THE new Mayor of Barry has been elected as Councillor Jeff Evans, with Councillor Rob Curtis taking up the role of deputy for the coming year.

At the official inauguration, held at Barry Memorial Hall and Theatre on Monday, May 12 former Mayor Claire Curtis handing the chains over to fellow Labour Councillor Jeff Evans.

Cllr Evans was nominated for the post by fellow Court ward councillor Bronwen Brooks who described him as someone who would bring "honesty and integrity" to the role and as "someone you can rely on at all times."

"I believe Jeff would be a great asset as Mayor and would take it on with great gusto and wear the chains with pride," she said.

Cllr Evans was voted in by 15 votes to four against Plaid Cymru's Nick Hodges.

New deputy Rob Curtis was voted in by an identical count, also against Nick Hodges.

Departing Mayor Cllr Claire Curtis described the past 12 months as "truly memorable" saying: "I have met many wonderful and inspiring people and have been truly honoured to have been Mayor for the last year.

"Although it has been a hectic year, it has been a wonderful experience."

"It is a great honour for me to sit before you having been elected as Mayor of our town," said Cllr Evans. "I'd like to thank Councillor Curtis for setting the bar so high as to make following her quite a challenge."

Cllr Evans then went on to say how although the expanding choices of holiday destination for people has seen a decline in Barry's popularity, he senses a change on the horizon "as people realise what they have on their door step".

He continued: "I want to make it our business to advertise our town's attributes."

Not everyone was happy with the appointment, with Plaid Councillors pointing towards the Labour groups comparatively poor attendance record compared with their 100 percent, and their reluctance to elect any non-Labour councillors into the Mayoral seat.

In seconding Cllr Pauline Hodges' nomination of Nick Hodges, Cllr Ian Johnson said: "The last time that Barry had a non-Labour Mayor was in 1982 when I was three years old.

"This is clearly not fair, and not democratic.

“Our first citizen should be decided by who has given most service to the people of Barry, not who has given most service to the Labour Party.”