Newtown councillors to decide on vacant seat after delayed vote

Newtown town councillors will decide on Monday whether to appoint a sole applicant to a vacant council seat after postponing the decision last month.

Zwelibanzi Radebe is the sole remaining candidate for the East ward vacancy on Newtown Town Council following the withdrawal of another applicant.

Councillors voted seven to three in September to delay the appointment so Mr Radebe, who was unable to attend because of illness, could answer their questions.

His application returns to the council on 26 October.

In his statement to the town council, Mr Radebe, known as Zweli, said he has lived in Newtown for more than eight years and works at Tesco, where he is also a union representative for USDAW.

He said he wants action on parking charges, more activities for young people and safer nightlife, alongside support for the Tidy Newtown project.

“I’m passionate about helping the town by volunteering, sharing my skills, and listening to the community’s ideas and experiences,” he says in his application.

Originally from South Africa, Mr Radebe grew up during apartheid and moved to the UK in his twenties.

“I’m ready to work hard with the Town Council to make our community and home better for everyone,” he says.

The seat will be filled through co-option, with existing councillors deciding whether to appoint him. 

At September’s meeting, councillors also sought clarification of voting rules after the town clerk relayed advice from Powys County Council’s elections office about appointments involving a single candidate.

The council agreed to defer the decision “to enable the sole candidate, Mr Radebe to attend and answer members’ questions”.