Election: Bridgend comes to end of the Rainbow while Labour bucks the trend

May 8 2008 by Andrew Harrison, Glamorgan Gazette

THERE was no pot of gold for the Rainbow Alliance on election night after four years in charge of Bridgend. ANDREW HARRISON reports

LABOUR won 27 of the 54 seats and hope to regain control of the council with the support of independents.

But they have inherited a host of financial pressures, with more to come.

Pointing out where the Alliance went wrong is one thing, but coming up with solutions to keep the electorate happy and the council’s bank balance healthy is another.

Across Wales and the UK Labour took a battering at the ballot box, but Bridgend bucked the trend, with Coun Mel Nott’s party winning back five of the six seats needed to gain an overall majority with the borough-wide turnout standing at 39.24 per cent.

But with the support of three friendly independent councillors, Coun Nott has asked the chief executive if he can form an administration to guide BCBC through the stormy waters ahead.

And with Labour’s Cleone Westwood set to become the next mayor with a casting vote in any split decisions Coun Nott may not need independent help after the AGM on May 14 – should he defeat a last-ditch leadership challenge from the Liberal Democrats.

The Alliance was unable to hold on as two cabinet members lost their seats in unceremonious fashion.

Community champion Ralph Hughes seems to have borne the brunt of the public’s disapproval of proposed changes to meals on wheels, with Labour’s David Jones taking his Nantymoel seat.

And former Brackla member Matthew Voisey cut a forlorn figure at the count as he slowly realised he would not be continuing as cabinet member for the environment – or indeed as a borough councillor.

Ironically, fellow Tory Terry Hacking took his seat.

But the biggest surprise on the night was the defeat of socialist stalwart Bill Evans who, after 40 years representing people in Maesteg East and regularly topping the polls, must now contemplate life outside public office.

For the second time in a row, the borough’s outgoing mayor was also deposed.

In 2004 Labour’s Doug John came bottom of the poll in Hendre, and this time Llangynwyd independent Mari Jones came third behind Idris Williams, of Labour, and Plaid Cymru’s Malcolm James.

Coun James’ election makes him Plaid’s first representative of the Llynfi Valley on the borough council – but the party still has just one member on the 54-seat authority, as Mike Quick was ousted in favour of Labour’s Ralph Shepherd in Ogmore Vale.

Calls to the police and allegations of balloon-bursting by the Lib Dems saw the campaign in Coity turn nasty.

But independent Ella Dodd easily overcame sitting councillor Jackie Radford, with Labour’s Mike Sully finishing a distant third with just 14 votes.

Town and community council results - page 2