Powys County Council role has £135,000 salary

A pilot scheme to combine a top post within Powys County Council and Powys teaching Health Board as part of wider merger plans will start in January.

Powys teaching Local Health Board is advertising the role of chief executive - with a wage of £135,000 a year - which will be a post combined with the council's strategic director of care and well-being.

The board has defended the salary offered, saying it reflects the expected level on a national basis.

The pilot will be formally launched in January 2011 but shadow arrangements are now under way to appoint somebody to the role.

A spokeswoman for Powys teaching Local Health Board, said: "The tHB is very pleased that it is now able to move forward with the permanent appointment for this very important post, which will further develop integration with the local authority.

She said the salary "has been agreed at a national level".