A MOTION of no-confidence in the leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, was withdrawn last night, after being put forward by Plaid Cymru.

The leader of the opposition Plaid Cymru group, Councillor Colin Mann, tabled the motion for the removal of councillor Keith Reynolds on Friday but was asked to withdraw it by interim chief executive Chris Burns in a meeting yesterday.

The private meeting involving "confidential information" between Cllr Mann and Mr Burns lasted for more than an hour and a half and led to the motion’s withdrawal due to "fear of prejudicing" the ongoing legal case concerning Caerphilly council senior officers.

Chief executive Anthony O’Sullivan, deputy Nigel Barnett and head of legal services Daniel Perkins were suspended on full pay in 2013 after accusations of misconduct. The three are now on unpaid leave.

Cllr Mann of the Llanbradach ward, said: “The Plaid Cymru group tabled a motion of no confidence in the current council leader which would have led to public discussions on the case of the three chief officers, who were initially suspended and are now on special paid leave.

“This was due for consideration at next week’s full council meeting. We did so because of concern that the changed status of the three officers was not reported to all councillors and the time it has taken to resolve this matter.”

Keith Reynold's position as leader has come into question since a letter released by the council’s suspended chief executive Anthony O'Sullivan’s solicitor last month revealed that Cllr Reynolds was aware that the suspension of the three officers had been lifted in March without informing the council.

Mr O’Sullivan’s solicitor David Lewis, of Richards and Lewis in Ebbw Vale, released a letter on December 5 which revealed Caerphilly council agreed to lift the continued suspension after Mr O’Sullivan claimed it was “unlawful” and “unconstitutional” and granted him a period of “special paid leave” until the disciplinary proceedings were concluded.

The letter, written to Cllr Reynolds, added that continued references to Mr O’Sullivan’s suspension, as late as November 23 by the media, caused “distress” to the chief executive's family, who have “endured four years of painful and unnecessary trauma”.

Solicitor Mr Lewis sent Cllr Reynolds a draft press statement covering the same points for release to the media. Yet no such press release had been issued.

Cllr Mann added: “Following the meeting and discussions yesterday with the interim chief executive, I have agreed to withdraw the notice of motion. It was indicated me that discussion of this issue at the full council might prejudice ongoing investigations into the actions of the three officers.

“I made it clear to the chief executive that I was anxious that this matter is resolved as soon as possible – something he is also keen to do – because of the continuing major financial impact on the council which is seriously affecting all residents of the county borough.”

While Cllr Mann accepts he would have been ‘surprised’ if the motion was to be successful, he did express confidence that he would have support from a number of Labour councillors and the five independent members on the council.

Independent councillor Nigel Dix, of Blackwood, said: “I would have and will probably support a motion for the removal of Councillor Reynolds as the way the pay scandal has been handle has been wrong.

“They have tried to keep it behind closed doors and have not been open with the public. I fear that the handling of the matter by Cllr Reynolds means that he needs to take responsibility to ensure the public still have confidence in local government.”