MERTHYR TYDFIL Council directors could be paid more to bring them in line with other authorities due to issues around recruitment and retention.
A report to go to full council on Wednesday, July 17, said the authority’s current salary structures were significantly lower compared to other councils in south and mid Wales, creating substantial challenges in attracting and retaining senior management.
Figures show that neighbouring councils offer starting salaries for comparable roles around £90,000, with some positions going up to £115,000.
In contrast, Merthyr Tydfil Council’s current average salary for director roles is approximately £83,729.
The financial implications for the proposed structure changes would be a budget increase of £81,023 for 2024/25, £87,273 for 2025/26, £93,638 for 2026/27 and £101,598 for 2027/28.
The report said it was acknowledged that due to current vacancies and the recruitment process there would be a variation in the 2024/25 full year effect.
It said that recent recruitment efforts had highlighted the difficulties faced due to uncompetitive remuneration, with key positions remaining unfilled or attracting only a small pool of candidates.
An independent review has provided an analysis and benchmarking of the council’s remuneration levels against other public sector organisations and the findings are said to show a “clear need” for adjustments to ensure that the council can build and maintain a strong leadership team capable of driving the council’s strategic and operational goals, the report said.
Key recommendations include repositioning director roles to tier three from tier four, adopting a four point salary scale and conducting a broader remuneration review.
The report said: “Addressing these salary shortfalls is essential to mitigate the risk of losing current directors and to ensure successful recruitment of new ones.
“Implementing these recommendations will position Merthyr Tydfil Borough Council as an employer of choice, capable of attracting high-calibre professionals to lead our services effectively.”
