Council faces pay cut deal deadline

The council has been under pressure over pay

Cardiff Council leaders still have not formally accepted a deal to head off the threat to cut their pay.

Welsh Assembly Local Government Secretary Peter Law is waiting to be told whether the council's cabinet has agreed to the understanding he reached with leader Russell Goodway on Tuesday night.

Cardiff Council leader Russell Goodway

If they do not agree he will use the law to cap their allowances.

The council has got until 1400 BST on Wednesday to agree or face legislation.

Mr Law and Mr Goodway met for over an hour on Tuesday evening and phone negotiations carried on late into the night.

Mr Goodway effectively capitulated to demands that he take a pay cut from £58,500 to around £34,000 in return for a review of allowances.

But his cabinet would also have to take substantial cuts and Mr Law is still awaiting their confirmation in writing.

If - as seems likely - he gets confirmation, he will drop the threat to legislate.

In return for the climbdown, the level of councillors' allowances right across Wales will be reviewed, with the hope of establishing a new framework, around which councillors' pay can be based.

Sources within Cardiff Council say the National Assembly's Local Government secretary Peter Law is expected to agree to the proposals when he makes a formal statement on Wednesday afternoon.