Replacement set to be named for senior Wrexham councillor who quit after “racist” Facebook post accusations

A REPLACEMENT for a senior Wrexham councillor who quit his post after being accused of sharing racist material on Facebook is set to be named this week.
Bill Baldwin resigned from Wrexham Council’s executive board last month after being criticised for sharing anti-Muslim posts on the social media network.
An anti-racist group said the posts, which included a meme originally circulated by the West London branch of the far-right British Nationalist Party, were designed to create “prejudice and hostility”.
Following his departure, the Little Acton representative’s responsibilities as lead member for children’s services were picked up on a temporary basis by fellow executive board member Joan Lowe.
However, it is understood Marchwiel councillor John Pritchard will be named as his permanent replacement at a full council meeting on Wednesday .
In a report set to go before all 52 members of the local authority, monitoring officer Sioned Wyn Davies said: “A vacancy has arisen on the executive board following the resignation of Councillor William Baldwin and members are invited to appoint a member to fill the vacancy.
“The council’s constitution provides for the executive board to comprise of the leader and at least two but not more than nine other members.
“The council may therefore appoint a member to fill the vacancy arising on the executive board.”
Members of the Wrexham Independents Group, which Cllr Baldwin is still part of, are intending to put Cllr Pritchard’s name forward to fill the space.
If the appointment is approved, he would need to step down from any scrutiny committees he is on, as well as his role on the council’s planning committee.
Deputy council leader David A Bithell, who is in charge of the group, said they did not intend to put another member on the planning panel.
It will therefore be up to the full council to decide who should replace Cllr Pritchard on the committee.

By Liam Randall – Local Democracy Reporter