The role of the Mayor
The roles of mayor and deputy mayor were removed from the council in May 2018 as part of the 2018/19 budget.
As a result, the council has amended its constitution and approved the creation of a Presiding Member and Deputy Presiding Member to chair council meetings.
From May 2018, the roles and functions normally undertaken by a mayor will be undertaken by the leader of the council and cabinet members.
If you would like the Leader of the Council or an Executive Member to attend an event / function then please put your request in writing six weeks before the date of your event.
Written confirmation will be provided to you if they are able to attend.
Chains of Office
The role of mayor has a special place in the history of the borough and the mayoral chains will remain the property of the council.
The chains were presented to the Mayor and Mayoress of Torfaen, Councillor and Mrs D B Richards, by Mr G R Packer, Managing Director of Girling Limited.
Councillor Richards was an employee of Girling Limited with over thirty-two years service. Since 1948 he was Branch Secretary of the A.E.W.U at Cwmbran, and a Union Convenor between 1946 and his retirement in November 1974.
He received the British Empire Medal in the New Year's Honours List of 1953.
He was elected to the former Cwmbran Urban District Council in 1956-1974. During this time he had the honour of being its Chairman twice until, under Local Government re-organisation, Cwmbran Urban District Council was amalgamated with the former Pontypool and Blaenavon Councils to form the "Borough of Torfaen" in April 1974.
The Mayor's chain is 18ct Hall Marked Gold with thirty four links approximately 5' 0" in length.
The Mayoress' chain is 18ct Hall Marked Gold approximately 3' 6" in length.
The main 'design' concept is based upon the Borough Coat of Arms incorporated into a pendant and chain composed of local Welsh materials, e.g. Panteg Stainless Steel and Gwent Coal.
The pendant is made principally of reconstituted Welsh Coal backed and embellished with 18/8 Stainless Steel. It incorporated the Borough insignia and motto and is detachable from the chain for informal occasions when it can be worn on a ribbon.
The main 'chain' is composed of Stainless Steel links and decorative panels, two of which display the "sun" motive of the old Torfaen Coat of Arms and the monogram 'TCB'. At the back of the chain is a large fastener link and this depicts the Welsh Dragon in red and gold.
The metalwork on both chains was manufactured by the B.S.C Panteg Works apprentices.
The reconstituted coal technique is of special interest and has been developed within B.S.C. It involves the use of a very black coal - not anthracite - which is pulverised and dried. This is then mixed with epoxy or phenolic resins and is cast to the desired shape. It is possible to polish or machine this material, and to add fibre-glass to it for increased strength and rigidity.
The project was designed and supervised by Harold Christie, B.S.C. Design and Presentation Officer, Welsh Division on behalf of Sheffield Division B.S.C.
Coat of Arms
The official Coat of Arms was adopted by Torfaen Borough Council on May 29th 1975.
General Symbolism:
Blue wavy lines represent the Afon Lwyd (Welsh for Grey River) which runs the length of Gwent's Eastern Valley; rising sun depicts new authority and its terrain; black diamonds depict coal; wheat sheaves represent the Borough's agriculture; the crow derives from Cwmbran (Welsh for Valley of the Crow (or black bird)), being the traditional emblem of the town; vases carried by crows depict Pontypool Japanware, one of the area's most famous industries of the past.
Heraldic Description:
The Arms are Quarterly Or and Gules overall a Fess Argent charged with two Barrulets wavy Azure first and fourth Quarter a Lozenge Sable charged with a Garb Or second and third Quarters a Crow wings addorsed proper holding in its dexter claw a Japanned vase Or the Crest on a Wreath Or and Azure issuant from a circlet of Garbs Or and Lozenges Sable rising behind a range of hills proper a Sun in splendour Or.
Past Mayors
- 2017 to 2018 - Councillor J Powell
- 2016 to 2017 - Councillor V Crick JP
- 2015 to 2016 - Councillor G Davies
- 2014 to 2015 - Councillor M Owen
- 2013 to 2014 -Councillor N Mason
- 2012 to 2013 - Councillor W Tomlinson
- 2011 to 2012 - Councillor P Seabourne
- 2010 to 2011 - Councillor T Huish
- 2009 to 2010 - Councillor R Jones
- 2008 to 2009 - Councillor A B James
- 2007 to 2008 - Councillor W King
- 2006 to 2007 - Councillor M Barnett
- 2005 to 2006 - Councillor L L Irwin
- 2004 to 2005 - Councillor Y Warren
- 2003 to 2004 - Councillor D Davies
- 2002 to 2003 - Councillor J Everson
- 2001 to 2002 - Councillor C Thomas
- 2000 to 2001 - Councillor G R Clark
- 1999 to 2000 - Councillor B I Ryan
- 1998 to 1999 - Councillor K Edmunds
- 1997 to 1998 - Councillor S J Brooks JP
- 1996 to 1997 - Councillor S Smith
- 1995 to 1996 - Councillor D Miller
- 1994 to 1995 - Councillor M H Morgan
- 1993 to 1994 - Councillor F H Bacon
- 1992 to 1993 - Councillor T Davies
- 1991 to 1992 - Councillor D J Rex
- 1990 to 1991 - Councillor S Richards
- 1989 to 1990 - Councillor B J Cunningham
- 1988 to 1989 - Councillor W M Howell
- 1986 to 1988 - Councillor D J Lloyd
- 1986 - Councillor C G Thomas
- 1985 to 1986 - Councillor H J Rosser
- 1984 to 1985 - Councillor C Little
- 1983 to 1984 - Councillor G I Davies
- 1982 to 1983 - Councillor P Roberts JP
- 1981 to 1982 - Councillor K Morgan
- 1980 to 1981 - Councillor G S Evans JP
- 1979 to 1980 - Councillor A J Davies
- 1978 to 1979 - Councillor S E A James JP
- 1977 to 1978 - Councillor G S R Powell
- 1976 to 1977 - Councillor D W Puddle BEM
- 1975 to 1976 - Councillor M L Lee OBE JP
- 1974 to 1975 - Councillor D B Richards BEM
- 1974 - Councillor G M Day