Posted on: Tuesday 13 May 2025
At the Annual General Meeting of Torfaen Council today, key political appointments to the council's cabinet, committees and outside bodies were confirmed for the year ahead.
The first act of the AGM was to appoint a new Presiding Member and Deputy Presiding Member to chair council meetings for the municipal year 2024/5.
Cllr Rose Seabourne was re-elected as the council’s Presiding Member and Cllr David Williams was elected as Deputy Presiding Member.
Following nominations for the position of Leader of the Council, Cllr Anthony Hunt received a majority vote and was duly re-elected. The Leader will also have responsibility for strategic finance and financial services.
Cllr Richard Clark was re-elected as Deputy Leader of the Council and will also hold the portfolio for Children, Families and Education.
The full list of cabinet appointments are:
- Executive Member for Adult Services and Housing - Cllr David Daniels
- Executive Member for Children, Families and Education – Cllr Richard Clark
- Executive Member for Communities – Cllr Fiona Cross
- Executive Member for Corporate Governance and Resources – Cllr Peter Jones
- Executive Member for Environment – Cllr Mandy Owen
- Executive Member for Economy, Skills and Regeneration - Cllr Joanne Gauden
- Executive Member, Waste and Sustainability – Cllr Sue Morgan
The following chairs were appointed to the Overview and Scrutiny Committees:
- Economy and Environment O&S Committee – Cllr Linda Clarkson
- Education O&S Committee – Cllr Rose Seabourne
- Adults and Communities O&S Committee – Cllr Catherine Bonera
- Children and Families O&S Committee – Cllr Alan Slade
- Cross Cutting Resources and Business O&S Committee – Cllr David Williams
Members were also appointed to chair the following statutory committees:
- Planning Committee – Cllr Norma Parrish
- Statutory and General Licensing Committees – Cllr Steve Evans
- Pensions Committee – Cllr Nathan Yeowell
- Democratic Services Committee – Cllr Steve Evans
In accepting his appointment as Leader of Torfaen Council, Cllr Anthony Hunt said: "I'd like to say thank you to Members for your support but, more importantly, for your hard work and collective leadership in your wards and in the council.
"I am very much of the view leadership is a verb not a noun, it's a state of mind and not a position and so all of you play a part in leading the council and communities in the challenges we face ahead.
"I would like to say a second thank you to the public for their work with us, especially to everyone who volunteers in our communities. It's an important part of our strategy as a council that we work with our communities, rather than doing things to communities, and so the dedication of people who work in our communities on a voluntary basis thank you for the difference you make alongside our staff."
The 90 seats on various committees and sub committees are allocated based on political balance. The majority Labour Group is allocated 61 seats, with 11 allocated for the Independent group, 10 for the Reform group and eight seats allocated to the Torfaen Independent group.
The following Executive Members have been appointed Members champions:
- Cllr David Daniels - Age Friendly Champion
- Cllr Peter Jones - Equalities and Diversity Champion
- Cllr Anthony Hunt - Anti-poverty Champion
- Cllr Richard Clark - Young People's Champion
The following Members champions were also appointed:
- Members Training & Development Champion – Cllr Steve Evans
- Armed Forces Champion – Cllr Gaynor James
- Carers Champion – Cllr David Daniels
- Sustainability Champion – Cllr Stuart Ashley
- World Heritage Champion – Cllr Janet Jones
- Motor Neuron Disease (MND) – Cllr Giles Davies
- Dementia Champion – Cllr Mandy Owen
- Gypsy Traveller Community Champion – Cllr Gaynor James
- Mental Health Champion – Cllr Nick Byrne
- Violence against women and girls - Cllr Jayne Watkins
The council also made nominations to outside bodies including Aneurin Bevan University Health Board; Bron Afon Community Housing, Brecon Canal Trust, the Brecon Beacons National Park.