COUNCILLOR Emlyn Dole has today been elected the new Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council.

The news follows the formation of a ruling coalition between Plaid Cymru and the Independent Group, which will also see Councillor Pam Palmer remain as Deputy Leader, and Councillor David Jenkins become the other Deputy Leader.

Plaid have 29 county councillors, and the Independents 21, giving them a total of 50 seats out of 74 members of Full Council.

Cllr Dole has also announced his executive board, which will have five members from each group.

The Plaid Cymru members are:

• Leader, Councillor Emlyn Dole

• Deputy Leader and Resources: Councillor David Jenkins

• Education: Councillor Gareth Jones

• Environment: Councillor Hazel Evans

• Housing: To be confirmed

Cllr Dole said: “We are looking forward to serving the people of Carmarthenshire in an open and transparent manner.

“Over the coming weeks we will be formulating our forward work programme which will be based on responsible fiscal policies that will seek to ensure the safeguarding and continued improvement of public services in Carmarthenshire, and the regeneration and creation of new jobs and employment opportunities for the people who we have all been elected to represent.”

The Independents retain their original portfolios which are:

• Deputy Leader: Councillor Pam Palmer

• Regeneration and Leisure: Councillor Meryl Gravell

• Environmental and Public Protection: Councillor Jim Jones

• Human Resources, Efficiencies and Collaboration: Councillor Mair Stephens

• Social Care and Health: Councillor Jane Tremlett

Cllr Palmer said: “We will need to work closely together during this period of austerity, which does not look as though it will come to an end in the near future.

“We need to ensure that services which are vital to our residents are maintained, and this will be no easy feat bearing in mind the swingeing cuts to our budget.

“However, we will endeavour to work closely together in order to achieve this.”