ago. Harrhy had been away from her post for nearly a year due to a “confidential employment issue” before the settlement was reached in October 2024.
Lindsay Whittle, the Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni MS and leader of the Plaid Cymru opposition group at the time of Harrhy’s departure, expressed surprise at the increase, describing the total payout as akin to “a lottery win.” Whittle also pointed out that Harrhy was the second chief executive to receive such a substantial payout from Caerphilly Council in recent years, highlighting public concerns amid rising living costs and increased council taxes.
Plaid Cymru opposition leader Charlotte Bishop called the updated payout figure “a revelation” and “a shock,” noting that the final amount had not been communicated directly to the opposition members. She criticized the lack of transparency, stating, “Given the public interest, I would have expected to be informed rather than having to rummage through the council’s lengthy statement of accounts.”
Harrhy had been in her role since 2018 and was earning £148,773 during the 2022-23 period. She went on sick leave in November 2023 and, after being cleared to work in January 2024, reportedly raised issues concerning working relationships and trust involving the Labour leader, Sean Morgan, and a senior council officer. The payout decision was made in a confidential council meeting where members were cautioned against disclosing details to avoid breaching the authority’s code of conduct. Following her departure from Caerphilly, Harrhy held senior positions at Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen councils and was recently appointed chief executive of the Disused Tips Authority for Wales, a role with a salary of £120,000
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