The Chair of Council 2024 – 2025 is County Councillor Su McConnel

Appointment of the Chair

• The Chair, who is the Civic Head of the Council, is elected in May of each year at the Annual Meeting of the County Council.

• The Chair must be a serving Councillor and must remain politically impartial during their year of office.

• During the Annual Meeting of Council the Chair appoints a Consort for their term of office.

• The Vice Chair of the Council is also appointed at the Annual Meeting and will represent the Chair at meetings and events in his/her absence.

The Role of the Chair

The Chair has the following responsibilities:

• To preside over meetings of the Council so that its business can be carried out efficiently and with regard to the rights of councillors and the interests of the community.

• To uphold and promote the purposes of the Constitution when necessary.

• To ensure that the Council meeting is a forum for the debate of matters of concern to the local community and the place at which members who are not on the executive are able to hold the executive and committee Chair to account.

• To promote public involvement in the Council’s activities.

• To be the conscience of the Council.

• To attend such civic and ceremonial functions as the council and he/she determines appropriate e.g. royal visits, charitable events, supporting local cultural activities (whilst representing the County the Chair wears a Chain of Office).  By stature, the Chair takes precedence within the County, with the exception of His Majesty the King or his representative for the County, the Lord Lieutenant.

• The Chair can nominate a charity of their choice and host fund raising events throughout their term of office.

• The Chair acts as First Citizen for the County fostering community identity and pride by actively promoting local areas and raising the profile of Monmouthshire and the Council.

County Councillor Su McConnel

Chair 2024 -2025

Su was raised in SW Scotland, getting her first degree at St Andrews University where she was President of the Students Union.  Following family tradition, she then ran away to sea on a tall ship, moving ashore in the 80’s to start a long career in the Probation Service.  In the 90’s she moved to Cornwall where she farmed sheep and tourists in the family business she set up there with her husband, gaining her second degree while the family Labrador brought up their two daughters.  Family ties then brought them all to Monmouthshire, where they all live in and around Abergavenny. 

Su is Vice-Chair of Napo Cymru, the Union for Probation workers in Wales, a School Governor of King Henry School in Abergavenny. she is passionate about social justice, a keen amateur cartoonist, gardener, and an enthusiastic if now rusty tennis player.

Please support the Chair’s Charity 2024-25

Cyfannol Women’s Aid specialises in supporting women and girls who have experienced any form of violence against women, domestic abuse, and/or sexual violence. Our vision is that “Everyone is empowered to flourish in a life free from domestic abuse and sexual violence”. 

Cyfanol’s mission is to deliver across Gwent, a range of person-led and trauma-informed services to any person, particularly women or children, who have experienced any form of Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse, and Sexual Violence, regardless of their needs and the multiple disadvantages they face.

If you would like to invite the Chair to an event or would like them to visit a community facility, please contact the Chair’s PA, Linda Greer on Tel: 01633 644020 or email lindagreer@monmouthshire.gov.uk alternatively write to: The Chair’s Office, Monmouthshire County Council, County Hall, Rhadyr, Usk  NP15 1GA.  (It would be appreciated if all correspondence could please be sent via the Chair’s Office and not directly to the Chair).

Should the Chair be unable to attend an event due to a prior commitment the invitation will be passed to the Vice-Chair, County Councillor Peter Strong