Council chiefs handed 30% pay boost

Chief executive Anthony O'Sullivan - currently paid about £120,000 - had argued that the 20 highest-paid people at the council deserved inflation-busting increases.

He is now set to pocket an extra £27,000 a year. That's two years' salary for the Labour-controlled council's lowest-paid workers.

Staff are set to walk out on Monday in protest at the decision, made behind closed doors by five Labour councillors.

Union members will also descend on Caerphilly council's Labour group meeting on Monday evening to demand cabinet members reverse their decision.

Half of the council's employees earn less than £16,000 a year and Unison has published comments from some of its members on its website.

"We're not entitled to anything yet £1,000 extra a year would ensure we had a worry-free Christmas. That's nothing to senior officers already earning £100,000!" read one of 36 anonymous comments.

Former council leader Lindsay Whittle, still a Plaid Cymru councillor and National Assembly member, said the pay rises were "unacceptable" when "ordinary council workers are having to endure a pay freeze covering three years.

"Labour only took control of the authority in May but within a few months they have pushed through mind-boggling increases for the already highest-paid employees.

"If I was still leader of the council today, I can guarantee that these rises for senior managers would not have happened.

"They are utterly unacceptable and I can fully understand the fury of employees and members of the public alike who are absolutely disgusted at what has happened."