AN ABERAERON councillor has branded the decision to award a £15,000 pay rise to Ceredigion County Council’s chief executive as ‘regrettable’.

Cllr Elizabeth Evans was one of three members to oppose the award to Eifion Evans, with 26 votes in favour.

“It is not about (his) worth, but about the fact that we should never find ourselves in a position of giving anyone a 14 per cent pay rise,” she told the Tivy-Side.

“As councillors we have to make incredibly difficult decisions which are often unpopular, but we must always have one eye on the public mood and what is palatable to our residents and staff

“I accept the majority voted in support, but the decision was regrettable and should not have been before us in the first place.”

Meanwhile, County Hall have confirmed that the Gold Command structure will continue for the duration of the pandemic, but they revealed delegated powers had been ‘reviewed and removed’.

Cardigan councillor Elaine Evans reiterated her view that the local authority’s actions were ‘undemocratic’.

“A councillor’s role is more than just voting on policy matters, we need to be consulted on operational matters,” she said.

“To deny that input is denying the voice of the people that voted for us in what is being done in their name.”

See the full story in this week's Tivy-Side.