The new mayor and deputy has been announced for Caerphilly County Borough Council for the forthcoming municipal year.
Councillor Mike Adams, who was the deputy mayor in the previous council year, will take over the responsibility from Councillor John Bevan.
He was nominated for the position by Councillor Colin Gordon, who described his Pontllanfraith ward colleague as someone who was “born to do this job”, at the annual meeting of the council on May 10.
Cllr Gordon said: “He has been a councillor for 14 years, successfully fighting four elections – in the last two topping the poll.
“This just shows the respect and confidence the people of Pontllanfraith have for him.
“It gives me great pleasure to nominate Councillor Michael Adams for mayor for the next 12 months.”
The nomination of Cllr Adams was seconded by Councillor Gez Kirby, also a member of the Pontllanfraith ward.
Cllr Adams has picked a Blackwood-based charity for his chosen cause during his term of office.
He said: “My chosen charity for this year is Matthew Walklin’s Make a Smile Foundation.
“This was Matthew’s own creation before his journey sadly ended just before his 28th birthday in 2012.”
The charity aims to improve the support available to cancer patients by provision of additional facilities, services and equipment to improve their comfort and welfare while undergoing treatment.
Councillor Julian Simmonds, the new deputy mayor, was nominated by Abercarn ward member Councillor Denver Preece and seconded by Argoed’s Councillor Walter Williams.
Cllr Simmonds said: “I am really quite humbled actually to take this position.
“I’ve been very grateful for all the support I’ve had since being elected here two-and-a-half years ago into this chamber.
“I’ll do my best for you as the deputy mayor and an ambassador for this county.”
Councillor David Poole will remain as the leader of the council and councillors Barbara Jones and Sean Morgan were confirmed as the deputy leaders and will retain their respective cabinet portfolios.
Cabinet members councillors Carl Cuss, Nigel George, Colin Gordon, Philippa Marsden, Lisa Phipps and Eluned Stenner all kept their areas of responsibility.
A total waste of money if you ask me, when so many other councils have chosen tp remove this role. We have so many departments and roles within the council that need to be removed because they are a waste of public money. Time for a change Caerphilly council.
Yes unnecessary departments in local councils that are receiving huge sums of EU funding that could be more effectively spent elsewhere…….hence the reason why Wales voted to leave the EU as Joe Soap in the street has seen no benefit from EU money that is being syphoned off by local councils.
If you checked the legislation there are a large number of departments in all councils – that they have absolutely no legal duty oroobligation to provide ( the councils keep them because they are “nice to have” or are favoured by Councillors ).
So why are these departments not axed so that the funding can be used in the departments that the councils do have a legal duty and obligation to provide ?
The problem is our councillors wheeled too much power over council departments and they will push through budgets even though its not affordable to do so.