Sad Death of Councillor Des Davies

 

We are deeply saddened to have to report the death of our long -serving and dedicated Borough Councillor Desmond  Davies.  Des passed away in hospital on February the 27th, at the age of 70, after a long period battling ill health.

Des was always ready to take up any cause and try to find a solution to any problem. He was a true servant of the people.  He was also a lovely, gentle and  warm human being.  He will be missed more than he might have realised.

 

 OBITUARY FROM NPT COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL

Desmond William Davies – Des – served as a county and county borough councillor for 38 years and also as community councillor for many years.

Elected to serve the West Glamorgan County Council in 1981, Des also served the successor authority – Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council – from its inception in 1996.

During his distinguished local government service, Des was entrusted with a number of senior roles: chairing the education scrutiny committee and representing the Council on a range of external bodies connected with education matters before taking up the more senior role of chairing the Policy and Resources/Cabinet Scrutiny Committee where his experience and good humour made him well suited to examining the most significant policy decisions to be considered by the Council and its Cabinet. In this role he also championed the scrutiny function, encouraging less experienced councillors to play their full part in the decision making processes of the Council.

In 2000/2001 Des was elected to serve as mayor of the county borough. This was a role that he relished and was ably supported in his mayoral year by his dear mum Doreen whilst also encouraged from the sidelines by his father. During the year there were many things to celebrate but Des also found himself leading our communities in mourning for the loss of life that occurred following disastrous events at the Corus Steelworks. He did this with great dignity and compassion.

In May 2017 Des was invited to join the Council’s Cabinet as the Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Protection. In a short period of time Des made a real difference – making himself known to staff; championing the services in his portfolio; commanding the respect of the Council’s partners, particularly in drawing attention to the substance misuse problems besetting parts of the county borough; whilst also playing a full role within the wider agenda of the Council.

As important as the formal roles within the Council were to Des, he never forgot that he was there to represent the people of Resolven and combined his busy role as cabinet member with various community roles, including, for example, being a trustee of the Melin Cwrt Pensioners’ Hall, Chair of governors of Llangatwg Community School and governor of Ynysfach Primary School- Just some of the local community groups that Des supported.

Des approached all of these roles with good humour and a dedication to public service. He was passionate about his work and always worked to do the best he could for the people he represented. He demanded no less in those he work alongside and in doing so is held in high regard by those who came in contact with him.

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