Neath Port Talbot council yesterday appointed John Flower, currently Head of Engineering and Transport, to take over from the retiring Will Watson on 1st April. The official announcement should appear on the council’s web pages in due course, but on a personal note I should like to say that Mr Flower was very helpful to a new councillor when we had an introductory discussion of the problems in Cadoxton. My senior colleagues in the Liberal Democrat group confirm that this is consistently Mr Flower’s approach. His attitude to the future of the county borough is a positive one, he promises an inclusive approach to his future tasks (good news for both staff and members of all parties) and he is a self-proclaimed environmentalist.

Some may question a promotion from within the council’s own ranks. In my opinion, and clearly a majority of other members, an outside appointee would have had no better qualities. It has also to be said that the calibre of at least one other candidate from Neath Port Talbot was excellent, and it is to be hoped that we can retain him in spite of yesterday’s disappointment.

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