Penmaen councillor Allan Pritchard has been elected as the new leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council.
Cllr Pritchard, who was formerly the deputy leader of the council, was elected at a special council meeting in Penallta House on Tuesday May 24.
He takes over the reigns from Cllr Lindsay Whittle following his success at the Assembly elections earlier this month.
The ruling Plaid Cymru group of councillors agreed to put Cllr Pritchard’s name forward at a meeting on Monday evening
Cllr Pritchard said: “Caerphilly County Borough Council is one of the top local authorities in Wales and I want to ensure that we can build on our past successes and rise to the challenges that are facing the public sector during these difficult times.
“My leadership style will take a leaf from the WRU coaching manual which cites key areas such as possession, going forward, support, continuity and ultimately – results.”
First elected as a councillor for Islwyn in 1979, he left his role as councillor due to work commitments in 1991. Following the formation of Caerphilly County Borough Council, he decided to stand again in 1999 and successfully won his old seat in Penmaen.
He added: “I am proud of this area, its people and it’s heritage so I want to ensure that the council serves the local community as best we can. We will target our resources effectively to deliver quality frontline services that will benefit residents across the county borough.
“We have built an excellent track record over recent years thanks to Lindsay’s leadership and I aim to continue this trend by working closely with senior manager and my fellow councillors to deliver results.”
“Finally I’d like to wish Lindsay the best of luck in his new role and I know he will be a credit to the people of Wales as an Assembly Member.”
Cllr Pritchard is a family man with his wife Pauline and their two daughters and three grandchildren.
He enjoys relaxing at his local rugby club in Oakdale and was a well known player in his own right in the South Wales Valleys as a former captain of Tredegar, Blackwood, Oakdale and Monmouthshire county (Gwent).