Long Serving Councillor Steps Down

One of Anglesey’s longest serving county councillors is to step down on health grounds. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Derlwyn Rees Hughes will relinquish his role today (Friday, January 6th 2017), after receiving medical advice from his family doctor. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Hughes has represented the Lligwy multi-member ward since May 2013 and previously represented the Moelfre ward after being elected onto the former borough council in 1989. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Hughes said, “I have not been in the best of health of late, and after recent advice from the family doctor I’ve decided to stand down. It has been a great privilege to represent the people of Moelfre and the new Lligwy ward, and I will look back at all my years in local government with an immense sense of pride.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A passion for sport served Cllr Hughes well during earlier spells as Leisure portfolio holder on Anglesey’s Executive. More recently he has served as Chairman of the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Paying tribute to Cllr Hughes, Anglesey Chief Executive, Dr Gwynne Jones, said, “Councillor Derlwyn Hughes has made an invaluable contribution to the council and people of Anglesey during his time as a councillor. The experience and knowledge he brought to the council chamber will be missed. However, I understand and respect his decision to stand down for health reasons and wish him all the best for the future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Council Leader, Cllr Ieuan Williams added, “I’ve worked closely with Derlwyn for a number of years, most recently as colleagues representing residents in the Lligwy multi-member ward. I’ve always valued his support and wealth of experience in public office. I’m certain that my fellow councillors – whatever their politics – will agree that the council chamber will be a much poorer place without him.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Hughes’ resignation will not lead to a by-election as the county council elections will be held in May. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In the interim period, Lligwy ward matters can be referred to Cllr Ieuan Williams and Cllr Vaughan Hughes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​