FORMER Hereford mayor Jim Kenyon has left the Herefordshire Independents county council group.

Councillor Kenyon, who only joined the group a few months ago, said it was always going to be a short term move.

He said he joined to the group to bolster their numbers after coun Bob Matthews split from the group taking four other councillors with him.

The ex-paratrooper, who was previously an It’s Our County group member, believes they should form a joint ‘super’ group with the Herefordshire Independents.

“There are very good councillors in both groups and I think they agree on many of their policies.

“I think the IOC and the Independents should join to become a super group on the council.”

Doing so, would make the new group the biggest on the council with a total of 20 councillors.

But Herefordshire Independents group leader John Hardwick said the coalition administration was working well and could see no need for change at the moment.

He said councillor Kenyon’s departure was mutually agreed.

“Jim is a very independent type of councillor who wants to do things differently,” coun Hardwick said.

“His departure shouldn’t make much of a difference to the coalition. Everyone is happy and we are working well together.”

The Conservatives are currently the biggest group on the authority with 13 councillors, followed by the Independents on 12 and It’s Our County with eight.

The Liberal Democrats and Green Party have seven each and coun Matthews’ True Independents group has five.

Tupsley councillor Kenyon will sit as an ungrouped member and will be removed from the committees he currently sits on.