‘Salary of up to £118K’ for Gwynedd council’s new chief

Gareth Williams, local democracy reporter

A housing boss has landed Gwynedd’s chief executive’s job – and advertised salary of “up to £118, 063.”

Dafydd Gibbard will take up the role as the council’s new head of paid service following Dilwyn Williams’ retirement next month.

Mr Williams’ salary was £114,466 with a pension of £25,640 – making a total of £140,106.

Mr Gibbard, who is currently Gwynedd’s head of housing, said: “The Council is undoubtedly in a strong position and much of that is testament to Dilwyn Williams’ efforts as Chief Executive.

“My intention is to try to build on this work, ensuring that the culture of putting the people of Gwynedd at the heart of all the Council’s work continues and intensifies.”

Brought up in Pwllheli, he attended Ysgol Cymerau and Glan y Môr before studying Planning and Environmental Management at Bangor’s Coleg Normal before qualifiying as a Chartered Surveyor.

‘Committed’

He started his career with Anglesey Council before moving to Gwynedd Council in 2003, having most recently led the council’s £77m plan to help tackle the ongoing housing crisis.

Married with two children, he now lives in Llanrug and is a keen football fan having coached Llanrug’s boys and girls youth teams for many years.

He plans to take up his new ole on May 10.

He said: “I know that the council has a highly committed workforce and this has been highlighted more than ever over the last year.

“The extraordinary efforts of Council staff has ensured that our key services have continued to be available to the county’s residents when they are most needed.

“There are now positive signs that the Covid-19 pandemic is stabilising and we hope to be able to move into a period of recovery where we can look forward to some more normality.

“The next few years will undoubtedly present us with many challenges as a Council.

“But I know that the innovative work that has been carried out to maintain services through the difficult times means that Gwynedd is well placed to move confidently into the next period of our history.”

Council leader Dyfrig Siencyn, said: “Dafydd has already made an impact in his time with Gwynedd Council. He has led a range of key corporate projects including multi-million pound schemes to build new schools across the county.

“As councillors, we are convinced that Dafydd has the skills and vision to take over as Chief Executive and build on the work of Dilwyn Williams who will retire after seven years in the role and a lifetime of service to local government here in Gwynedd.

“We would like to thank Dilwyn for his tireless efforts to ensure the best for the people of Gwynedd and I know that Dafydd will continue this work when he takes up the post.”

Mr Gibbard’s salary is however dwarfed by the salaries of most other council chiefs in Wales and the rest of the UK.

The Council has appointed Dafydd Gibbard as its new Chief Executive. He will succeed Dilwyn Williams, who will retire in May.

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— CyngorGwyneddCouncil (@CyngorGwynedd) April 23, 2021

According to figures from the Taxpayers Alliance published by Wales Online earlier this month, the highest paid council boss in Wales in 2019-20 was Cardiff council’s chief executive Paul Orders with a salary of £180,423 and pension of £42,399 – making a total of £222,822.

In second place was Deborah Driffield, director of children’s services at Cardiff council with a salary of £199,849 in 2019-20.

Third-highest paid was Rhondda Cynon Taf chief Chris Bradshaw with a salary of £151,000 and pension of £39,000, totalling £190,000