NEW Ceredigion County Council chairman Cllr Lynford Thomas is warning that the authority will continue to face challenges.

Cllr Thomas, the Plaid Cymru councillor who represents the Llanfihangel Ystrad ward, has been confirmed as the council chairman for the 2017/18 year, with Lampeter’s Labour councillor Hag Harris, a Cabinet member in the last three council administrations, elected as vice-chair.

In recent years the council has faced a string of funding cuts leading to job losses and service cuts, and council leader Ellen ap Gwynn is again warning that councillors will be forced to make difficult choices.

Cllr Thomas said, while he was aware there would be future challenges for the council, he was optimistic that the councillors in place would be able to work together for the best of the county.

He said: “The last five years were challenging and I’m sure the leader will be saying that there’s more challenges to come.

“Things are going to be challenging, but I have faith in this chamber.

“Everybody in here is very wise, on both sides of the chamber, and we do work together for Ceredigion.

“We live in the prettiest county in Wales, in the world actually, and I very much hope that we can work together again.”

Cllr Harris said he was honoured to have won support from the council to be vice-chair.

He said: “Thank you all very much for the honour of being vice-chair. I’ll try to support the chair the best I can at all times and I’m looking forward to enjoying the post and having some fun as well.”

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