TORFAEN council leader Anthony Hunt has paid tribute to the borough’s community spirit as he was re-elected to lead the local authority.
There was no danger to the Panteg councillor’s position as leader as Labour controls the council with a large majority but the council’s four-strong Reform UK group had intended to abstain.
Its leader, Llantarnam member David Thomas, complained to the presiding member Cllr Rose Seabourne, who chairs the council meetings, as she hadn’t specifically asked if members wished to vote against or abstain on the appointments, only asking if members supported them.
Cllr Thomas told her: “I don’t think we need the nonsense of a recorded vote but I think you should ask who is against and abstaining.”
The Cwmbran Fairwater councillor apologised and said: “I will try to remember in the future.”
Following the meeting, Cllr Thomas said the Reform UK group had intended to abstain on the votes.
After being confirmed as the council leader, having first been appointed in December 2016, Cllr Hunt thanked councillors for their support and “hard work” and paid tribute to council staff and community volunteers.
Cllr Hunt said: “I’d like to thank the public who work with us and volunteers. It is an important part of our strategy, to work with communities rather than do things to communities.”
He also said celebrations held last week for the 80th anniversary of VE Day, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe, had been made “so much better by the involvement of the community across the generations from the youngest to the oldest.”
Cllr Hunt also said he wants the council to “innovate” in response to pressures on it and said: “Over the next 12 months we do not want to be stranded waiting for rescue but be innovative and I look forward to working with all members over the next 12 months”
Croesyceiliog member Richard Clark was also re-elected as deputy leader while the other six cabinet members were also reconfirmed in their positions.
Pontypool Labour member Gaynor James was appointed member champion for the Gypsy, Traveller and Roma community, which had been vacant following the resignation last year of Cllr Sue Malsom, and Labour member for Fairwater Jayne Watkins as the violence against women and girl’s champion the council agreed to create in March.