THE former leader of Torfaen council will retain a senior role in the cabinet following a reshuffle from his successor, becoming the newly-created executive member for sustainability and collaboration.

Cllr Bob Wellington stood down as leader in November after 13 years in the position, and was replaced by his deputy, Cllr Anthony Hunt, on New Year’s Day.

In an extraordinary council meeting, the new leader proposed changes to the portfolios and roles of the eight cabinet members, which have been endorsed by the council.

“As executive member for sustainability and collaboration, I’d like to appoint Bob Wellington,” said Cllr Hunt.

“Bob’s also had a long-standing passion for sustainability issues especially around bees and other things like that.”

The youngest council leader in Wales added that he hopes Cllr Wellington will be able to support him throughout the transitional period.

“I really think it’s good to keep his voice in that area as well as him being important part of the transition,” said Cllr Hunt.

“I don’t claim to know everything as a new leader and Bob’s more than willing to be a very supportive voice.”

Previously, the cabinet was previously split into seven portfolio areas, in addition to the leader and deputy leader roles: communities – Cllr David Daniels; education – Cllr David Yeowell; health, social care and well-being – Cllr Richard Clark; housing, planning and public protection - Cllr Gwyneira Clark; neighbourhoods – Cllr John Cunningham; regeneration – Cllr Lewis Jones and resources and corporate governance – Cllr Hunt.

These will be replaced by six executive member positions as councillors Richard Clark and Hunt will incorporate aspects of their former portfolios into their new roles of deputy leader and leader respectively.

“As leader of the council, I think it is right and proper that I take charge of the resources as part of the portfolio,” said Cllr Hunt.

“That is something that I believe is the case in the majority of councils across Wales.

“It also allows me to bring the experience I’ve gained in the last four and a half years of taking forward that portfolio.

“The deputy leader of the council, Richard Clark, has kindly agreed to remain in post as executive member for social care.

“I think that’s important to provide continuity in that very sensitive subject area and it’s an area that Richard has very quickly become a well-respected figure and expert in,” he said.

Cllr Daniels becomes the executive member for communities and anti-poverty while the position of executive member of education and performance improvement will be filled by Cllr Yeowell, with both councillors portfolios slightly altered as a result.

“I don’t think we should be apologetic for having an anti-poverty portfolio and I want to be clear as the leader, as I believe you are as a council that it’s our duty to try and tackle the impacts of poverty,” said Cllr Hunt.

Cllr Gwyneira Clark will have a slightly different portfolio with the executive member for housing, planning and public protection, while councillors Cunningham and Jones retain their areas of neighbourhoods and regeneration respectively.

One councillor rejected the proposals put forward by Cllr Hunt while two members abstained from voting for or against.