Reform UK councillor becomes council leader

Reform UK's Cllr Geoff Morgan has been confirmed in the role of Powys County Council chairman for the next year, but his nomination was not without controversy.

Usually, the elevation of a councillor from the role of assistant chairman to chairman is a formality.

The process is more of an acclamation and is confirmed with a raise of hands – as was the case last year when Cllr William (Bill) Powell (Liberal Democrat – Talgarth) assumed the role

At Powys council’s annual meeting on Thursday, May 14,  40 per cent of councillors present at the meeting did not support Cllr Morgan’s move into the hot seat.

Cabinet member for Adult Social Care, Cllr Peter Roberts (Liberal Democrat – Llandrindod South) asked: “On a point of clarity, can I confirm that this will be a paper vote rather than a show of hands?”

Head of legal services and monitoring officer, Clive Pinney explained that electronic votes had taken over from paper.

“If you want a vote we can have an electronic vote,” said Mr Pinney.

This was agreed and council staff then went about organising the vote.

A few minutes later the results was announced by Mr Pinney, and 37 councillors supported the nomination, 18 voted against it and seven abstained.

Following the vote Cllr Morgan (Ithon Valley) said: “Thank you everyone – and it’s been an honour to be on the team with Bill (William Powell).

“I think back 27 years ago I was coming home night after night and outside my house parked a black battered mini with red door and bonnet.

“The owner of that car was a bright-eyed young lady, Kirsty Williams.

“My father was there, recently retired and took her around canvassing every farm in north Radnorshire – and on many occasions Bill Powell was there offering his support.”

Cllr Morgan then spoke of last week’s Senedd election and said while travelling through Llanidloes he had seen the Liberal Democrat lead candidate in the Gwynedd Maldwyn constituency, Cllr Glyn Preston with his colleague Cllr Fleur Frantz-Morgans delivering leaflets.

Cllr Morgan continued “100 yards away, true to form, Bill Powell was there still helping.

“That man has spent a lifetime helping not only his party but everyone in Powys, and I’d like to thank him from everyone in this room not only for what he’s done in the last year as chair but for a lifetime of politics in Powys.

“It’s been a privilege being your number two.”

He then went straight on with the election of the council’s vice-chairman.

Cllr Danny Bebb (Liberal Democrat – Churchstoke) was approved unanimously by a show of hands to move up from the role of assistant vice-chairman to vice-chairman.

Then nominations for the role of assistant vice chairman were asked for,

This saw three nominations, with Cllrs Peter James (Powys Independent – Llanwrtyd) Fleur Frantz-Morgans (Liberal Democrat – Llanidloes) and Huw Williams (Labour – Ystradgynlais and Abercraf) all put forward for the role.

A first round of voting saw Cllr James received 26 votes, Cllr Frantz-Morgans  20 votes and Cllr Williams 15 votes.

This knocked Cllr Williams out of the contest and led to a vote run-off between Cllrs James and Frantz-Morgans.

This saw Cllr James receive 39 votes and Cllr Frantz-Morgans 21 votes.

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporting Service