A NEW Vale council leader could be appointed on May 20, it has been announced.

Council leader John Thomas was deposed as leader of the Vale Conservatives by Cllr Vincent Bailey following a party annual general meeting this week.

Cllr Thomas, who has already said he will step down, told a full council meeting on Wednesday, May 1 that he intends to stay on as leader until the new one has been appointed – which may be at the council’s annual general meeting on May 20.

The outgoing leader said he was “disappointed” he did not have the support of the Conservative group but that he had led the group to the best of his ability.

He said it had “not been easy” to protect council services amid cuts to local government funding.

Delivering what promises to be his final speech as leader to full council, Cllr Thomas said he “did not take up the position of leader to be popular or further my own political ambitions” but instead to ensure Vale residents get the “best possible services”.

“It would be easy to make decisions based on what the vocal minority may say in order secure votes in the next election. But what we must remember is many more vulnerable members of our society who rely on our services more than most do not have a voice and probably many of them do not use their vote.”

Cllr Thomas thanked councillors of all parties for “putting the residents of the Vale of Glamorgan first.”

The leaders of Labour, Plaid Cymru and Llantwit First thanked Cllr Thomas for his work as leader and described him as “co-operative”.