New chairman for council

CEREDIGION County Councillors met to welcome their  new chairman for the next 12 months.

Outgoing chairman Cllr Hag Harries started the annual council meeting with a minute’s applause at the meeting on May 17 for Cllr James in tribute to his “boisterous and busy” nature.

“On behalf to the council may I say Paul was a friend to us all and I miss him. He was persistent on behalf of his constituents but he was also very good at letting things go, he was never a man to hold a grudge and we will all miss him,” said Cllr Harries.

There is one vacant seat, left by Cllr Paul James who was killed while out cycling last month.

Cllr Harries said he apologised for all he had done wrong in the past year, jokingly pointing out times he had ‘rolled his eyes, used the “time guillotine” or poked fun of’ in the chamber.

Councillor Peter Davies MBE will take up the chairman’s chain for the next municipal year, with Cllr Gareth Davies appointed vice-chairman.

Cllr Davies represents Llanbadarn Fawr ward and was pat of a “successful duet” with Cllr James, who was due to propose him for the role, said Cllr Catherine Hughes.

Cllr Ellen ap Gwynn remains as council leader with her cabinet also remaining unchanged at the moment.

Deputy leader is current incumbent Cllr Ray Quant MBE.

Ceredigion County Council’s political balance has Plaid Cymru with the most members at 19, with the executive groups including 11 independent members and three members of The Independent Voice group.

The non-executive opposition comes from eight Liberal Democrat members.