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Councillor Dawn Ingram-Jones has been named the new – and last – mayor of Caerphilly County Borough.
The local authority voted on Thursday May 8 to scrap the mayoral role, from 2026 onwards, following wider cost-cutting changes at the top of the organisation.
The mayor serves as the council’s ceremonial head and represents it at various functions, as well as welcoming dignitaries to the borough and carrying out charitable roles.
Several other Welsh local authorities have also scrapped their mayoral posts, including neighbouring Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen, which took the decision in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
The move in Caerphilly has proved contentious, with Plaid Cymru group leader Cllr Lindsay Whittle telling colleagues residents “welcome” visits and engagements with the mayor, despite the office’s largely ceremonial importance.
“Who will welcome the VIPs now?” he asked, adding councillors “should be proud to represent Caerphilly County Borough Council at any level”.
He claimed scrapping the mayor could be “the thin end of a wedge” leading to a less visible council, perhaps without any face-to-face interaction between elected representatives in future.
But this was dismissed by Cllr Nigel George, the cabinet member for corporate services, who said Cllr Whittle was “overegging it a bit” with his warnings.
Councillors went on to vote 42-19 (with five abstentions) in favour of scrapping the mayor’s office after the 2025/26 financial year.
It means Labour councillor Ingram-Jones, who represents the Aberbargoed and Bargoed ward, will serve as the local authority’s final mayor – and no deputy mayor has been selected for this year.
After being presented with the mayoral chains, Cllr Ingram-Jones said it was “truly a privilege to take on this role” in a county borough “filled with rich history, strong values and remarkable people”.
Cllr Ingram-Jones, who served as deputy mayor last year, added she was “honoured and humbled” to be named the new mayor, and “eager to get started” in the role.
Cllr Julian Simmonds, who served as mayor for 2024/25, said the work had given him “a unique insight into aspects of community life” and brought him “so many memorable experiences”.
He thanked councillors for backing his chosen charity, Dreams and Wishes, and also thanked his family and friends for their support.
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