Payments to council heads 'unlawful', audit office says

Two councils acted unlawfully by letting chief executives opt out of a pension scheme to avoid potential tax payments, the Wales Audit Office says.

Carmarthenshire's Mark James and Pembrokeshire's Bryn Parry Jones had been given cash payments in lieu of employer pension contributions.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the force was in discussions with the auditors.

Carmarthenshire council was also told it had no legal powers to grant an indemnity to the chief executive to bring a libel counterclaim.

Cemlyn Davies reports.