SENIOR managers at an “arm’s length” company that will run council leisure, youth, cultural and tourism services should be subject to a pay cap, opposition councillors have said.

Monmouthshire County Council last week agreed to establish an “alternative delivery model” (ADM) from October 1 “to secure a viable and sustainable future” for the services.

Leader of the Labour group on the council Cllr Dmitri Batrouni (St Christopher’s, Chepstow) said they wanted to see a maximum ratio between the highest and lowest paid, as well as guarantees on terms and conditions for council employees who transfer to the new body.

Cllr Batrouni, who earlier handed in a 200-signature from Chepstow opposing the ADM, said they wanted to see public services remain in public hands.

He said: “We are not totally hostile, but we are opposed – we feel public services should remain in public hands.

“If we can cap executive pay, secure workers’ terms and conditions over five years and ensure more scrutiny, we would be more supportive.”

Council leader Cllr Peter Fox (Con, Portskewett) said the council had to “face the reality of change” to protect services which had cut costs from £6.5 million in 2010 to £4.4 million now.

He added: “This is not just shipping it out to the private sector, it is the public sector working in a different way.”

The new trading company will work closely the council under so-called Teckal principle which means the local authority controls all the shares and exercise effective day-to-day control.

Among the services to be affected will be leisure centres, museums and Caldicot Castle and the large public footpath network.

Deputy leader of the council Cllr Bob Greenland (Con, Wolvesnewton), said: “If any further cuts were to imposed we would be looking at a reduction in services and, undoubtedly, a reduction in jobs.

“We want to ensure these services have the best opportunity to improve and give even better service.

“The most important part of this decision us that the services are the best we can deliver for the people of Monmouthshire – they may be discretionary services but that does not mean they are not very important to the residents of this county.”