Manchester City Council

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Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Script error: No such module "Infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Manchester City Council is the local authority for the city of Manchester in Greater Manchester, England. Manchester has had an elected local authority since 1838, which has been reformed several times. Since 1974 the council has been a metropolitan borough council. It provides the majority of local government services in the city. The council has been a member of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority since 2011.

The council has been under Labour majority control since 1971. It is based at Manchester Town Hall.

History

Script error: No such module "labelled list hatnote". Manchester had been governed as a borough in the 13th and 14th centuries, but its borough status was not supported by a royal charter. An inquiry in 1359 ruled that it was only a market town, not a borough. It was then governed by manorial courts and the parish vestry until the 18th century.[1]

File:Manchester Old Town Hall.JPG
Old Town Hall, King Street: Completed 1825 for the Police Commissioners, subsequently served as council's headquarters until 1877

In 1792 a body of improvement commissioners known as the 'Manchester Police Commissioners' was established to provide services in the rapidly growing town. In 1838 the town was incorporated as a municipal borough, after which it was governed by a body formally called the 'mayor, aldermen and burgesses of the borough of Manchester', generally known as the corporation or town council. The police commissioners were disbanded in 1843 and their functions passed to the corporation.[2][3]

Manchester was granted city status in 1853, only the second such grant since the Reformation. After that the corporation was also known as the city council.[1] When elected county councils were established in 1889, Manchester was considered large enough to provide its own county-level services, and so it became a county borough, independent from the new Lancashire County Council, whilst remaining part of the geographical county of Lancashire.[3]

The city boundaries have been enlarged many times. Notable expansions were in 1885 (Bradford, Harpurhey and Rusholme), 1890 (Blackley, Crumpsall, part of Droylsden, Kirkmanshulme, Moston, Newton Heath, Openshaw, and West Gorton), 1903 (Heaton), 1904 (Burnage, Chorlton cum Hardy, Didsbury, and Moss Side), 1909 (Gorton, and Levenshulme), 1931 (Wythenshawe: Baguley, Northenden, and Northen Etchells), and Ringway in 1974. The mayor was granted the title of lord mayor in 1893.[4]

Henry Price (1867–1944) was appointed as the first City Architect of Manchester in 1902.[5] He was succeeded in 1932 by George Noel Hill (1893–1985).[6]

The county borough was abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, being replaced by a metropolitan district of Manchester, covering the area of the old county borough plus the parish of Ringway. The new district was one of ten metropolitan districts within the new metropolitan county of Greater Manchester.[7] Manchester's borough and city statuses and its lord mayoralty passed to the new district and its council.[8][9]

In 1980, Manchester was the first council to declare itself a nuclear-free zone. In 1984 it formed an equal opportunities unit as part of its opposition to Section 28.[10]

From 1974 until 1986 the council was a lower-tier authority, with upper-tier functions provided by the Greater Manchester County Council. The county council was abolished in 1986 and its functions passed to Greater Manchester's ten borough councils, including Manchester City Council, with some services provided through joint committees.[11]

Since 2011 the council has been a member of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, which has been led by the directly elected Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017. The combined authority provides strategic leadership and co-ordination for certain functions across Greater Manchester, notably regarding transport and town planning, but Manchester City Council continues to be responsible for most local government functions.[12][13]

In 2025, the council came under fire following videos created by TikToker Zoë Bread criticising the council for misleading parking signage on Collier Street.[14] The road in question contained an official council-owned sign pointing to a official-looking payment terminal owned by a nearby private car park,[15] whereas the council's terminal on the nearby Beaufort Street, which Zoë claimed was misleading.[16][17] Zoë made a number of different attempts to contact the council and resolve the issue which were largely unsuccessful at first, whilst gaining widespread support for the campaign.[18][19][20] The campaign resulted in the council refunding all fines given out on the street in the last 12 months,[21] following the council's leader Bev Craig saying that the signs "could be clearer" and having the council review them.[22] Zoë's campaign was praised by opposition councillors. Following the announcement by the council, Zoë also raised concerns over the council's deadlines and handling of complaints.[23]

Governance

Manchester City Council provides metropolitan borough services. Some strategic functions in the area are provided by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority; the leader of the city council sits on the combined authority as Manchester's representative.[24] There is one civil parish in the city at Ringway, with a parish council; the rest of the city is unparished.[25]

Political control

The council has been under Labour majority control since 1971.

Political control of the council since 1838 has been as follows:[26]

Borough Corporation

Party Period
Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1838-1886
Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1886-1889

County Borough

Party Period
Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1889-1908
Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1908–1919
Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1919–1921
Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1921–1926
Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1926–1932
Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1932–1934
Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1934–1946
Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1946–1947
Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1947–1949
Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1949–1952
Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1952–1953
Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1953–1967
Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1967–1971
Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1971–1974

Metropolitan Borough

Party Period
Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1974–present

Leadership

The role of Lord Mayor of Manchester is largely ceremonial. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1930 have been:[27]

County Borough

Councillor Party From To
F. J. West Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 11 February 1930 3 November 1933
J. H. Swales Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 3 November 1933 6 October 1937
Samuel Woollam Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 6 Oct 1937 2 November 1945
George Titt Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2 November 1945 8 Nov 1946
Tom Nally Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 8 November 1946[28] 1949
William Jackson Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1949 1953
Tom Nally Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1953 20 December 1956[29]
Bob Thomas Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 20 December 1956 22 May 1962
Maurice Pariser Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 22 May 1962[30] 8 October 1965[31]
Bob Thomas Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 3 November 1965[32] 12 May 1967
Robert Rodgers Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 12 May 1967[33] 21 May 1970[34]
Arnold Fieldhouse Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 21 May 1970 14 May 1971
Bob Thomas Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 14 May 1971[35] 26 April 1973
Joe Dean Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 26 April 1973 28 February 1974
Norman Morris Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 28 February 1974 1 April 1974

Metropolitan Borough

Councillor Party From To
Norman Morris[36] Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1 April 1974 1982
Bill Egerton Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1982 1984
Graham Stringer Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1984 1996
Richard Leese Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1996 1 Dec 2021
Bev Craig Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1 Dec 2021

Composition

Following the 2024 election, the composition of the council was:[37]

Party Councillors
After election Current
Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 87 86
Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 4 4
Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 3 3
Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1 1
Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 1 1
Total 96 95

The next election is due in May 2026.

Elections

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Since the last boundary changes in 2018, the council has comprised 96 councillors representing 32 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with a third of the council (one councillor for each ward) elected each time for a four-year term of office.[38]

Wards

The council wards are listed under their parliamentary constituency below:

File:Manchester City Council Wards Numbered 2018.png
Wards within Manchester City Council
Blackley and Middleton South Gorton and Denton Manchester Central
Template:Ordered list

This constituency also contains
Template:Unordered list

Template:Ordered list

This constituency also contains
Template:Unordered list

Template:Ordered list

This constituency also contains
Template:Unordered list

Manchester Rusholme Manchester Withington Wythenshawe and Sale East
Template:Ordered list Template:Ordered list Template:Ordered list

This constituency also contains
Template:Unordered list

Councillors

Each ward is represented by three councillors.[39]

Parliamentary constituency Ward Councillor Party Term of office
Blackley and
Middleton South
constituency 		Charlestown Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Crumpsall Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Harpurhey Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Higher Blackley Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Moston Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Gorton and Denton
constituency 		Burnage Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Gorton and Abbey Hey Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Levenshulme Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Longsight Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Manchester Central
constituency 		Ancoats and Beswick Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Cheetham Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Clayton and Openshaw Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Deansgate Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Miles Platting and Newton Heath Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Piccadilly Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Manchester Rusholme
constituency 		Ardwick Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color".<templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>[a] 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Fallowfield Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Hulme Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Moss Side Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Rusholme Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Whalley Range Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Manchester Withington
constituency 		Chorlton Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Chorlton Park Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Didsbury East Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–27<templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>[b]
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Didsbury West Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Old Moat Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Withington Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Wythenshawe and
Sale East
constituency 		Baguley vacant 2024–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Brooklands Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Northenden Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Sharston Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26
Woodhouse Park Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2023–27
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2024–28
Script error: No such module "Sort". Script error: No such module "Party name with color". 2022–26

<templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^a Elected as Labour but resigned from the party in the wake of the Labour leadership's stance on the Israeli invasion of Gaza.[40]

<templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^b Elected during the 2024 election to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of James Wilson, who was elected in 2023.

Premises

File:Town Hall Extension Manchester.jpg
Town Hall Extension

The council is based at Manchester Town Hall on Albert Square, completed in 1877,[41] and the adjoining Town Hall Extension on the opposite side of Lloyd Street, which was completed in 1938 and is linked to the older building by first floor bridges.[42] The main Town Hall has been under refurbishment since 2020, due to reopen in 2026. The council continues to operate from the Town Hall Extension.[43][44]

Coat of arms

File:Arms of the City of Manchester.svg
Gules, three bendlets enhanced Or; a chief argent, thereon on waves of the sea a ship under sail proper. On a wreath of colours, a terrestrial globe semée of bees volant, all proper. On the dexter side a heraldic antelope argent, attired, and chain reflexed over the back Or, and on the sinister side a lion guardant Or, murally crowned Gules; each charged on the shoulder with a rose of the last. Motto: "Concilio et Labore".

A coat of arms was granted to the Manchester Corporation in 1842, passing on to Manchester City Council when the borough of Manchester was granted the title of city in 1853.[45]

  • The Shield: red (Gules) with three gold (Or) bands drawn diagonally across to the right-hand side.
  • The Chief (the white (Argent) top segment): shows a ship at sea in full sail. This is a reference to the city's trading base.
  • The Crest: On a multicoloured wreath stands a terrestrial globe, signifying Manchester's world trade, and covered by a swarm of flying bees. The bee was adopted in the 19th century as a symbol of industrial Manchester being the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.
  • The Supporters: On the left, a heraldic antelope with a chain attached to a gold (Or) collar, representing engineering industries, and hanging at the shoulder, the red rose of Lancashire, reflecting Manchester's historic position in Lancashire. On the right, a golden lion stands guardant (facing us), crowned with a red (Gules) castle (a reference to the Roman fort at Castlefield from which the city originated). The lion also wears the Red Rose of Lancashire.
  • Motto: Concilio et Labore, loosely translated "By wisdom and effort" (or "By counsel and hard work").

In 1954, Manchester Corporation successfully took the Manchester Palace of Varieties to court for improperly using the corporation's arms in its internal decoration and its company seal. The case of Manchester Corporation v Manchester Palace of Varieties Ltd;[46] was the first sitting of the Court of Chivalry for two hundred years, and it has not sat since.[47]

In April 2013, Manchester City Council threatened to take legal action against The Manchester Gazette, for its use of the city's coat of arms on their website. The News Outlet claimed it already gained permission and continued to use it for a further 8 months in spite of the warnings. Withington MP John Leech described the council's latest move as a "massive over-reaction and waste of money", adding: "Have the council's legal department got nothing better to do?".[48][49]

References

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

  1. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". Reprinted by Manchester Education Committee (1962).
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Template:Cite legislation UK
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  10. ↑ Citations:
    • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
    • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Template:Cite legislation UK
  12. ↑ Template:Cite legislation UK
  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. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ MANCHESTER LABOUR GROUP'S LEADER, Manchester Guardian, November 9, 1946, p.8
  29. ↑ TOM NALLY - HOUSING EXPERT DIES, 63, Manchester Evening News, December 20, 1956, p.1
  30. ↑ NEW LABOUR LEADER, The Guardian, May 23, 1962, p.1
  31. ↑ Sir Maurice Resigns as Labour's leader, The Guardian, October 9, 1965, p.14
  32. ↑ Ald. R. E. Thomas Manchester Labour Group Leader, The Guardian, November 4, 1965, p.6
  33. ↑ Manchester lost by Labour after 16 years in power, Manchester Guardian, May 12, 1967, p.6
  34. ↑ Tories oust group leader, The Guardian, May 22, 1970, p.7
  35. ↑ Manchester, The Guardian, May 14, 1971, p.9
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Template:Cite legislation UK
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Template:NHLE
  42. ↑ Template:NHLE
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". Reprinted by Manchester Education Committee (1962).
  46. ↑ Manchester Corporation v Manchester Palace of Varieties Ltd, P 133; [1955] 1 All ER 387
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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

Further reading

  • McKechnie, H. M. (ed.) (1915) Manchester in Nineteen Hundred and Fifteen. Manchester U. P.; "Undertakings of the City Council; Social Amelioration in Manchester; Elementary Education in Manchester; Secondary Schools in Manchester; The Evening School System of Manchester", by E. D. Simon, et al.
  • Manchester City Council. "Concilio et Labore" Series. No. 1-11. (Each pamphlet describes part of the council's work, e.g. no. 4: the City Treasurer.
  • Redford, Arthur (1939) The History of City Government in Manchester; Vol. 2 & 3: Borough and City; The Last Half Century.
  • Simon, Ernest D. (1926) A City Council from Within. London: Longmans, Green
  • Simon, Shena D. (1938) A Century of City Government: Manchester 1838–1938. London: G. Allen & Unwin
  • Tomlinson, H. E. (1943) "The Heraldry of Manchester" in: Bulletin of the John Rylands Library; vol. XXVIII, pp. 207–27

External links

Script error: No such module "Navbox". Template:Local authorities in Greater Manchester Template:Metropolitan districts of England Script error: No such module "Authority control".

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