TORFAEN council has formally re-elected its leader following the local government elections earlier this month.

Panteg member councillor Anthony Hunt was confirmed as the leader of the council at its Annual General Meeting yesterday.

Cllr Jessica Powell, of the Pontnewydd ward, becomes the borough mayor following her spell as deputy last year. Her partner Anthony Bird will serve as consort.

Cllr Hunt’s acceptance speech took on a sombre tone after Monday’s atrocities in Manchester, before he thanked his fellow councillors for standing as elected officials.

“In the shadow of such unmitigated evil last night in Manchester, today is not a day for triumphalism,” said Cllr Hunt.

“If members agree, I will make my first task as leader to send a message of solidarity and sympathy alongside our mayor, to the people of Manchester via their mayor, Andy Burnham and their council leader.”

“First of all, thank you to all of you for standing up to be counted and serving as local councillors.

“Perhaps, given recent events, it’s a good time to remind ourselves that there is more that unites us than divides us.”

Cabinet members and the committee chairs were also announced at the meeting, which included representation from the three parties comprising the council.

Cllrs Richard Clark, David Daniels and David Yeowell have retained their positions on the cabinet, while Veronica Crick, Fiona Cross, Alan Jones and Mandy Owen have been added.

Committees will be chaired by cllr Gwyn Jenkins, Elizabeth Haynes, Peter Jones, Collette Thomas, Stuart Ashley, Norma Parrish, Neil Waite, Glyn Caron and Ray Mills.

“I hope you’ll see with my appointments that I’ve tried to be fair rather than tribal in who I’ve put forward for positions,” added cllr Hunt.

The new mayor’s charities were also confirmed as Torfaen Mind, Torfaen Women’s Aid and Lincoln’s Legs.