Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council

Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council (Welsh: Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Rhondda Cynon Taf) is the governing body for Rhondda Cynon Taf, one of the Principal Areas of Wales. The council headquarters are located in the community of Cwm Clydach on the outskirts of Tonypandy.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council

Cyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf
Type
Type
History
Founded1 April 1996
Preceded byMid Glamorgan County Council
Cynon Valley Borough Council
Rhondda Borough Council
Taff-Ely Borough Council
Leadership
Wendy Lewis,
Labour
since 10 May 2023[1]
Andrew Morgan,
Labour
since 28 May 2014
Paul Mee
since 1 December 2022[2]
Structure
Seats75 councillors[3]
Political groups
Administration
  Labour (59)
Other Parties (16)
  Plaid Cymru (8)
  Independent (6)
  Conservative (2)
Length of term
5 years
Elections
First past the post
First election
4 May 1995
Last election
5 May 2022
Next election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
The Pavilions, Cambrian Park, Clydach Vale, Tonypandy, CF40 2XX
Website
www.rctcbc.gov.uk

History

The council was established on 1 April 1996 under the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, covering the area of the three former districts of Rhondda, Cynon Valley, and Taff-Ely (except Pentyrch, which went to Cardiff). As well as taking over the functions of the abolished district councils, the new authority also took over the functions of the abolished Mid Glamorgan County Council in the area. The new county borough was described in the 1994 Act with different spellings in English and Welsh: Rhondda Cynon Taff (English) / Rhondda Cynon Taf (Welsh).[4] The council now uses the latter spelling for both languages.[5]

Political control

The council has been under Labour majority control since 2004.

The first election to the council was held in 1995, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1996. Political control of the council since 1996 has been held by the following parties:[6]

Party in controlYears
Labour1996–1999
Plaid Cymru1999–2004
Labour2004–present

Leadership

The first leader of the council, Bill Murphy, was the last leader of the old Rhondda Borough Council. The leaders since 1996 have been:[7]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Bill Murphy[8] Labour19961999
Pauline Jarman Plaid Cymru19992004
Russell Roberts[9] Labour20046 May 2012
Anthony Christopher[10] LabourMay 201215 May 2014
Andrew Morgan[11] Labour28 May 2014

Composition

Following the 2022 election and subsequent by-elections in September and November 2022, the composition of the council was:[12]

Party Councillors
Labour59
Plaid Cymru8
Independent6
Conservative2
Total 75

The independent councillors all sit together as the "RCT Independent Group" as at July 2023.[13] The next election is due in 2027.

Elections

Since 2012, elections take place every five years.[14]

Year Seats Labour Plaid Cymru Liberal Democrats Conservative Others Notes
1995 74 54 14 1 0 5 Labour majority control
1999 75 26 38 4 0 7 Plaid Cymru majority control
2004 75 57 13 1 0 4 Labour majority control
2008 75 44 20 4 1 6 Labour majority control
2012 75 60 9 1 1 4 Labour majority control
2017 75 47 18 1 4 5 Labour majority control
2022 75 59 8 0 2 6 Labour majority control

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

Premises

The council is based at The Pavilions, a group of 1990s office buildings at the Cambrian Industrial Park in the community of Cwm Clydach on the outskirts of Tonypandy in the Rhondda, which is the largest urban area in the borough. When the council was created it inherited the offices of the three former district councils, being Rock Grounds on High Street in Aberdare from Cynon Valley, the Municipal Offices on Llewellyn Street in Pentre from Rhondda, and the Municipal Buildings on Gelliwastad Road in Pontypridd from Taff-Ely. In the period leading up to the creation of the new authority there was some debate about where the new council should be based, with Plaid Cymru leading a campaign for Pontypridd to be the headquarters, but Labour preferring a location in the Rhondda.[15] The recently built site at The Pavilions was secured for the new council in 1995.[16] The older offices at Aberdare and Pontypridd continue to be used by the council as secondary offices, whilst the Pentre building has been sold.[17]

Mayors of Rhondda Cynon Taf

Past mayors of the council are:[18]

  • 1996–1997: Russell Roberts
  • 1997–1998: K Rees
  • 1998–1999: J David
  • 1999–2000: G Beard[lower-alpha 1]
  • 2000–2001: R Moses[lower-alpha 2]
  • 2001–2002: L Jones
  • 2002–2003: I Wilkins
  • 2003–2004: D E B Arnold
  • 2004–2005: A L Davies
  • 2005–2006: E Jenkins
  • 2006–2007: J Cass
  • 2007–2008: Jane Ward
  • 2008–2009: Margaret Davies
  • 2009–2010: Robert Smith
  • 2010–2011: Simon Lloyd
  • 2011–2012: Sylvia J Jones
  • 2012–2013: Doug H Williams
  • 2013–2014: Ann Crimmings
  • 2014–2015: John Watts
  • 2015–2016: Barry Stephens
  • 2016–2017: Rhys Lewis
  • 2017–2018: Margaret Tegg
  • 2018–2019: Steve Powderhill
  • 2019–2020: Linda De Vet
  • 2020–2021: Susan Morgans
  • 2021–2022: Jill Bonetto
  • 2022–2023: Wendy Treeby
  • 2023–: Wendy Lewis
  1. Served as Chairman, not Mayor
  2. Served as Chairwoman, not Mayor

Electoral wards
Pre-2022 electoral wards in Rhondda Cynon Taf
Main article: List of electoral wards in Rhondda Cynon Taf

Since the 2022 elections, the Rhondda Cynon Taf county borough has been divided into 46 electoral wards returning 75 councillors.[19][20] Some of these electoral wards are coterminous with communities (parishes) of the same name. Some communities have their own elected council. The following table lists council electoral wards, communities and associated geographical areas:

Electoral wards Councillors Communities (civil parishes) Other geographic areas
Aberaman 3 Aberaman North
Aberaman South		 Abercwmboi, Cwmaman, Glynhafod, Godreaman
Abercynon c 2 Abercynon Carnetown, Pontcynon, Tyntetown, Ynysboeth
Aberdare East c 2 Aberdare East Abernant, Foundry Town, Tŷ Fry
Aberdare West
and Llwydcoed		 3 Aberdare West
Llwydcoed		 Bwllfa Dare, Cwmdare, Robertstown, Trecynon,
Beddau and
Tyn-y-nant		 2 Llantrisant * (Beddau and Tyn-y-nant wards) Beddau, Brynteg
Brynna and Llanharan 3 Llanharan * Bryncae, Brynna, Dolau, Llanharan
Church Village 2 Llantwit Fardre * (Church Village ward) Upper Church Village
Cilfynydd 1 Pontypridd Town * (Cilfynydd ward)
Cwm Clydach c 1 Cwm Clydach Clydach Vale
Cwmbach c 2 Cwmbach
Cymer 2 Cymmer
Trehafod		 Cymmer, Glynfach, Trebanog, Trehafod
Ferndale and Maerdy 2 Ferndale
Maerdy		 Blaenllechau
Gilfach Goch c 1 Gilfach Goch * Garden City, Hendreforgan Estate
Glyn-coch 1 Pontypridd Town * (Glyncoch ward)
Graig and Pontypridd West 2 Pontypridd Town * (Graig and Rhondda wards) Maesycoed, Pantygraigwen, Pen-y-coedcae, Hopkinstown, Pwllgwaun
Hawthorn and
Lower Rhydfelen		 1 Pontypridd Town * (Hawthorn and Rhydfelen Lower wards) Upper Boat
Hirwaun, Penderyn and Rhigos 2 Hirwaun *
Rhigos *		 Cwm Hwnt, Cefn Rhigos, Hirwaun, Penderyn
Llanharry 1 Llanharry * (Llanharry ward)
Llantrisant and Talbot Green 2 Llantrisant * (Llantrisant Town and Talbot Green wards) Cross Inn, Llantrisant, Rhiwsaeson, Talbot Green, Ynysmaerdy
Llantwit Fardre 2 Llantwit Fardre * (Efail Isaf and Llantwit Fardre wards) Efail Isaf
Llwyn-y-pia c 1 Llwynypia
Mountain Ash 2 Mountain Ash East
Mountain Ash West		 Cefnpennar, Cwmpennar, Fernhill, Glenboi, Newtown
Penrhiw-ceiber c 2 Penrhiwceiber Miskin, Perthcelyn
Pentre c 2 Pentre Ton Pentre
Pen-y-graig c 2 Pen-y-graig Dinas, Edmondstown, Penpisgah, Williamstown
Pen-y-waun c 1 Pen-y-waun Trenant
Pontyclun Central 1 Pontyclun * (Central ward) Miskin, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Pontyclun
Pontyclun East 1 Pontyclun * (East ward) Groes-faen, Mwyndy
Pontyclun West 1 Pont-y-clun * (West ward)
Llanharry * (Tylagarw ward)		 Brynsadler, Pontyclun, Tyla Garw
Pontypridd Town 1 Pontypridd Town * (Town ward) Penygraigwen
Porth 2 Porth Birchgrove, Llwyncelyn, Mount Pleasant
Rhydfelen Central 1 Pontypridd Town * (Rhydfelen Central ward) Rhydyfelin
Taffs Well c 1 Taffs Well * Glan-y-llyn, Nantgarw, Taff's Well, Tŷ Rhiw
Ton-teg 1 Llantwit Fardre * (Tonteg ward)
Tonypandy c 1 Tonypandy
Tonyrefail East 2 Tonyrefail * (Coedely, Collena and Tylcha wards) Coedely
Tonyrefail West 2 Tonyrefail * (Penrhiw-fer, Thomastown and Tynybryn wards)
Trallwn 1 Pontypridd Town * (Trallwng ward)
Trealaw c 1 Trealaw
Treforest 1 Pontypridd Town * (Treforest ward) Glyntaff
Treherbert c 2 Treherbert Blaencwm, Blaenrhondda, Tynewydd,
Treorchy c 2 Treorchy Cwmparc, Ynyswen
Tylorstown and Ynyshir 2 Tylorstown
Ynyshir		 Penrhys, Pontygwaith, Stanleytown, Wattstown
Upper Rhydfelen and Glyn-Taf 1 Pontypridd Town * (Upper Rhydfelen and Glyn-taf ward) Rhydyfelin
Ynysybwl 2 Ynysybwl and Coed-y-Cwm * Roberttown, Buarth-y-capel
Ystrad c 2 Ystrad Gelli

* = Communities which elect a community council
c = Ward coterminous with community of the same name [21]

See also

References
  1. "Council minutes, 10 May 2023" (PDF). Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  2. "Appointment of new Chief Executive Officer agreed by the Council". Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  3. "Open Council Data UK - compositions councillors parties wards elections". opencouncildata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  4. "Local Government (Wales) Act 1994", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1994 c. 19, retrieved 24 October 2022
  5. "Welcome". Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  6. "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  7. "Council minutes". Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  8. "Former RCT Council boss speaks out on jobs losses". Wales Online. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  9. Smith, Mark (10 May 2012). "Ousted council leader Russell Roberts speaks out". Wales Online. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  10. "RCT council leader Anthony Christopher dies after illness". BBC News. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  11. "New Rhondda Cynon Taf Council leader to be appointed". Wales Online. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  12. "Election results". Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  13. "Your councillors by political grouping". Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  14. "Welsh unitary councils". 2 June 2015.
  15. "Storm over new HQ". Rhondda Leader. 2 February 1995. p. 3. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  16. "Pavilions 'perfect' site for council". Rhondda Leader. 8 June 1995. p. 2. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  17. "What is happening to the old Pentre Town Hall building?". Wales Online. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  18. "Previous Mayors". Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  19. Anthony Lewis (30 August 2018). "The number of electoral council wards in Rhondda Cynon Taf could be cut for 2022 election". Wales Online. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  20. "The County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  21. Election Maps, Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
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