An authority official has been selected to fill the position left vacant by a senior colleague who departed without prior notice, with committee members describing him as a good lad during proceedings.
Tom Roberts has been appointed as the new head of democratic services at Torfaen Borough Council, though elected representatives voiced annoyance at not being given advance notice about personnel changes affecting senior officers.
Mr Roberts’s appointment still requires ratification from the full council and he will be responsible for advising and supporting the authority on meeting procedures and helping the 40 councillors carry out their elected duties.
He is assuming the role previously held by Jason Lewis, who filled the statutory position of head of democratic services before recently leaving his post as director of corporate services. Mr Lewis had been appointed to the democratic services position in February 2023, with his salary grade for the director role standing between £80,847 and £96,150 per year.
Mr Roberts has not taken on Mr Lewis’s former director duties and remains in his post as business and democratic support services manager, with his new appointment carrying no pay rise, staying at £62,235 annually.
Andrew Lovegrove, the authority’s strategic director for resources, spoke to the democratic services committee, accepting the concerns raised about the failure to brief councillors when officers depart.
He said that individual cases cannot be discussed and that the former post holder departed following a discussion and an agreement that he could leave without completing his full notice period. He added that he would not provide details, which is why it appeared abrupt. He apologised for this, though such circumstances do arise occasionally.
Mr Lovegrove accepted the committee’s justified remarks and noted there would be staffing changes stemming from an arrangement to work more closely with Blaenau Gwent Borough Council, with a shared director of economy and place currently being advertised for appointment at a future date.
He indicated he would discuss with colleagues the best way for councillors to reach officers.
Torfaen Civic Centre in Pontypool. Picture: LDRS
Welsh authorities are required by law to designate a head of democratic services, though they cannot appoint their chief executive or most senior finance officer to this role.
Mr Lovegrove told the committee that Tom, as they know, is an extremely experienced and capable officer able to perform these duties.
Committee member Ron Burnett voiced support for Mr Roberts while questioning why elected members receive no notification about alterations in senior personnel.
The Independent member said he had absolutely no problem with Tom and that he is a good lad.
Nevertheless, the Cwmbran Two Locks representative stated that councillors ought to receive at least some notification when officers depart. He remarked that he occasionally telephones and is informed that the person left months ago. He said that as members, they should be aware of departures and arrivals and that there was another official recently whom he had no idea who he was.
Pontnewydd Labour councillor Stuart Ashley observed he frequently no longer knows which official to approach on issues.
Panteg councillor Norma Parish mentioned that previously details about departing officers and their successors would appear at the end of reports. The Labour member noted that it can be done and she cannot understand why this authority ceased doing so.
Mr Roberts had left the chamber during the committee’s discussions and only returned after members agreed to designate him as the council’s head of democratic services. The full council will likely consider the appointment in May.