Denbighshire County Council leader faces vote of no confidence

Cllr McLellan, a Labour councillor who was elected leader in May 2022, represents the Prestatyn North Ward.

But the Conservative group of county councillors have said that the council’s Labour-led leadership at Denbighshire County Council is “ineffective” and is “failing residents”.

In response, Cllr McLellan said he has led the council through “unprecedented times” by making “difficult decisions to protect vital public services”.

They started talks with the Independent Group regarding the VONC, which prompted the Independent Group to write to the chief executive of Denbighshire County Council, Graham Boase, and the chair, Peter Scott.

This letter called for a special meeting to hold a VONC within 10 working days of its receipt.

Perceived failings highlighted by Conservative members include the issues faced with Denbighshire’s new Trolibocs waste collection system since its launch in June, and a failure to secure an operator for the new £12million Queen’s Market in Rhyl.

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Leader of the Conservative Group, and county councillor for Rhyl Tŷ Newydd ward, Brian Jones, said: “Our group have been discussing a VONC in Cllr McLellan and his cabinet for several weeks now.

“It is not a decision we have taken lightly, but one that we feel is totally necessary if Denbighshire County Council is to have any chance of recovering from the mess it is in and delivering for the residents of the county.

“There has been a catalogue of failings since the current administration took charge. There has, of course been the bin fiasco, we have seen library services cut, public consultations ignored, and a complete lack of progress on a number of projects, including the Queen’s Market in Rhyl.

“Quite frankly, the council has become a joke to residents who have lost all faith in those in charge ever turning things around.”

Rhyl East Conservative, Cllr Justine Evans, said: “As councillors, we are the paid servants of the residents we represent, and we would be doing them a huge disservice if we did not support this VONC.

“Residents across Denbighshire have watched their council tax rocket in the last couple of years, with further increases expected next year, whilst they get less in return.

“I have never seen public dissatisfaction with Denbighshire County Council at the level it currently is. People are frustrated and have had enough of being let down.

“Here in Rhyl, parking charges, the lack of progress at the Queen’s Market, street scene cuts, which has resulted in overgrown grassed areas and more weeds, and the demolition of the kiosks on the prom are just some of the things which have made our once popular and thriving town, a less appealing place to live and visit.”

Rhuddlan councillor, Ann Davies, said: “The new Trolibocs waste model has been a disaster from a performance and financial point of view. There is still no definite solution or timescale to resolve all the apparent flaws in the system. 

“However, this is not the only area where they have messed up. We have seen library services cut, despite public opposition, and now they are looking to close public toilets.

“There seems to be a lot of short-term thinking from the current leadership with little consideration for the long-term impacts.

“Above all else, they have not listened to what residents want and need. It’s time for change.”

Prestatyn Central councillor, Hugh Irving, said: “The present administration came into office inheriting a stable financial situation.

“But just two years later, the money has gone and instead we see financial difficulties, cost overruns and a reliance on cutbacks, redundancies presented as a voluntary exit scheme, and resultant difficulties in delivering many of our essential services.”

Alyn Valley councillor, Terry Mendies, said: “The incompetence from the leader and his cabinet is on another level. A VONC is the only option if we are to ensure that residents receive the level of service they deserve.

“The chaotic bin rollout, which has resulted in me collecting rubbish from residents myself, has demonstrated to us all just how ineffective they are.

“Residents are paying far too much council tax each year to be let down in this way. They need to go.”   

 Trefnant councillor, James Elson, said: “We have no choice but to support this VONC. Residents have been consistently failed over the past two and half years.

“It’s time we had people at the helm who can effectively deliver for the people of Denbighshire.”

Gareth Davies, Conservative MS for Vale of Clwyd, also backed the VONC.

He said: “The leadership of Denbighshire County Council have presided over some of the worst failings our county has seen since its beginning in 1996.

“People are expected to pay more council tax for less services, which is completely unacceptable and a failure to demonstrate prudent use of public finances.

“I therefore, with a heavy heart, back the motion of no confidence in the current leadership of the authority. It's time to bring Denbighshire back to what it can and should be.”

Cllr McLellan responded to the above comments by saying: “As regards the Conservative group's comments on budget decisions, they fail to see the wider mess the whole country is in after 14 years of their budget cuts and misrule, which has impacted councils.

“To say I inherited financial stability is, quite frankly, a joke,  and that is why we have seen their party decimated in the recent general election.

“Councils across the country face unprecedented financial challenges. I have led the council through these unprecedented times by making difficult decisions to protect vital public services.

“I have heard nothing from the opposition groups as to how they would manage this. They simply do not have a plan.”