Council leader appoints new cabinet member after leisure firm sale saga resignation

Denbighshire Council's leader has appointed a new cabinet member for finance after the previous office holder resigned over the failed £1.5m sale of Denbighshire Leisure. Cllr Gwyneth Ellis resigned earlier this month from her position as lead member for finance, performance and strategic assets after disagreeing with the proposed sale of the council-owned Denbighshire Leisure Ltd (DLL).
The Plaid Cymru councillor said she had "serious concerns" about a lack of information about future growth, the shareholdings for staff, the loss of control of leisure services, and the privatisation of the company. The proposed sale fell through yesterday (Wednesday) when Liverpool-based investors River Capital pulled out of the deal – with DLL blaming councillors for leaking confidential documents.
The council's Labour leader Cllr Jason McLellan has now appointed Cllr Ellis' replacement, with Plaid Cymru councillor Delyth Jones being appointed as the lead member for finance. Cllr Jones was elected to the council in 2022, representing the Denbigh and Caledfryn Henllan ward, and is the leader of the Plaid Cymru group. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox.
Cllr McLellan said: 'I would like to welcome Cllr Delyth Jones to her new role on cabinet. I've worked closely with Delyth over recent years, and she is an accomplished and astute politician. She possesses excellent skills as a councillor and has a wealth of professional experience to bring to the role.'
Speaking of her new role on the cabinet, Cllr Jones said: 'I am under no illusion that this will be an easy task as I am painfully aware of the continuing financially challenging climate within which we are all living. However, I believe that my experiences to date in my previous roles will provide me with the necessary skills to be able to listen attentively, to communicate clearly and to plan and prioritise work streams effectively and creatively across the whole of the council in order to maximise the quality and efficiency of our services to the benefit of our residents whilst also living within our means.'
She added: 'I would also like to thank my predecessor Cllr Gwyneth Ellis for her strong leadership and sterling work under challenging circumstances. I now look forward to carrying the mantle forward by working alongside my fellow cabinet members and Denbighshire County Council officers in this shared endeavour.'
The council says Cllr Jones' experience working in the housing management and the education sector mean she is ideal for the role in a "more challenging financial climate".
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