COUNCILLOR Dave Hughes has been elected leader of Flintshire County Council for another 12 months.
But there was confusion over the selection of his Cabinet following Cllr Helen Brown’s decision to join Reform UK.
The competition to become Leader saw Cllr Hughes stand against four other candidates – Cllr Brown of Reform, Cllr Andrew Parkhurst of the Liberal Democrats, Cllr Ellis of the True Independents and Flintshire Peoples Voice’s Cllr Sam Swash.
But it was Cllr Hughes who retained control over the Cabinet for the final year before Flintshire goes to the polls to elect new councillors.
In nominating him Cllr Paul Johnson said: “The politics of this council, particularly the factional nature of it, mean that we need stability, and Councillor Hughes has exactly the skills we need to create that stability and get things done.”
That feeling was echoed by Cllr Chris Dolphin, who seconded Cllr hughes’ nomination.
“A good and honest man – that used to be good enough. It’s not anymore, evidently, according to the press and the population.
“But that’s what we have here in our leader, Dave Hughes, who is a good and honest man. He’s an ideas man, a man of industry.
“Flintshire is the powerhouse of Wales. In this fractured country, this fractured county, if we pull together we can and will become stronger.”
Following his election Cllr Hughes said he sought unity across the council for the coming term.
“It’s my aim to try and get us to work all together because I think the forthcoming year is going to be very difficult and we need to be as one if we possibly can,” he said.
“With the pressure that’s going to be on us I think there’s two words I’d like us to keep in mind – bold and brave. We need to be brave and we need to be bold in the decisions that we have to make.
“They may not all be palatable, but nevertheless we’ve got a council to run and we must to do that.”
Earlier Council chair Cllr Mel Buckley was returned for a second successive term. As Vice chair, Debbie Owen was unable to accept her nomination. Flint Cllr Buckley saw off a challenge from Hawarden Cllr David Mackie, who also lost out in the vice-chair vote as the council elected Cllr Steve Coppell to the position.
When it came time to appoint his Cabinet, Cllr Hughes’ declaration that it would remain the same as the last 12 months prompted debate due to the exclusion of Cllr Brown.
Just over a month ago she was removed as Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities following her decision to join Reform UK in early April.
Her removal was immediate as Nigel Farage’s party is not included in Flintshire’s Labour/Independent coalition agreement. With no council meetings since her decision, it had not been formally reported to full council.
“When Councillor Hughes says he’s keeping the cabinet the same as last year, how can he be unless Councillor Brown is still member for Housing and Communities,” asked the leader of the True Independents group Cllr Carol Ellis.
“Will Councillor Helen Brown be replaced as Cabinet member by another member of the coalition or is that position gone?”
Cllr Hughes clarified his position to the chamber: “At the moment, both Councillor Johnson and myself have been looking after Housing and Communities. That was done when Councillor Brown was taken off the Cabinet.
“That’s how it will stand for the immediate future.”
The appointed Flintshire County Council Cabinet for 2026/27 is:
- Leader/Housing and Communities – Cllr Dave Hughes (Leader)
- Deputy Leader/Housing and Communities – Cllr Paul Johnson
- Deputy Leader/Transformation Growth and Place – Cllr Richard Jones
- Waste and Transportation – Cllr Glyn Banks
- Environment, Regeneration, Countryside and Tourism – Cllr Chris Dolphin
- Education, Welsh Language, Culture and Leisure – Cllr Mared Eastwood
- Social Services and Wellbeing – Cllr Christine Jones
- Highways, Assets and Public Protection/Armed Forces Champion – Cllr Ted Palmer
- Customer and Corporate Services – Cllr Linda Thomas
