Councillor David Bithell appointed as deputy leader of Wrexham Council

A new deputy leader of Wrexham Council has been appointed.

Cllr David A Bithell, leader of the Wrexham Independent Group and lead member for environment and transport, was elected to the role by a majority of councillors at last night’s full council meeting.

The council’s ruling administration is a coalition made up of the Independent Group, Conservative Group and the Wrexham Independent Group and has been for the past five years (you can view our ‘Independents To Work With Independents While Staying Independent’ story here).

Over the past two and a half years Conservative councillor Hugh Jones has served in the role as deputy leader, having been re-appointed during May’s AGM.

However at yesterday’s meeting he announced that he would be standing down as deputy leader with immediate effect as part of an agreement to split the role with the leader of the Wrexham Independent Group.

This will mean that Cllr Bithell will fulfil the role as deputy leader for the next two and a half years until the next local government election.

Cllr Jones will remain on the executive board and as lead member for people – communities, partnerships, public protection and community safety.

Speaking at yesterday’s meeting Cllr Jones said: “At the start of the administration the Wrexham Independent Group and the Conservative Group held discussions and it was agreed that the role of deputy leader would be shared equally between the leader of the Wrexham Independent Group and the leader of the Conservative Group.

“It has been a privilege over the last two years of serving in that role and in accordance with the agreement at that time I am happy to nominate Clld David Bithell for the role of deputy leader and vice-chair of the executive board.

“It has been a privilege to serve as deputy leader of this council and I am very proud of the work we have tried to achieve in the last two and a half years.

“I would like to thank the leader of the council who has supported me and who has included me in all meetings and decision making over the last two years and also to officers who have supported me in that role.”

Council leader Mark Pritchard paid tribute to the work of Cllr Jones, stating that he is a “credit to this council”.

He added: “Cllr Hugh Jones is dedicated, professional in his mannerism and the way he presents himself.

“He has been a credit to this council. I have worked with many a councillor for a long time and I must say the commitment that comes from Cllr Jones is fantastic.

“I will be careful with how I word it. He is a little older than me but the energy he shows and the commitment, he has not stopped. I sometimes wonder where he gets the energy from.

“One time I spoke to him and said he should slow it down a little, but he didn’t listen and carried on regardless.

“He has been a committed politician, he does things fairly. We haven’t always agreed but I wouldn’t expect that to happen. but he has always made the right decision for Wrexham.

However the leader of the Labour Group, Cllr Dana Davies, said that they will be abstaining from the vote – but encouraged Cllr Bithell to work with opposition councillors going forward.

Cllr Davies said: “With every vote there are opportunities and the labour group would like to extend an invitation to the new deputy leader.

“Speaking with councillors past and present, Cllr Bithell is not known for working with opposition groups and I’m sure he will freely admit that himself.

“But times have changed, this council is changing and we now have a one council approach. For this to succeed, the council leadership must fully embrace this new way of working.

“That said we have an improved working relationship with the leader of the council. Every AGM the positions of leader and deputy leader come before this council.

“We would therefore respectively like to extend an invitation to the new deputy leader with consult and work with labour in delivering better outcomes for the people of Wrexham.

“There is an opportunity here for the new deputy leader to earn our vote at future AGMs. It is a genuine invitation.”

There was no response from Cllr Bithell to the comments or regarding his nomination for the role.

A majority of councillors voted in favour of electing Cllr Bithell as deputy leader of Wrexham Council and vice-chair of the executive board.

Cllr Bithell’s appointment means the two top roles at Wrexham Council are taken by two independent councillors from two separate independent groupings.