‘Leading the council is an amazing job... despite long hours, stress and criticism’

IT’S SEVEN months since 32-yearold Huw Thomas became the leader of Cardiff council.

The Labour councillor has settled into his office upstairs at County Hall.

The city he is in charge of is changing in front of his eyes and, while his desk is covered in more paper and reports than the week after he took over, he says the job is “amazing”.

“There are a myriad of challenges and it’s relentless in terms of the problems that come up but nevertheless there is an opportunity to make a difference and there are few feelings that compare to that. That is incredibly motivating in driving me forward.”

But he admits in reality his new role means early starts for train journeys to London as well as “60-hour weeks, stress and criticism”.

“But that is tempered by people being positive about the direction of travel and people see what we’re trying to achieve and particularly that we’re trying to improve the lives of residents.”

He says his administration has already managed to achieve some “quick wins”.

Hosting the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Juventus in June – a game that showcased the Welsh capital to an estimated global TV audience of 400 million people – was one.

Intervening in Womanby Street in the city centre to buy the building neighbouring Clwb Ifor Bach, during a fight to protect Cardiff’s music heritage, was another.

He admits ideas land on his desk from all quarters and it’s about picking the ones that he feels will make the biggest difference or improvement.

“With Womanby Street it was something that is important. We as an administration felt this one.

“One of the options to us was to buy the building and there will be a return on that,” he said.

“I believe in an interventionist council and if we can make a difference we should.”

He says that while the Champions League final was now months ago – and just days after his administration took charge – it should be seen as a success for them.

“It put a tremendous strain on our resources in terms of the people who had things to deliver for that, but it was huge and they delivered the biggest sporting event in the world here in Cardiff.”

Cardiff since threw its hat into the ring to host Euro 2020 matches, though its bid ultimately lost out to London’s Wembley Stadium.

“We had a long discussion at