Ten existing Vale of Glamorgan councillors will not seek re-election in May 5's council elections. In the Vale, 170 candidates have put their names forward to try win one of the 54 seats on the county council.
Most of the currently serving 47 councillors have chosen to stand again for election, but 10 have decided not to run, including four independents, three Labour councillors, and three Conservative councillors. Independent councillors not standing again are Owen Griffiths in Buttrills, Anthony Hampton in Illtyd, Bob Penrose in Sully and Jonathan Bird and Wenvoe.
Cllr Griffiths left Labour last year accusing the local party of a “toxic and bullying environment”, particularly during internal debates over the Black Lives Matter movement. Also last year, Cllr Hampton, a former Conservative, was found not guilty of six charges of indecently assaulting children.
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Cllrs Bob Penrose and Jonathan Bird were both also Conservatives, but left the group after an acrimonious split in 2019, which saw the Tories lose control of the council.
Labour councillors not standing again are council leader Neil Moore and his wife Anne, who both represent Cadoc, as well as Peter King in Cornerswell. Tory councillors not standing again are Marguerita Wright in Illtyd, Stewart Edwards in St Brides Major, and Andrew RT Davies in Rhoose who is also MS for South Wales Central and Senedd leader of the Welsh Conservatives.
The council is expanding after the election, from 47 seats to 54, due to recent ward boundary changes. Labour have run the council since 2019 in a coalition with independent councillors. There are currently 14 Conservative councillors, 13 Labour councillors, four Plaid Cymru councillors and 16 independents.
Standing in the election next month are 54 Conservative candidates, 44 Labour candidates, two Liberal Democrats, 18 Greens, 33 Plaid candidates, and 19 candidates who are independent or in smaller parties.
