COUNCILLORS have agreed the salary and language requirements of Carmarthenshire County Council’s next Chief Executive.

The council’s current Chief Executive, Mark James, announced his decision to retire this summer a few weeks ago.

Full Council endorsed a recommendation from the Independent Remuneration Panel of Wales to set the salary for the next Chief Executive at £145,000 - a reduction of £30,000 on the current salary and comparative to other Welsh local authorities.

The post will also be Welsh essential, assessed at level four for both English and Welsh, but - as with all employees - the council has committed to supporting the successful candidate to learn or improve their Welsh should it be required.

The post will now be advertised nationally.

An Appointments Panel of 16 councillors will be brought together as part of the recruitment and to make recommendations regarding suitable candidates.

The final decision will be made by Full Council, and the successful candidate should be in post by June.