A CABINET member for the Vale of Glamorgan council has been sacked.

Cllr Gordon Kemp has been given his marching orders by leader Cllr John Thomas after abstaining from voting for the authority’s budget.

The sacking came minutes after he voted against a cabinet decision to move Llancarfan School to Rhoose.

He has told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he is “disappointed” about being sacked as the cabinet member for social care, health and leisure, but he’s not currently considering launching a leadership challenge.

Cllr Kemp, a former leader of the authority, said: “There’s no thought of a leadership challenge in my mind at all. I have to get back to the day job now.

“I voted against the closure of the school on at least three occasions, and don’t believe that had an effect on today’s decision. I believe that the decision to sack me from cabinet resulted from my abstaining on the budget vote.

“That was prompted by their requirements for a different approach to the budget issue and I was disappointed that instead of coming to an agreement, that the leader has decided to seek an agreement with Labour.

“I do hope we can all work together as a Conservative group going forward, I’m supportive of the stand Andrew RT Davies has taken and hope we can continue to work together for the best interests of the people of the Vale.”

Cllr Thomas told the LDRS: “The decision to replace Cllr Kemp on cabinet was nothing to do with him voting against cabinet colleagues on the Llancarfan issue. I understand his position on Llancarfan and although I don’t agree with it I do respect the fact that he has argued for what he considers is best for residents in his ward.

“I do however have a problem with a cabinet member not supporting the administration on the most important issue of setting a balanced budget as happened last Friday at Special Council.

“I’m afraid that following that vote I had to make the decision as to whether I was able to continue to work with Cllr Kemp as a member of my cabinet. This was not an easy decision to make but I do need to be sure that my cabinet members have the good of the administration and the Vale of the Glamorgan at heart and felt that this was not the case.”

Cllr Ben Gray has replaced Cllr Gordon Kemp as cabinet member for social care, health and leisure.

In a further Vale of Glamorgan Council cabinet shake-up, Cllr Kathryn McCaffer will take over from Cllr Geoff Cox as cabinet member for neighbourhood services and transport.

Cllr Cox is stepping down due to ill health.