THERE have been changes to the two independent groups on Rhondda Cynon Taf Council.
A report on the political balance of the council going before full council on Wednesday, April 24, shows the RCT Independent Group is now made up of councillors Mike Powell, Cathy Lisles, and David Evans and the Independent Group is made up of councillors Will Jones, Wayne Owen, and Paul Binning.
This means a change in representation upon the council’s planning and development committee, with a reduction in Labour group representation to eight to enable representation by the two independent groups.
There’s also a change in representation upon the council’s scrutiny committees, with a reduction in Plaid Cymru representation to one as a consequence of the formation of a new independent group.
The RCT Independent Group will continue to be represented on the licensing committee with the Independent Group now being represented on the constitution committee.
The report said the Conservative group will continue to be represented on the Revised Local Development Plan steering group recognising the importance of enabling all political groups to be represented in this forum.
The report to full council said that the establishment of two “smaller” groups with equal membership sizes has presented a challenge in “balancing” the representation across the committees.
It has only been possible to achieve “balance” by reducing representation of the Labour group from nine to eight upon the planning and development control committee.
It said consistency has been adopted across the remaining committees to achieve the necessary balance of representation.
Appointments to committees will be made following notification given by each political group of their nominations for appointments to them.
