No confidence motion in Caerphilly Council leader Lindsay Whittle

Plaid Cymru colleagues have rallied round the leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council as he faces a motion of no confidence.

Councillors from the ruling group have criticised the motion by Risca West councillor Dave Rees.

Cllr Rees, who resigned from Labour in the run up to the general election to stand as a candidate for his Islwyn First party, has been battling to save the Ty Darran care home in Risca.

In May councillors decided to close the care home – in the face of fierce local protest – citing a surplus of care spaces and the state of the building.

Cllr Allan Pritchard, the council’s deputy leader, said the Plaid group had given its full and unequivocal backing to Cllr Whittle.

He said: “I have worked closely with Lindsay for the past 15 years. I am astounded to discover that a councillor who was elected just three years ago as a member of the Labour party and has since defected to become an Independent member, has chosen to attack the 40 year unblemished career in politics of councillor Whittle on a whim.

“Lindsay Whittle has led the council for the past two-and-a-half years. During this time the council under his stewardship has delivered high quality services, has surpassed all of the inspection reviews of services and delivered a balanced budget when other authorities are struggling to make ends meet.”

Fellow Plaid councillor John Taylor, added: “I know this will be a shock to councillors across all parties.

“Lindsay is sincere and genuine in his belief in working together to make Caerphilly County Borough a great place to live and work, I can’t understand why Cllr Rees has decided to take this unprecedented action and I hope his efforts are roundly rejected by the whole council.”

Under the council’s constitutional rules Cllr Rees will put his full case for the motion at a full council meeting on Tuesday.