Jules and Bob Rogers, a married couple who represented Labour on Pontypool Community Council for the Abersychan and Cwmavon ward, have been stripped of their seats after failing to attend a single meeting in at least six months. The community council has now declared two vacancies as a result. Neither the Local Democracy Reporting Service nor the Torfaen Labour Party responded to requests for comment on the situation.
According to Torfaen's own election records, the couple's name may have been recorded differently on the ballot. Torfaen's published community council election results list a "Jools Rogers" alongside Bob Rogers as Welsh Labour candidates for Abersychan and Cwmavon in the 16 July 2026 poll, differing slightly from the "Jules Rogers" spelling used elsewhere.
How will the vacancies be filled?
At least 10 registered electors from the ward must formally request a by-election before the process can move forward. Under the rules governing the process, residents have until 5pm on Thursday, 25 August 2026 to submit such a request to the returning officer, according to a same-day report from the South Wales Argus, which also published the submission email and postal address for residents wishing to act.
If the 10-signature threshold is reached, Stephen Vickers, chief executive of Torfaen Borough Council and the area's returning officer, will be required to set a by-election date within 60 days. Should the threshold not be met, Pontypool Community Council will instead fill the two vacancies through co-option, a process that would begin as soon as practicable once the request deadline has passed.
What is the background to the couple's time on the council?
Bob Rogers previously sought elected office at borough level, standing as a Labour candidate for Torfaen Council in the Abersychan ward during the 2022 local elections, though he did not secure one of the three seats available. Outside politics, he worked as a steelworker and later edited the Pontypool Free Press.
Notably, Pontypool Community Council's own website had not been updated to reflect the removal at the time of a recent check, with its list of community councillors still showing both Jools Rogers and Bob Rogers as the sitting representatives for Abersychan and Cwmavon.
What happens next?
The immediate focus now shifts to whether enough residents come forward to trigger a by-election before the 25 August 2026 deadline. If they do, a formal contest will follow within 60 days under Mr Vickers's direction; if not, the council will move to co-opt replacements for the ward once the deadline has passed.
Key Facts
- Jules and Bob Rogers held both council seats for Abersychan and Cwmavon on Pontypool Community Council.
- They were removed after not attending any meetings for at least six months.
- Residents have until 5pm on 25 August 2026 to request a by-election, requiring at least 10 signatures.
- Torfaen's election records list a candidate named "Jools Rogers," a variant spelling of Jules Rogers.
- Bob Rogers previously stood unsuccessfully for Torfaen Council in 2022 and formerly edited the Pontypool Free Press.
