South Wales Evening Post - 3 March 2007
Swansea's ruling coalition has been struck a further blow with another member jumping ship.
Landore councillor Rob Speht has left the ruling group and set himself up as the only Liberal Democrat-registered councillor on the council.
He blamed a lack of inclusion in decision-making as the main reason behind the move.
Councillor Speht dismissed claims he was simply unhappy at not being selected to stand as a Swansea East candidate in May's Assembly elections, adding that he had not even put himself forward for selection.
He said: "I don't want to go into the detail really, but as of Thursday I am now registered on the council as a Welsh Liberal Democrat.
"All the other Lib Dems and Independents are all registered as Swansea Administration and I have withdrawn from the administration.
"There is only me as a Welsh Liberal Democrat so in council terms I'm unaligned.
"I shall vote according to my conscience. The people of Landore voted for me as a Liberal Democrat."
Councillor Speht's move has shifted the balance of power again, giving the ruling coalition just 31 seats on Swansea's 74- member council.
Labour now have one more seat than the administration, with Plaid and the Conservatives having five and three respectively.
The balance of Swansea Council has shifted a number of times in recent months.
It started with the Conservative group's decision to withdraw from the coalition.A number of defections followed in either direction, with the Lib Dem-led coalition managing to retain control.
But Mr Speht, who is a shareholder in Energytech Ltd, WindTech Cymru Ltd, Melyn Gwynt Ltd and Fresh Approach To Ltd, said that he had become disappointed in recent months.
He said: "Increasingly people who are not cabinet members are not included.
"We're not really included in a wider sense, there's no collective decision- making.
"It is not as structured as I'd like it to be. I've been out of the loop for the past couple of months."
Councillor Chris Holley, leader of Swansea Council, said: "I am disappointed by the decision.
"But he has made his mind up, and that is what he wants to do."
