MERTHYR TYDFIL County Borough Council has seen a change in leadership with Labour’s Councillor Brent Carter taking the helm, making him the third council leader in less than three years. The change marks Labour’s return to control for the first time since 2017. Cllr Carter, however, began his tenure by confronting a significant moment from his past.
On his first day in office, Cllr Carter candidly addressed an incident from nine years ago in which he was found at a local brothel. Reflecting on the 2015 episode, Carter admitted to making a “big mistake”, but emphasised that he has learned valuable lessons from it. At the time of the incident, he was serving as a councillor but faced no criminal charges, and an investigation by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales cleared him of bringing his office into disrepute.
Speaking to ITV Cymru Wales, Cllr Carter described the incident as a “massive learning curve” and an “error of judgement”. He expressed his belief that mistakes are a part of life, stating, “For me, I think life is all about making mistakes and learning from those mistakes and putting it right.”
Acknowledging his past, Carter expressed his determination to move forward, saying, “None of us are infallible, and it’s about putting those issues to bed and moving forward for the betterment of the people of Merthyr Tydfil. I believe I’m the right person to do that now.”
Carter’s political career began in 2008 when he was first elected to represent the Plymouth ward in Merthyr Tydfil. Since then, he has been re-elected three times, most recently after the brothel incident, which he feels demonstrates his constituents’ continued trust in him. “Since that incident in 2015, I’ve been elected another twice, so I’ve had the support from my residents,” Carter said, adding, “They trust me, and that’s what I want to try to get across to everybody in Merthyr Tydfil: you can trust me because I’ll do my best to work for everybody in this county borough.”
The recent leadership change came after the resignation of former leader Geraint Thomas, an Independent, following a by-election that saw Labour gain control from the Independent group. The shift in power was also influenced by two Independent councillors leaving the group. Cllr Carter described his appointment as a “huge honour and great privilege”, expressing a strong commitment to working with all councillors to serve the residents of Merthyr Tydfil.
During his first full council meeting as leader on 18 September, Carter outlined his vision for the future of the council, vowing to transform the authority into a “fit-for-purpose organisation” ready to tackle the challenges ahead. “We must be realistic, honest and above all transparent,” he told councillors. He also stressed the importance of listening to public opinion and being open about the difficult financial decisions the council may need to make in the coming months.
Cllr Carter further highlighted the need for structural changes within the council to ensure long-term sustainability. As part of his agenda, he expressed a desire to foster collaboration with local and central government, as well as the area’s MS and MP, to secure the best outcomes for Merthyr Tydfil.
While the new leader faces significant challenges, Cllr Carter appears determined to rebuild trust and lead the council through a period of transformation, armed with lessons learned from the past.
