CARMARTHENSHIRE County Council’s chief executive has accepted a plea to help Monmouthshire’s struggling education service.

The Guardian understands Mark James has asked for his £500 per day fee plus expenses be paid to the local authority.

But MP Jonathan Edwards is concerned county councillors have not been consulted and asked whether the authority could afford a “part-time” chief executive.

A council spokeswoman said Mr James had been asked to undertake a role as a part of the Monmouthshire Recovery Board.

“It is understood that this will be the new pattern for education intervention/ recovery boards in Wales,” she said. “Chief executives from high-performing LEAs will be asked to assist those which are in difficulty.

“Monthly board meetings have been organised taking account of key diary dates, such as full council when the chief executive would simply not be available to Monmouthshire.”