Important roles for the year ahead decided during Council AGM

A series of key elections and appointments for the 2025-2026 municipal year have been made during the Council’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The AGM took place at the Council Chamber in Pontypridd on Wednesday, May 21 – including election of the Presiding and Deputy Presiding officers, appointments of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, and election of the Council Leader, Deputy Leader, and Leader of the Opposition. Several appointments were also made to various Council committees for the municipal year ahead.

Decisions relating to some key Council functions are listed below, while a full list of the appointments made in Wednesday’s meeting can be viewed online.

Cabinet and Leader of the Opposition

Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE was re-elected as the Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, along with Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Maureen Webber BEM. The Council Leader announced his appointment of eight Cabinet Members and confirmed the roles and portfolios. They are:

• Leader of the Council & Cabinet Member for Infrastructure & Investment, Cllr Andrew Morgan OBE.

• Deputy Leader & Cabinet Member for Council Business and Corporate Estates, Cllr Maureen Webber BEM.

• Cabinet Member for Development and Prosperity, Cllr Mark Norris.

• Cabinet Member for Education, Inclusion and the Welsh Language, Cllr Rhys Lewis.

• Cabinet Member for Health & Social Care, Cllr Gareth Caple.

• Cabinet Member for Public Health & Communities, Cllr Bob Harris.

• Cabinet Member for Environment & Leisure, Cllr Ann Crimmings.

• Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, Youth Participation & Climate Change, Cllr Tina Leyshon.

Cllr Karen Morgan has also been re-elected as the Leader of the Opposition, from the Council’s second largest political group, Plaid Cymru.

Other appointments to key roles

During the Annual General Meeting, several other key appointments were made by Elected Members to democratic and civic roles. These include:

• Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Presiding officer, Cllr Ros Davis.

• Deputy Presiding officers, Cllr Jayne Smith and Cllr Barry Stephens.

• The Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Cllr Sheryl Evans.

• Deputy Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Cllr Emma Watts.

Appointments to Committee roles

Full Council has also elected Members to important roles relating to the Council’s democratic Committees. These appointments include:

• Planning and Development Committee – Cllr Sharon Rees will be the Chair, with Cllr Wendy Lewis the committee’s Vice Chair.

• Licencing Committee – Cllr Adam Fox will be the Chair, with Cllr Graham Stacey the committee’s Vice Chair.

• Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Cllr Julie Edwards will be the Chair, with Cllr Jill Bonetto the committee’s Vice Chair.

• Education and Inclusion Scrutiny Committee – Cllr Sera Evans will be the Chair, with Cllr Scott Emanuel the committee’s Vice Chair.

• Community Services Scrutiny Committee – Cllr Loretta Tomkinson will be the Chair, with Cllr Tina Williams the committee’s Vice Chair.

• Climate Change, Prosperity and Frontline Services Scrutiny Committee – Cllr Craig Middle will be the Chair, with Cllr Wyn Hughes the committee’s Vice Chair.

• Democratic Services Scrutiny Committee – Cllr Will Jones will be the Chair, with Cllr Maureen Webber BEM the committee’s Vice Chair.

Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE, newly re-elected Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, said: “I’d like to thank Members for re-electing me as the Council Leader and, following the AGM, I congratulate Cabinet Members, the Leader of the Opposition, the Presiding and Deputy Presiding officers, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, and Members appointed to Committee roles. I have every confidence that they will continue to serve the Council with dedication and commitment, in the interests of the residents that we serve.

“There are so many good things going on within this Council. We run around 650 services – lots of them go on day-in day-out, almost unnoticed because they are simply working, thanks to our staff doing a fantastic job. We should never take for granted this work on the ground, that makes a real difference.

“Reflecting on the Council more widely, I think we’re in a good overall position. In the past 12 months we’ve had positive reports from our Estyn and social services inspections, along with Wales Audit Office audits for sustainability and financial performance and management. Plus, our capital programme has increased five-fold since the position 10 years ago, and is likely to exceed £200 million this year alone. In terms of council tax, we are without doubt the Council in Wales that’s set the average lowest rises in recent years. We are now the third lowest average in Wales for council tax paid per dwelling.

“While we do have to make very difficult decisions in continuing, financially-difficult times, we do so in order to safeguard key areas like social services and education, to which around 70% of our budget is spent. We always do our best and try to make the right decisions in long-term interest of the Council and our residents – and we will continue to do this now and into the future."