THE POWYS Independents group has a new member, which now makes it the largest opposition group within Powys council.
It has been revealed that Cllr Tom Colbert (Bronllys and Felinfach) a former Liberal Democrat, has now joined the Powys Independents ranks.
This means that the group now has 14 councillors and overtakes the Conservatives as the biggest opposition group in Powys.
Powys Independents group chairman Cllr Graham Breeze (Welshpool Llanerchyddol) said: “I am really pleased to welcome Cllr Colbert and look forward to working alongside him in the future.”
This is the third move by Cllr Colbert this year.
Originally elected as a Liberal Democrat in May 2022, Cllr Colbert spent three years as a non-aligned councillor before re-joining the party earlier this year and supporting them during the council’s budget vote in February.
Following the council’s annual meeting in May, it was found that Cllr Colbert had again left the Lib Dems to sit as a non-aligned councillor.
Earlier this month three council by-elections took place to replace councillors who had been elected to sit in the Senedd in Cardiff.
This saw Plaid Cymru hold the Glantwymyn ward with Reform UK also successfully defending the Llanyre with Nantmel ward.
In the other vacant ward, the Liberal Democrats prized the Yscir with Honddu Isaf and Llanddew away from Reform UK.
This means with less than a year to go before the next local elections in May 2027, the minority Liberal Democrat and Labour administration has 32 councillors.
Liberal Democrats have 23 councillors.
Labour have nine (9) councillors.
Powys Independents have 14 councillors.
Conservatives have 13 councillors.
Plaid Cymru have four (4) councillors.
Reform UK have three (3) councillors.
The Green Party has one councillor – but is officially listed as a non-aligned councillor.
One non-aligned councillor.
Total – 68.
