A NEW committee to appoint the most senior staff working for two Gwent councils will be established.
Members of Torfaen Borough Council agreed to establish a joint appointments committee as part of its federation, or closer working relationship, with neighbouring Blaenau Gwent Borough Council.
The two authorities already have a joint chief executive, Stephen Vickers, and the new committee which will bring together councillors from both authorities, will make appointments at the strategic director and director level who will report to Mr Vickers.
Torfaen Borough Council will be represented on the committee by its leader, Councillor Anthony Hunt, and the relevant cabinet member as well as non-cabinet members Rose Seabourne and Colette Thomas from the Labour Group with Cllr Elizabeth Haynes nominated by the largest opposition group, the Independent Group.
Councillors agreed to establish the committee at the council’s May 26 meeting and chief financial officer Andrew Lovegrove told them counterparts in Blaenau Gwent had already agreed to set up the committee.
He said: “The same paper went to Blaenau Gwent a few days ago.”