A local MP has asked the police to investigate if senior officers at Carmarthenshire County Council are guilty of gross misconduct in public office.
Last week, the Welsh Audit Office published two reports on the council, finding the decision to allow its senior officers to opt out of the Local Government Pension Scheme was ‘unlawful’.
Another report also found it acted unlawfully by granting an indemnity to the chief executive to bring a libel counterclaim against an individual.
Plaid Cymru Member of Parliament, Jonathan Edwards, said he had taken the decision as the officers had ‘wilfully misconducted themselves to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public’s trust in them’.
Mr Edwards said: ‘The reports are extremely damaging. In my mind the findings justify dismissal of senior council officers and should make the council’s elected leadership stand down from their roles.
’This is a deeply regrettable situation to have been put in. When I entered politics I never thought I would have to report civil servants to the police - this is the darkest day of my career. However, where such serious activities have taken place, I believe it is my duty as a Member of Parliament to stand up for the taxpayers I represent.
’I have contacted both Dyfed Powys and South Wales Police forces to request an investigation into the whole affair in order for the police to satisfy itself that no such misconduct has taken place.’