The election of Gwynedd Council’s new chair and deputy has raised the wrath of opposition groups who have accused the administration of “playing silly games”.

During Thursday’s full council meeting in Caernarfon, Cllr Edgar Wyn Owen was formally sworn in as the authority’s ceremonial head after serving as vice-chair over the past 12 months.

But the election of his new deputy, a fellow Plaid Cymru member, led to claims in the chamber by the leader of the opposition that the ruling administration was “playing silly games”.

Cllr Owen had replaced Cllr Annwen Hughes as council chair, but despite the independent group proposing a member of their own ranks for the deputy role – Cllr Jason Parry, members voted by 36 to 29 in favour of Plaid member, Cllr Simon Glyn.

As per the usual protocol, Cllr Glyn is expected to take the ceremonial chains in 12 months time when Cllr Owen’s term is over.

But the leader of the opposition group, following Cllr Glyn’s election, spoke of their “disappointment” that Plaid Cymru members had been elected to the ceremonial roles on every occasion since Cllr Eric Wyn Jones’ term in the chair during 2016/17.

“We feel quite disappointed at the election of the vice-chair,” said Cllr Angela Russell, the member for Llanbedrog.

“As has been the tradition in the past we as a group are meant to have the opportunity every other year, but since Dyfrig (Siencyn) has been the leader that hasn’t happened.

“I am very disappointed as I feel we need to look at this and not play silly games.

“I have nothing against Simon, don’t get me wrong, but in the interests of fairness we should be sticking to the protocol.”

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