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The Council Chair for 2023 – 2024 is County Councillor Meirion Howells

Appointment of the Chair

  • The Chair, who is the Civic Head of the Council, is elected in May of each year at the Annual Meeting of the County Council.
  • The Chair must be a serving Councillor and must remain politically impartial during their year of office.
  • During the Annual Meeting of Council the Chair appoints a Consort for their term of office.
  • The Vice Chair of the Council is also appointed at the Annual Meeting and will represent the Chair at meetings and events in his/her absence.

The Role of the Chair

The Chair has the following responsibilities:

  • To preside over meetings of the Council so that its business can be carried out efficiently and with regard to the rights of councillors and the interests of the community.
  • To uphold and promote the purposes of the Constitution when necessary.
  • To ensure that the Council meeting is a forum for the debate of matters of concern to the local community and the place at which members who are not on the executive are able to hold the executive and committee Chair to account.
  • To promote public involvement in the Council’s activities.
  • To be the conscience of the Council.
  • To attend such civic and ceremonial functions as the council and he/she determines appropriate e.g. royal visits, charitable events, supporting local cultural activities (whilst representing the County the Chair wears a Chain of Office).  By stature, the Chair takes precedence within the County, with the exception of His Majesty the King or his representative for the County, the Lord Lieutenant.
  • The Chair can nominate a charity of their choice and host fund raising events throughout their term of office.

Donate to the Chair’s Charity

The Chair’s Charity for 2023/24 is the St Davids Hospice. All donations are welcomed

  • The Chair acts as First Citizen for the County fostering community identity and pride by actively promoting local areas and raising the profile of Monmouthshire and the Council.

County Councillor Meirion Howells

Chair 2023 – 2024

Councillor Meirion Howells was born in small Welsh-speaking village in Carmarthenshire. The family moved to London when he was eight to run a B&B in Victoria, London. It was here his parents instilled in him the value of community involvement, through being actively involved in all aspects of the London-Welsh community and the Clapham Junction Chapel that they attended.

His consort for the year is his wife Sarah, and on occasion, his mother Mrs Iris Howells. He has lived in Usk since 2004 and has 5 children, 3 having been born in Monmouthshire. Meirion and his wife run a busy osteopathic practice in Usk and have been heavily involved in community events since moving here from London. Meirion has been a Town Councillor for the past 5 years, represents Llanbadoc and Usk ward as county councillor, is a Governor at Usk Primary School and sits on a number of council committees and local groups.

In between supporting his children with busy weekly sporting and musical commitments, Meirion enjoys singing with the local Usk Singing Club.

Chosen charities during term of office 2023 – 2024 will be: St David’s Hospice Care

If you would like to invite the Chair to an event or would like them to visit a community facility, please contact the Chair’s PA, Linda Greer on Tel: 01633 644020 or email lindagreer@monmouthshire.gov.uk alternatively write to: The Chair’s Office, Monmouthshire County Council, County Hall, Rhadyr, Usk  NP15 1GA.  (It would be appreciated if all correspondence could please be sent via the Chair’s Office and not directly to the Chair).

Should the Chair be unable to attend an event due to a prior commitment the invitation will be passed to the Vice-Chair, County Councillor Su McConnel