I have issued this report to draw the public’s attention to a decision Carmarthenshire County Council (the Council) made to indemnify the Chief executive in respect of the costs of a libel counterclaim that, in my view, it was not authorised under statute to make. There were also inadequacies in the processes adopted by the Council when making this decision. I believe it is important that the public has a full and proper awareness of the events concerning the Council. I also consider it appropriate to give the Council an opportunity to explain the steps it has taken to improve arrangements and to ensure that the risk of such failures recurring is reduced to a minimum.