A DEBATE over the definition of a role in Pembrokeshire County Council’s cabinet led to wider questions over how cabinet members’ performance is monitored by the authority.

Last week, Council leader Jamie Adams was challenged to explain the role of the cabinet member for education and safeguarding.

Speaking at the annual joint meeting of the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Safeguarding Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Bob Kilmister asked Cllr Adams what the priorities for cabinet member Cllr Sue Perkins - who performs the role – were.

“Attendance and attainment,” said Cllr Adams. “But the role of the cabinet member is wider than that. It’s about the promotion of relationships between the Authority, the Local Education Authority (LEA) and the schools to ensure there is a shared vision.

“Ambition is difficult to generate in some communities in Pembrokeshire, even within affluent areas of the county,” he added. “We have very few pupils that go to the top universities. Part of Sue’s role is about raising ambitions and inspiring people through education.”

Cllr Kilmister said Cllr Adams spiel was “nice”, but asked him to “be a bit more specific”.

“How do you performance manage someone in such a critical role?” he asked the Council Leader.

Cllr Adams said he had taken advice from the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), but defining the role was “a bit like trying to nail jelly to a wall” because “many aspects of the role are outside of their (the cabinet member’s) control”.

“I come from a business background,” said Cllr Kilmister. “I think there are many jobs in industry that are just as difficult to define as that of a cabinet member. If chairmen of companies heard what you have said (about the role)…. My concern is what you’re saying is there isn’t performance management, and there aren’t targets. That is alarming, and it’s something you need to address quickly.”

Cllr Kilmister said he wasn’t singling anyone out for criticism.

“We don’t know, from what you have said, what Sue’s role is or what your objectives are,” he explained. “That’s not good for her, and it’s not good for the authority. There needs to be more clarity in what we are asking cabinet members to do.”

Cllr Adams said cabinet members were there to “drive continuous improvements to services”, and he was “very clear” about what he expected from them.

“They hold the authority to account,” he said.

Chair of the meeting Cllr Pat Davies said she found it “amazing” cabinet members were not monitored through performance management. Cllr Guy Woodham said he felt this oversight was “shocking”.

“They are the highest paid in the Authority,” he said. “There should be a clear understanding of what they are here to achieve.”