Council leader survives vote of no-confidence

THE leader of Caerphilly County Council has survived a no-confidence vote, after opposition figures criticised his handling of plans to close 10 libraries.

- NICHOLAS THOMAS

Sean Morgan “ignored the request of the majority of councillors” when his cabinet agreed the closures in May, Plaid Cymru group leader Lindsay Whittle alleged.

Members of a scrutiny committee had earlier recommended the closures be deferred so community groups could explore taking over the at-risk sites.

Some 13 Plaid or independent members also signed Cllr Whittle’s notice of motion, which called on Cllr Morgan to resign, at a meeting held on Tuesday July 1.

But the ensuing debate was frequently derailed by party-political squabbling and heckling.

No sooner had the signatories started to air their grievances than Labour backbenchers launched a seemingly prepared counterattack, singling out councillors to request their views on the council's performance on a wide range of issues from brownfield site redevelopment to the Welsh language.