Sacked council boss paid not to work for six years demands £160,000 for untaken holiday

‘Claiming £159,000 in lieu of leave beggars belief – he’s effectively been on holiday for the past six years,’ council insider says

A council chief who was placed on fully paid leave for six years before being dismissed has requested a payout from the local authority of more than £300,000 – including more than £159,000 of missed holiday pay.

Caerphilly County Borough Council is set to hold a closed-door session after former chief executive Anthony O’Sullivan, who continued to receive his £137,000 salary while he was suspended over a pay scandal, requested £319,337 from taxpayer funds.

The Independent understands the figure includes £159,772 of back pay for holiday he was unable to take, and £22,930 to cover a salary increase paid to council employees during his suspension.

A source close to the council said: “The people of Caerphilly county will be absolutely staggered at the cheek of these claims when Anthony O’Sullivan has already received more than £1m in pay and pension payments while sitting at home for the past six years.

“Claiming £159,000 in lieu of leave beggars belief – he’s effectively been on holiday for the past six years.

“Anthony O’Sullivan has no shame and he’s clearly determined to take council taxpayers to the cleaners.”

Mr O’Sullivan was suspended from his role in 2013 after the assistant auditor general for Wales claimed that a process that saw him receive a £26,000 pay rise while in office was “unlawful”.

A criminal charge of misconduct in office against the official was later dismissed by a judge.

However, it would be another six years until Mr O’Sullivan was finally removed from his post – at an estimated cost to the taxpayer of more than £4m.

Dismissed earlier this month, Mr O’Sullivan said he intended to appeal the decision to oust him in an employment tribunal.

At the time, a council statement said that “serious allegations of gross misconduct have been proven”, adding that “the right decision” had been made.

A spokesperson for Caerphilly County Borough Council told The Independent: “Following the recent conclusion of disciplinary proceedings, we have now been asked by Mr O’Sullivan to consider a claim for expenses and additional payments from the period of the investigation. We can confirm this is not about agreeing a settlement or any other form of ‘pay off’, instead it is a procedural matter that we need to consider now that the disciplinary process has concluded. Councillors will decide how they wish to resolve this issue at the meeting on Monday.”