Alec Doyle

Residents across North Wales reacted to figures showing Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board chief executive Carol Shillabeer earns £262,500 and finance director Russ Caldicott earns £177,500, both more than the reported annual salary of Prime Minister Andy Burnham. With the health board still in special measures and facing longstanding concerns about leadership, culture and performance, many commenters argued that executive pay should instead fund frontline services and improve accountability. Others defended the salaries, saying that managing the troubled, geographically large health board is exceptionally difficult and warrants high pay if results are delivered.

Planning documents reveal a proposed £13 million joint archive facility in Mold for Flintshire and Denbighshire. The North East Wales Archives building would replace separate facilities at Hawarden Rectory and Ruthin Gaol, bringing the councils’ collections and staff together in a purpose-built site next to the Grade II-listed Theatr Clwyd. Designed by DB3, the building would use local materials and references to regional industrial and cultural heritage, alongside biodiversity landscaping and solar panels intended to make it net carbon zero. Flintshire County Council is expected to decide the planning application by September 9.

Welsh Labour voted against the Plaid Cymru Government’s supplementary budget after objecting to the reallocation of £344 million in ALN funding originally expected by local authorities. Despite Green support, the budget failed without Labour backing. Ministers argued the funding should be managed according to Welsh priorities, offering £40 million annually instead of passing on the full consequential amounts from Westminster. Unions declared a trade dispute over insufficient ALN support, and opposition members demanded clarity on how the money is being used, while calls continue for revised budget proposals in the summer.