Plaid take control of Caerphilly

5:39pm Saturday 17th May 2008

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PLAID Cymru took control of Caerphilly council at its annual general meeting - with the help of former Welsh Secretary Ron Davies.

Mr Davies and former Labour councillor Colin Hobbs, who were both elected as Independents for Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen, allied themselves with the Plaid grouping and were given cabinet posts alongside six Plaid councillors.

Former Welsh secretary Cllr Davies becomes cabinet member for regeneration and countryside and Cllr Hobbs is cabinet member for performance management.

The idea of a Plaid-Independent group coalition to run the council fell apart before the meeting.

Independent Blackwood councillor Kevin Etheridge said talks between the group and Plaid Cymru had broken down and he turned down a cabinet post as he felt there were other Independent councillors suited to the role who ere not being offered the positions.

He said: "I'm not prepared to take 30 pieces of silver. They wanted to cherry pick a number of Independents for the cabinet positions."

At the meeting, each party paid tribute to former Risca West councillor Keith Griffiths, who died earlier this month, and a minutes silence was held in his memory.

A by election is due to be held for the seat in the coming weeks.

The make up of the council stands at 32 seats for Plaid, 31 for Labour following the death of Cllr Griffiths and eight for Independents.

Penyrheol Plaid Cymru Cllr Ann Collins was elected Mayor and her Deputy Mayor is Cllr John Evans.

In a closely-run recorded vote, Plaid leader Lindsay Whittle beat off Cllr Harry Andrews in the race for leader, winning by 35 votes to 31, with five abstentions and one member was absent.

Cllr Whittle previously lead the council between 1999-2004.

In his leader's statement, Cllr Whittle pledged to tackle issues including graffiti and the environment, encouraging renewable energy production products from local companies.

He also spoke out against the large scale transfer of housing stock.

Cllr Whittle said: "However, as a corporate body we must all ensure that regardless of political difference we will work together for the good of all."

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THE other cabinet posts went to: Deputy Leader / Human Resources and Constitutional Affairs, Councillor Allan Pritchard; Deputy Leader / Policy and Resources, Councillor Colin Mann; Education and Leisure, Councillor Phil Bevan; Environment and Housing Services, Councillor Miss. Lyn Ackerman; Transportation and Planning, Councillor Rob Gough; Social Services, Councillor Mrs. Judith Pritchard.