THERE is set to be a new director of finance and section 151 officer for Merthyr Tydfil Council.
Craig Flynn has accepted the role of director of finance and, if approved by council on Wednesday, November 6, he will also become the council’s section 151 officer from November 7.
The areas of responsibility of the section 151 officer include working with the chief executive, deputy chief executive, directors and other officers on the strategic and financial management of the council, the coordination of council-wide initiatives and projects, developing cross service policies and financial planning and control systems and to take overall responsibility for the direction and performance of the services for which they are responsible.
They are also responsible for the IT functions of the council, the statutory duties of the chief finance officer and section 151 officer and for the revenues, benefits and customer services of the council.
The chief finance officer’s responsibilities include ensuring lawfulness and financial prudence of decision making, administration of financial affairs, contributing to corporate management, providing advice, giving financial information and advising whether decisions of the cabinet are within the budget and policy framework.
Following the departure of the previous head of finance and section 151 officer, steps were taken to elevate the head of finance role to that of director of finance so the council needed to recruit a new director of finance who could also assume the statutory role of section 151 officer.
Over recent months, the chief executive has been carrying out the recruitment and appointment of a new head of finance which saw Craig Flynn accept the offer to become director of finance from November 1.
The appointment of the section 151 officer needs to be made by full council in order to confirm the director of finance as section 151 officer.
