Plaid pledges strong opposition (From Tivyside Advertiser)

Plaid pledges strong opposition

2:24pm Monday 12th May 2008

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Plaid Cymru Councillors have promised to form a strong and effective opposition group on Ceredigion County Council which will put the interest of local residents first.

The pledge came after the Independent-LibDem-Labour Coalition Group's leader, Cllr Keith Evans, narrowly beat Cllr Ellen ap Gwynn, the leader of the Plaid Cymru Councillor Group, in a vote to appoint the Council's new leader.

During the first meeting of the newly elected Ceredigion County Council, Plaid Cymru's Cllr Ellen ap Gwynn warned that the Council is likely have an unsustainable administration. This was confirmed by Cllr Keith Evans' last-ditch, off the cuff offer of two seats to Plaid Cymru Councillors on his new Cabinet.

A formal invitation to discuss joint working still has not been received by the Plaid Cymru Group.

Speaking after the Council meeting, the Cllr Ellen ap Gwynn said: "It's a complete insult to the electorate in Ceredigion that Plaid Cymru has only been offered 25 per cent of Cabinet seats by Cllr Keith Evans, and that in such an informal, slap-dash manner, when in reality our Councillors make up 45 per cent of the new Council. It is equally an insult that the leader of the 'Independent Group' - which ranked third in the popular vote in Ceredigion as whole - is adamant that he will lead the Council.

"Plaid Cymru had wished to see a multi-party Cabinet under the leadership of the largest party group on the Council. We were keen to achieve this aim four years ago and we were excluded. We were again hopeful that we could all work together for the interest of Ceredigion this year. However, following a meeting with Councillors Keith Evans and Ray Quant when this proposal was put to them, the Plaid Cymru Group still has not received a formal reply from the Independents as to their intentions. It now transpires that they were willing to discuss further with the Lib Dems and with Labour but not with the Plaid Cymru group".

"We also recently gave active consideration to a proposal from Cllr Hag Harris to become a neutral leader of a multi-party Cabient. However, this possibility was immediately dismissed by the other party leaders, Cllr Keith Evans and Cllr Ceredig Davies.

"The Plaid Cymru Group will now persevere to ensure that the views of Ceredigion voters are heard and promise to continue with our campaign to stop the provision of frozen foods to the Social Services department's meals on wheels recipients. We will also propose motions to Council pressing for urgent action to provide affordable homes for our young families, for a stronger environmental agenda which would include extending recycling facilities further, for better provision for our young people, for a much needed improvement in the planning process and an improved transport structure".

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