CARMARTHENSHIRE County Council chief executive Mark James will not receive a “golden goodbye”, should his request to stand down from the local authority’s top job be approved, the Guardian can exclusively reveal.

Mr James – who earns around £170,000 per year – has submitted a request for a severance package from the local authority after 13 years at the helm, with a decision on whether to grant him permission to walk away expected within weeks.

In a similar move, the controversial chief executive of neighbouring Pembrokeshire County Council received a six-figure pay-out when he quit at the end of last year.

However, The Guardian has learned that the ruling Labour group – the dominant force in County Hall – will veto any attempt to present Mr James with a financial pay-off, should his request to stand down on April 1 be given the green light as expected.

Last year, council leader and head of the Labour group in Carmarthenshire, Councillor Kevin Madge, stated that any decision on a pay-off deal would require the approval of full council.

With Labour ruling out a farewell package, it would be all but inconceivable for Plaid Cymru councillors to support any deal for a man with whom they have been at loggerheads throughout most of the recent past.

Tycroes’ Cllr Calum Higgins told the Guardian the Labour group were “united in their opposition” to any deal.

Cllr Higgins said authority officials were considering various options following Mr James request to part company with the authority.

According to reports, one of the options discussed would see Mr James receive a farewell package worth around £446,000, but such a deal would need the support of councillors.

“The Labour Group of Carmarthenshire Councillors have looked at all the options and have come to the conclusion that any package like the one in Pembrokeshire would not be in the interest of the taxpayer,” Cllr Higgins said.

“Our priorities are the public finances and that we treat all staff in the same way," said Cllr Higgins.

"Put simply, there are many employees who are turned down for severance packages and it wouldn’t be fair to them or the ratepayers.”

“We could look at a senior management reorganisation, and possible redundancy like any other group of employees,” said Cllr Higgins.

“This would be done on a business case, but I don’t think the figures stack up.

“Basically, the amount to pay out in redundancy payments could possibly be more than the savings made. This isn’t in the interests of the taxpayer which is our primary concern.”

“I believe we should treat the Chief Executive like any other employee.

“This means he has the right to apply for the severance scheme like any other employee, but it doesn’t mean we go out of our way to accommodate a leaving package which isn’t available to others.”

Cllr Higgins said Mr James' request for severance was unlike the requests for voluntary redundancy being sought by other members of the authority's workforce.

"This is not a simple case of redundancy," he said.

"Redundancy requires the removal of the post, but by law we have to have a paid head of services."

Prior to the Christmas break, Cllr Madge indicated a formal decision on the future of Mr James was expected early in the New Year.