Leader and Cabinet confirmed at annual meeting of Council

Councillor Huw David has been re-elected as the Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council.

Councillor David, who is also the ward member for Cefn Cribwr, was returned unopposed as the Leader of the local authority at the annual meeting of Council on Wednesday 16 May.

Councillor John McCarthy was selected to act as Mayor of Bridgend County Borough, succeeding Councillor Pam Davies, while Councillor Stuart Baldwin will act as Deputy Mayor.

The Cabinet portfolio positions were also agreed for the year ahead:

• Deputy Leader – Councillor Hywel Williams
• Cabinet Member for Social Services and Early Help – Councillor Phil White
• Cabinet Member for Education and Regeneration – Councillor Charles Smith
• Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Future Generations – Councillor Dhanisha Patel
• Cabinet Member for Communities – Councillor Richard Young

Groups and group leaders were confirmed as follows:

• Labour (26) - Councillor Huw David
• Independence Alliance (11) - Councillor Norah Clarke
• Conservative (8) - Councillor Tom Giffard
• Plaid Cymru (3) - Councillor Malcolm James
• Llynfi Independents (3) - Councillor Ross Penhale-Thomas

Three councillors – Ken Watts, Jeff Tildesley and Julia Williams – opted not to join any groups.

Serving in any capacity as an elected member is not an easy role, and as we all know, the last few years have been among the most difficult if not the most difficult that the council has ever had to face.

But whatever challenges have arisen, we have faced each and every one of them, and we continue to do so with resolve and a united purpose across the Chamber, to support our local communities to the very best of our ability.

Never ending national austerity marches on, and we will continue to work with our superb staff to strive to deliver essential services against a backdrop of ever diminishing resources

Councillor Huw David

“With over £30 million to save over the next four years, many of the decisions that we have to make will be unpopular, but they will be made with a firm focus upon the reality of our changing environment, and on protecting our most essential services and our most vulnerable citizens.”

For more details about the elected members of Bridgend County Borough Council, visit the ‘Democracy and Elections’ pages