Gresford hunts new councillor and Council Executive Board set for shake up after Atkinson resigns

Gresford is set for a new councillor after Andrew Atkinson’s resignation has taken effect.

Wrexham Council will also be set for two new Executive Board members later this month to fill two voids.

The vacancies arose after Conservative Cllr Andrew Atkinson disclosed he was in Panama on a working holiday, and then announced he was staying there and thus resigned his councillor duties as of yesterday – 31st August.

The second vacancy came about after Wrexham Independents Cllr Joan Lowe resigned with immediate effect  due to ‘poor health’, days after claims she used “inappropriate language” used in private meeting.

Cllr Atkinson stayed on with his resignation pending, although there was confusion in a recent Scrutiny meeting (10:20 here) where the Lead Member was expected to present a report, but no one knew where he was.

Mr Atkinson posted a short message yesterday that was warmly welcomed on Gresford social media, “Today is the day. As I’m no longer your councillor I just wanted to thank you all, it’s been a real honour to represent you. Until the by-election result you will be looked after by Cllr Hugh Jones (Rossett ward) which I’m very grateful to him for.

As the council administration is run in a coalition between independent groups and the Conservatives the vacancies are being filled by other members of the respective groups, although the final rubber stamping of the move is via an vote at Full Council, due in a meeting this month – as there is was scheduled public meetings last month.

It is unclear if portfolios or wards will be affected with the voids, or if it is an indication of the need for extra lead members, with Cllr David A Bithell, the group leader for the Wrexham Independents ‘overseeing’ the Health and Adult Social Care role, and Cllr Hugh Jones not only taking on the extra ward work but is also now interim Lead Member for Children’s Services as well as his normal portfolio role.

Until a reshuffle takes place the Executive Board is the proverbial ‘mens club’ with zero women, however Wrexham.com is predicting that will alter when the changes are announced, with our understanding a reshuffle could see:

• Cllr John Pritchard was Lead Member for People – Youth Services and Anti-poverty, a role that could go to Wrexham Independents Cllr Sonia Benbow Jones.
• Cllr Pritchard could takeover the Lead Member for People – Health and Adult Social, the role previously held by Cllr Lowe.
• Mr Atkinson’s Lead Member for People – Children’s Services role could go to incoming Conservative Cllr Beverley Parry-Jones.

We approached both group leaders after the speculation of who will take which role, however Cllr David A Bithell Deputy Leader of the council would not be drawn on the matter saying, “Nominations will put through to full council in September to fill the vacant seats which is the normal process. In the meantime, I will be covering Adult social care along with Cllr Hugh Jones covering Children’s services from 1st September.”

Cllr Lowe leaving the Executive Board was the second such resignation by a member of Cllr Bithell’s Wrexham Independent Group, with Cllr Bill Baldwin resigning back in November 2019 ‘pending’ the outcome of an investigation into a series of posts shared by him on Facebook. No details or outcome of that investigation have been made public.

Top pic: Will Cllr Parry-Jones and Cllr Benbow Jones be the new Executive Board members?