Labour hang on to power in Torfaen (From South Wales Argus)

Labour hang on to power in Torfaen

6:59pm Friday 23rd May 2008 in News By Darren Evans

LABOUR retained control of Torfaen council at its annual general meeting last night thanks to the support of Plaid Cymru and two independent councillors.

Councillor Bob Wellington was returned as leader for another year, despite his party's poor performance in the local elections.

Labour's 18 councillors alone were not enough to retain control of the council.

A coalition of independent, Conservative, People's Voice and Liberal Democrat councillors, led by Blaenavon councillor Stuart Evans, had hoped to take control.

But the three Plaid Cymru councillors, Jeff Rees (Fairwater), Maria Graham (Llantarnam) and Fiona Cross (Coed Eva) chose not to join the coalition and instead backed Labour.

They were joined by newly-elected independents Peter Cathcart (Pontnewydd) and Alastair Cunnington (Two Locks and Henllys), who is a former Labour party member.

All five councillors were rewarded with chairmanships of scrutiny committees, which each carry an extra paycheck of at least £18,000 a year.

Councillor Wellington said the "arrangements" would give "stability to local government in Torfaen."

Opposition leader Stuart Evans said the people of Torfaen would be "disappointed" after overwhelmingly voting against Labour in the elections.

Councillor Aneurin James was elected mayor, and councillor Robert Jones was elected deputy mayor.