The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Bridgend Council was held yesterday afternoon – which you can watch here. It’s the meeting at which the main positions within the council and its committees are confirmed.
Mayor & Deputy Mayor
The Mayor is the full-time ceremonial figurehead of Bridgend Council and also chairs meetings of the whole council.
As is tradition, last year’s Deputy Mayor – Cllr. Martyn Jones (Lab, Garw Valley) – was elected Mayor this year.
The recently-elected Cllr. William Kendall (Lab, Brackla East Central) was nominated for Deputy Mayor along with Cllr. Tim Thomas (Ind, St. Bride’s Minor & Ynysawdre). Cllr. Kendall was approved by 27 votes to 22.
Huw David returned as Council Leader; appoints a new Cabinet
As expected, Cllr. Huw David (Lab, Pyle, Kenfig Hill & Cefn Cribwr) was nominated by Labour as leader of the council again. The opposition nominated Cllr. Ross Penhale-Thomas (Ind, Maesteg West).
Cllr. David was returned as Council Leader by 29 votes to 21. He said he would continue to “dedicate his time to the county and towards serving all communities”. He immediately nominated his new Cabinet.
- As reported yesterday, Cllr. Jane Gebbie (Lab, Pyle, Kenfig Hill & Cefn Cribwr) becomes Deputy Leader and also retains her Social Services portfolio.
- The previous Deputy Leader, Cllr. Hywel Williams (Lab, Blackmill), was appointed Cabinet Member for Finance & Administration.
- After several years out of the executive, Cllr. John Spanswick (Lab, Brackla West Central) returns as Cabinet Member for Communities, so he will be responsible for highways, waste & recycling etc.
- Cllr. Jon-Paul Blundell (Lab, Cefn Glas) was appointed to the new post of Cabinet Member for Education, which includes responsibility for the school modernisation programme.
- The recently-elected Cllr. Neelo Farr (Lab, Porthcawl East Central) becomes the newly-created position of Cabinet Member for Regeneration.
- Another recently-elected councillor, Cllr. Rhys Goode (Lab, Nantymoel), is appointed Cabinet Member for Future Generations & Wellbeing, which includes responsibility for housing and homelessness.
Although Neelo Farr has a previous stint as a councillor, it’s normal for councillors to build up a few years of experience before even being considered for the Cabinet.
Appointing two relatively novice councillors to high positions demonstrates the limited numbers there were to choose from despite Labour’s victory in the local election.
