Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Blaenau Gwent council)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council (Template:Langx) is the governing body for Blaenau Gwent, one of the Principal Areas of Wales.

History

The borough council was created in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 as a lower-tier district council with borough status. Gwent County Council provided county-level services for the area.[1] The county council was abolished in 1996 and Blaenau Gwent became a principal area with county borough status, with the council taking over the functions previously performed by the county council.[2]

Borough status allows Blaenau Gwent to give the chair of the council the title of mayor. However, the council discontinued the role of mayor in 2017, with the last mayor being Barrie Sutton. A presiding member role has been created instead to chair meetings.[3][4]

In 2024 the council agreed to share a chief executive with neighbouring Torfaen County Borough Council.[5]

Political control

The council has been under Labour majority control since the 2022 election.[6]

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[7]

Lower-tier borough

Party in control Years
  1. REDIRECT Template:Party name with color

Template:Redirect category shell || 1974–1996

County borough

Party in control Years
  1. REDIRECT Template:Party name with color

Template:Redirect category shell || 1996–2008

  1. REDIRECT Template:Party name with color

Template:Redirect category shell || 2008–2012

  1. REDIRECT Template:Party name with color

Template:Redirect category shell || 2012–2017

  1. REDIRECT Template:Party name with color

Template:Redirect category shell || 2017–2022

  1. REDIRECT Template:Party name with color

Template:Redirect category shell || 2022–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2001 have been:[8]

Councillor Party From To
John Hopkins[9]
  1. REDIRECT Template:Party name with color

Template:Redirect category shell || align=right|pre-2001 || align=right|Nov 2007

Hedley McCarthy
  1. REDIRECT Template:Party name with color

Template:Redirect category shell || align=right|Nov 2007 || align=right|2008

Des Hillman[10]
  1. REDIRECT Template:Party name with color

Template:Redirect category shell || align=right|2008 || align=right|10 Oct 2011

John Mason[11][12]
  1. REDIRECT Template:Party name with color

Template:Redirect category shell || align=right|14 Oct 2011 || align=right|May 2012

Hedley McCarthy[13][14]
  1. REDIRECT Template:Party name with color

Template:Redirect category shell || align=right|May 2012 || align=right|2 Dec 2015

Steve Thomas
  1. REDIRECT Template:Party name with color

Template:Redirect category shell || align=right|2 Dec 2015 || align=right|25 May 2017

Nigel Daniels
  1. REDIRECT Template:Party name with color

Template:Redirect category shell || align=right|25 May 2017 || align=right|8 May 2022

Steve Thomas
  1. REDIRECT Template:Party name with color

Template:Redirect category shell || align=right|26 May 2022 || align=right|

Composition

Following the 2022 election and subsequent changes of allegiance and by-elections up to February 2024, the composition of the council was:[15][16]

Party Councillors
  1. REDIRECT Template:Party name with color

Template:Redirect category shell || align=center|21

  1. REDIRECT Template:Party name with color

Template:Redirect category shell || align=center|12

Total 33

The next election is due in 2027.

Elections

Summary of the council composition after council elections, click on the year for full details of each election.[17]

Year Seats Labour Independent Liberal Democrats Plaid Cymru Conservative Notes
style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" | style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" | style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" | style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" | style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" |
1995 42 33 6Template:Efn 1 1 1 Labour majority control
1999 42 34 7Template:Efn 1 0 0 Labour majority control
2004 42 32 7 3 0 0 Labour majority control
2008 42 17 23Template:Efn 2 0 0 Independent / People's Voice / Liberal Democrat coalition
2012 42 33 9 0 0 0 Labour majority control
2017[18][19] 42 13 28 0 1 0 Independent majority control
2022[20] 33 21 12 0 0 0 Labour majority control. New ward boundaries.[21]
style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" | style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" | style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" | style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" | style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" |

Party with the most elected councillors in bold. Coalition agreements in notes column Template:Notelist

Premises

File:Ebbw Vale Civic Centre - geograph.org.uk - 3977266.jpg
Civic Centre, Ebbw Vale: Council's headquarters until 2021.

Until 2021 the council was based at Ebbw Vale Civic Centre, which had been built in the 1960s for the former Ebbw Vale Urban District Council. In 2021 the council voted to demolish the civic centre and moved its meeting place and headquarters to the General Office building adjoining Ebbw Vale Town railway station.[22] The General Office building had been built in 1916 as the offices for the Ebbw Vale Iron and Steel Company.[23] The refurbished and extended building also serves as a conference centre and houses Gwent Archives.[24]

Electoral wards

File:Blaenau Gwent UK ward map (blank).svg
Pre-2022 electoral divisions in Blaenau Gwent

Following a review by the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales the number of electoral wards reduced from 16 to 14 at the 2022 local elections. The number of councillors dropped from 42 to 33.[25] The following table lists the pre-2022 council wards, as well as communities and associated geographical areas. Communities with a community council are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Ward Communities Other geographic areas
Abertillery

(3 Seats - 1 No Party, 2 Labour)

Abertillery & Llanhilleth Town* (Abertillery ward) Rhiw Park, Aberillery Park
Badminton

(2 seats)

That part of the Community of Beaufort specified in relation to the existing district ward of Badminton in column 2 of the Schedule to the Blaenau Gwent (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1986 Newchurch, Glyncoed
Beaufort

(2 seats)

That part of the Community of Beaufort specified in relation to the existing district ward of Badminton in column 2 of the Schedule to the Blaenau Gwent (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1986 Garn Lydan, Carmeltown,
Blaina

(3 seats)

Nantyglo & Blaina Town* (Blaina ward) Cwm Celyn, Bournville
Brynmawr

(3 seats)

Brynmawr Town*
Cwm

(2 seats)

Cwm Waunllwyd
Cwmtillery

(3 seats)

Abertillery & Llanhilleth Town* (Cwmtillery ward) Rose Heyworth
Ebbw Vale North

(3 seats)

That part of the Community of Ebbw Vale specified in relation to the existing district ward of Ebbw Vale North in column 2 of the Schedule to the Blaenau Gwent (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1986 Mountain Air, Willowtown, Waun-y-pound, Newtown
Ebbw Vale South

(2 seats)

That part of the Community of Ebbw Vale not contained in the Ebbw Vale North ward Garden City, Tyllwyn, Hilltop, Briery Hill
Georgetown

(2 seats)

Tredegar Town* (Georgetown ward) Troedrhiwgwair, Peacehaven
Llanhilleth

(3 seats)

Abertillery & Llanhilleth Town* (Llanhilleth ward) Brynithel, Aberbeeg, Swffryd
Nantyglo

(3 seats)

Nantyglo & Blaina Town* (Nantyglo ward) Winchestown, Coalbrookvale, Garn Fach, Coed Cae
Rassau

(2 seats)

That part of the pre-2010 community of Beaufort not contained in the Badminton and Beaufort wards Nantycroft
Sirhowy

(3 seats)

Tredegar Town* (Sirhowy ward) Tafarnaubach, Waundeg, Trevil, Dukestown, Rhoslan
Six Bells

(2 seats)

Abertillery & Llanhilleth Town* (Six Bells ward) Warm Turn
Tredegar Central and West

(4 seats)

Tredegar Town* (Central and West ward) Bedwellty Pits, Cefn Golau, Ashvale

Criticism of councillors' conduct

Joanne Collins, the council's executive member for education and also a governor of her son's primary school took her family on holiday during school term time, "in direct contravention of her department's own policy", reported Private Eye in April 2020. The council reportedly distributes a pamphlet titled "School Attendance - a guide for parents of children starting school" that clearly states Blaenau Gwent Council "requested headteachers do not authorise any holidays in term time". The booklet had been published by Families First, a Welsh Government project, in conjunction with the council. Collins' action reportedly caused resentment among local families who had been refused permission to take a holiday during term time to save on cost. In response, council leader, Nigel Daniels, issued a statement to the South Wales Argus newspaper stating the "holiday in question was authorised ... and fully complied with the policy".[26]

Arms

Template:Infobox COA wide

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ Template:Cite legislation UK
  2. ↑ Template:Cite legislation UK
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Template:Cite legislation UK
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Template:National Historic Assets of Wales
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Private Eye, Issue 1519, p.18

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

External links

Template:Blaenau Gwent Script error: No such module "Navbox". Template:Gwent elections Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Blaenau_Gwent_County_Borough_Council&oldid=3907040"