New Chair elected to Carmarthenshire County Council

Cllr Eirwyn Williams has been elected as the new Chair of Carmarthenshire County Council.

Cllr Williams, who has served as county councillor for Cynwyl Gaeo for the last 26 years, took the chain of office at the council’s annual general meeting on Wednesday (May 19, 2021).

His duties will include chairing full meetings of the council, representing the council at formal and ceremonial occasions, welcoming visitors to the county, and attending and supporting events organised by local people and organisations.

Taking the chain of office in the online AGM, Cllr Williams paid tribute to outgoing Chair, Cllr Ieuan Davies, thanking him for his service during a difficult year in office during the pandemic.

He said it was an honour to follow in his footsteps.

Cllr Williams is a former teacher of Welsh, English and history and has a longstanding association with the Carmarthenshire Federation of Young Farmers.

He has served as a governor at several local rural primary schools and currently serves as a governor of Ysgol Carreg Hirfaen.

Since joining Carmarthenshire County Council in 1995, Cllr Williams has served on the former Cabinet with a portfolio including strategy management and Welsh language; as a member of the Shadow Executive Board, and currently sits on the planning, licensing and appointments committees.

Cllr Ken Lloyd, ward member for Carmarthen Town North, will serve as vice chair for the coming year.

In his closing speech as outgoing Chair of the Council, Cllr Ieuan Davies thanked all those that have supported him during his year in office and offered his sympathies to all those that have lost loved ones during the pandemic.

He reflected on a number of events he was able to undertake despite the Covid-19 restrictions, including a tree planting ceremony in Whitland, socially distanced visits to local people celebrating their 100^th birthdays, and his charitable efforts – a sponsored walk and a sponsored sea swim.

“It’s been a real honour to serve as Carmarthenshire County Council Chair,” he said.