ANOTHER councillor has left the Coalition of Independent and Conservatives that run Powys County Council,(PCC).

Cllr Mark Barnes (Newton and Llanllwchaiarn West) told the Local Democracy Service that he has left the group, but continues to be a member of the party.

He criticised the coalition leadership which he felt, forced many in the Conservative group to support positions they do not believe in.

He said : “I’ve just had enough. Since May 2017, I have met some of the best people that I’ve ever met at Powys County Council.

“Some of the (Conservative) group are amongst the most passionate and dedicated people that I have met.

“So together we should be able to do wonderful things for our communities.”

Cllr Barnes continued: “Sadly, as a collective, we seem to be constrained by others and this always seems to be down to playing politics and protecting group position.

“When you put ideas forward, you’re told that you can’t rock the boat for fear that members of the Independent group, won’t be happy.”

Cllr Barnes had been amongst the number of rebels who opposed the Council Tax increase in March.

And he revealed that he had stood against “good friend “and Conservative group leader Aled Davies for Leader of the Conservative Group.

Cllr Barnes added: “I have increasingly challenged the views of the Conservative cabinet members and I don’t support the council leader.

“This has made supporting my group difficult.”

“I want to be a councillor to deliver something tangible and campaign for greater opportunities for Powys residents. I believed that together we are stronger but I find the opposite to be the case.”

“There  are others in the Conservative group who want to pull out of the coalition.”

Cllr Barnes added that he will be going around the ward delivering a letter to all his constituents explaining his action.

The coalition cabinet has three Conservatives out of eight, which includes Conservative group leader Cllr Aled Davies who is both deputy leader of the council and finance portfolio holder

Cllr Davies (Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant – Llansilin) said: “I do know, (that Cllr Barnes had left)  but I have not spoken to Mark recently.”

Cllr Davies had no further comment to add.

Council Leader, Cllr Rosemarie Harris, said (Independent – Llangynidr), said: We are two groups in coalition. We have regular meetings separately.

“And we do have joint meetings as we had during the budget setting process.”

Cllr Harris was asked whether it was time to rotate some of the cabinet positions in order to keep members of the coalition happy.

Cllr Harris, said: “The cabinet is hard-working with able and experienced people on it.”

Cllr Barnes becomes the fourth non-aligned councillor, who has left the ruling coalition during the last couple of years. This means that the Conservative Group numbers drop to 18.

And the Independent/Conservative ruling coalition now has 46 out of 73 councillors.