VALE councillors have ratified a decision to hire Vale Council director of development services Rob Thomas as new managing director following an ‘exhausting’ process.

Mr Thomas, who was the one internal candidate in the final shortlist of three, will assume the £127,133 chief and head of paid position from May 1.

His appointment follows Sian Davies’, the current part-time managing director, decision to step down from the role on April 30 this year.

The post saw 12 people apply, with the council’s senior management appointment committee narrowing the choice down to a long-list of seven before the short-list of three was determined.

Candidates on the long list attended an assessment centre and underwent psychometric testing, an in-tray exercise and a technical interview.

External advice was provided by SOLACE Enterprises and Mr Thomas was selected on March 24.

Vale Council leader, Cllr Neil Moore, who was on the committee, told a special meeting of full council on March 25 that he was recommending Mr Thomas’ appointment.

He said: “It was a taxing day to say the least but it was a unanimous decision.”

Plaid opposition leader, Cllr Chris Franks, also on the committee, said he was delighted to support the decision.

He said: “The process was very robust. The process was exhaustive. We asked each candidate if they thought it was fair and they thought it was fair and thorough.

Tory opposition leader, Cllr John Thomas, also on the committee and supporting the appointment, said: “It was quite exhausting as well as exhaustive.”

Llantwit First Independents leader, Cllr Gwyn John added: “It was a very exhausting day, but it was a good process that we adopted. I think we had a difficult decision to make, but we have a class candidate and someone who’s going to take this council forward.”

In his role as director of development services, Mr Thomas recently told the Barry & District News it was “extremely disappointing that the council, residents, visitors and the community of Barry Island are effectively being held to ransom by the site owners,” following a disagreement with Barry Island Property Company over the Barry Island Pleasure Park site.