Powys County Council leader replaced in no confidence vote

Councillor David Jones was forced to stand down during an extraordinary meeting in Llandrindod Wells yesterday.

He has been replaced by former council chairman Barry Thomas, from Welshpool.

The decision came after claims that Councillor Jones made decisions that his party hadn't agreed to and fired members of his cabinet by e-mail.

The council, which is facing budget cuts of £40 million over three years and faces the loss of 300 staff, has a history of being controlled by independents, but Mr Jones wanted to bring in a coalition. Last November he axed three councillors who opposed the move and formed a new cabinet with another independent group before yesterday's challenge.

The no confidence motion was proposed by Councillor Graham Brown, from Llandrinio on the Shropshire border.

Councillor Brown said: "He had gone against the wishes of his own group. Three times we decided not to go into coalition and he decided that we were going to.

"I'm hoping that from now on we will have a far more open and transparent leadership where we can move forward together."

Before yesterday's vote, Mr Jones, from Guilsfield, near Welshpool, said he had received a lot of support from members when he became leader.

He also admitted that in hindsight he could have taken steps to strengthen the cabinet last year.

But members were unimpressed, passing the motion of no confidence in his leadership by 40 votes to 32.

Llanfyllin councillor Darren Mayor said: "All the things that we value most have been destroyed because of the actions of one man. I can't find any of the qualities of a leader in that man."

And Machynlleth councillor Michael Williams said: "Leadership means leadership, it doesn't mean power. It means you take people with you.

"You don't dictate – we've seen what happens to dictators. Let us have full democracy. It's not about crushing democracy and slicing it in half."

New leader Councillor Barry Thomas is a member of the six—strong Non-political group. He has dissolved the 10-strong cabinet and will appoint his new team on Wednesday.

Councillor Thomas said: "I will work hard in this office. I know there's a lot of work to do but I will try to get the confidence of the members who did not vote for me."