Plaid keeps Gwynedd school roles

Protests greeted Plaid Cymru's plans to close primary schools in Gwynedd

Plaid Cymru, which proposed Gwynedd's controversial schools reorganisation plan, has retained the chair of the council committee overseeing education.

The party has kept the chair of the children and young persons committee.

It saw off a challenge from Llais Gwynedd, which campaigned against primary school closures in the area during the recent local elections.

Plaid lost overall control of Gwynedd Council in the elections, but is the largest party in the authority.

After a meeting to decide the political balance of the council, it was confirmed that Plaid will chair eight committees, while the independent group has four chairs, Labour one and Llais Gwynedd three.

Llais Gwynedd's challenge for the chair of the children and young persons committee, which includes the education service, was supported by a number of independent councillors, but the Labour group voted with Plaid on each of the significant votes.

New leader

It came after widespread protests earlier this year about Plaid's plan to reorganise primary school education in the area.

The proposal had involved federalising 55 schools and closing 29, as the council looked to deal with falling pupil numbers.

In addition to choosing the committee chairs, Evie Morgan Jones, who represents Llanbedr and Llanfair, was elected council chairman, and Ann Lloyd Jones, councillor for Tywyn, as vice-chair.

Dyfed Edwards, who represents Penygroes, was elected council leader, and he said: "I look forward to work side by side by co-members and council officers to reach the aim of creating a better Gwynedd where our communities and the Welsh language can flourish."