- 11/03/2011
- Posted by: Joyce Watson MS
- Category: Feature
A POWYS County Councillor who has been involved in local politics for over 40 years has been recognised in the National Assembly for Wales.
Councillor Gwyn Gwillim, who represents the Aber-craf ward in Ystradgynlais, was invited to the Welsh Assembly on Tuesday (8th March) by Mid and West Wales AM Joyce Watson.
Cllr Gwillim is a Labour member of Powys County Council and a former member of Ystradgynlais Rural Council and Brecknock Borough Council. He is the council board member for leisure and recreation, with responsibility for youth services.
“We had a great day out in Cardiff Bay”, he said:
“Joyce took Enid and I on a tour of the impressive Senedd building and we sat in the public gallery to watch First Minister’s Question Time – we even bumped into Rhodri Morgan!
“Tuesday was the first day ‘back to business’ for Assembly Members after all the excitement of the Referendum, so there was a real buzz about the place.”
Joyce Watson said:
“They say a week is a long time in politics so the fact that Gwyn has lasted 40 years and counting is testament to his commitment to serve the people of Abercraf, Ystradgynlais and Powys.”
During Questions to the First Minister, Mrs Watson praised Powys Youth Services and Cllr Gwillim for delivering new facilities for young people in the county:
“Will you join me in congratulating Powys Youth Service, especially Labour board member Councillor Gwyn Gwillim, on helping to deliver new services in Powys, such as the brand-new youth club in Llandrindod Wells, which you joined me in visiting recently, and the revamped youth centre at Penrhos?”, Mrs Watson asked.
First Minister Carwyn Jones responded, saying there had been “hardly anything around for young people” when he grew up in the 1980s:
“I visited Llandrindod Wells, as you said, and saw the wonderful youth centre that has been built there. It is a good size, with tremendous facilities, and is just the sort of thing that we need to ensure that our young people get a fair start in life.”
