TORFAEN council re-elected its leader and welcomed its new mayor at an annual general meeting.

Greenmeadow councillor Bob Wellington was re-elected as leader and Trevethin councillor Lewis Jones as deputy leader of the Labour-run council at the meeting held at Pontypool’s Civic Centre.

Cllr Wellington said: “It’s going to be challenging times for local government so I hope we can work well together over the next five years. We have learnt lessons from the previous four years.”

Abersychan ward councillor Wayne Tomlinson was elected as the borough’s new mayor after holding the position of deputy mayor last year.

St Cadocs and Penygarn councillor Neil Mason was elected as deputy mayor.

Cllr Tomlinson has chosen Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice, the Alzheimer’s Society and the Willow Foundation, which provides emotional and physiological support for seriously ill people aged 16 to 40, as the charities which will benefit from his year in office.

He said: “This is truly an accolade that I accept with great humility and with sincere determination to do my utmost for the people of Torfaen.”

Outgoing mayor, Fairwater councillor Philip Seabourne, raised money for Tenovus, British Heart Foundation Cymru and Torfaen and District Multiple Sclerosis Society last year but said some had tried to sabotage his fundraising activities.

He added: “The Mayoress and I have had a great year in office.

“We have had many great experiences that we will never forget.”

The council’s cabinet members will remain the same apart from the addition of councillor Anthony Hunt who takes on the resources portfolio replacing former councillor Marlene Thomas.

Cllr Gwyneira Clark will continue as the cabinet member for housing, planning and public protection, Cllr Richard Clark will remain responsible for corporate governance and community safety, Cllr John Cunningham keeps neighbourhood services, Cllr Mary Barnett holds on to responsibility for children and young people and Cllr Cynthia Beynon still has the equalities, health and wellbeing portfolio.