Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council (Welsh: Cyngor bwrdeistref Sirol Blaenau Gwent) is the governing body for Blaenau Gwent, one of the Principal Areas of Wales.

This article is about county borough council. For the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) constituency, see Blaenau Gwent (Senedd Cymru constituency). For the UK parliament constituency, see Blaenau Gwent (UK Parliament constituency). For the county borough, see Blaenau Gwent.

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council

Cyngor Bwrdeisdref Sirol Blaenau Gwent
History
Founded1 April 1974
Leadership
Chris Smith,
Labour
since 26 May 2022
Steve Thomas,
Labour
since 26 May 2022[1]
Damien McCann
since March 2022
Structure
Seats33 councillors
Political groups
Administration
  Labour(22)
Other Parties
  Independent (11)
Length of term
5 years
Elections
Last election
5 May 2022
Next election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
General Offices, Steelworks Road, Ebbw Vale, NP23 6DN
Website
www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk

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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4][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 controlYears
Labour1974–1996

County borough

Party in controlYears
Labour1996–2008
Independent2008–2012
Labour2012–2017
Independent2017–2022
Labour2022–present

Leadership

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

CouncillorPartyFromTo
John Hopkins[9] Labourpre-2001Nov 2007
Hedley McCarthy LabourNov 20072008
Des Hillman[10] Independent200810 Oct 2011
John Mason[11][12] Independent14 Oct 2011May 2012
Hedley McCarthy[13][14] LabourMay 20122 Dec 2015
Steve Thomas Labour2 Dec 201525 May 2017
Nigel Daniels Independent25 May 20178 May 2022
Steve Thomas Labour26 May 2022

Composition

Following the 2022 election and one subsequent change of allegiance later in May 2022,[15] the composition of the council was:

Party Councillors
Labour22
Independent11
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.[16]

Year Seats Labour Independent Liberal Democrats Plaid Cymru Conservative Notes
1995 42 33 6[lower-alpha 1] 1 1 1 Labour majority controlled
1999 42 34 7[lower-alpha 2] 1 0 0 Labour majority controlled
2004 42 32 7 3 0 0 Labour majority controlled
2008 42 17 23[lower-alpha 3] 2 0 0 Independent / People's Voice / Liberal Democrat Coalition
2012 42 33 9 0 0 0 Labour majority controlled
2017[17][18] 42 13 28 0 1 0 Independent majority controlled
2022[19] 33 21 12 0 0 0 Labour majority controlled. New ward boundaries.[20]

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

  1. Including two Ratepayers' Association councillors and one Independent Labour.
  2. Including four Ratepayers' Association councillors and one Independent Labour.
  3. Including five Blaenau Gwent People's Voice councillors.

Premises
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.[21] The General Office building had been built in 1916 as the offices for the Ebbw Vale Iron and Steel Company.[22] The refurbished and extended building also serves as a conference centre and houses Gwent Archives.[23]

Electoral wards
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.[24] 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".[25]

Arms
Coat of arms of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
Notes
Originally granted to Blaenau Gwent Borough Council on 13 November 1975.
Crest
On a wreath of the colours upon a rocky mount Proper a dragon passant Gules breathing flames collared with a ring of steel and supporting with the dexter foreleg a pair of millrolls Proper.
Escutcheon
Paly wavy of six Argent and Vert on a chief dancetty of three points downward per pale Azure and Sable three fleurs de lys Or.
Supporters
On either side a dragon Gules breathing flames collared with a ring of steel and supporting with the dexter foreleg a pick axe head downward Proper.
Motto
Unbed A Rhyddid (Unity & Freedom)[26]
Badge
A roundel paly wavy of six Argent and Vert charged with six fleurs de lys Or.

References
  1. "Former council leader returns to top job in Blaenau Gwent". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  2. "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 9 October 2022
  3. "Local Government (Wales) Act 1994", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1994 c. 19, retrieved 9 October 2022
  4. "There will no longer be a Mayor in Blaenau Gwent". 26 May 2017.
  5. "Presiding member". Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  6. Will Hayward (6 May 2022). "Blaenau Gwent local elections 2022: The full results as Labour regains control". Wales Online. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  7. "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  8. "Council minutes". Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  9. "Blaenau Gwent leader is selected". BBC News. 23 November 2007. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  10. "Blaenau Gwent council leader Des Hillman resigns". BBC News. 7 October 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  11. Doel, Laura (15 October 2011). "New leader elected for Blaenau Gwent". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  12. "A hat trick for Labour in Blaenau Gwent as the party regains the council". Wales Online. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  13. "Council elections: Labour regains Blaenau Gwent heartland". South Wales Argus. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  14. "Blaenau Gwent leader Hedley McCarthy quits over cuts". BBC News. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  15. Hearn, Elgan (8 July 2023). "Ebbw Vale Cllr Carl Bainton in backlash for joining Labour". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  16. "Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council Election Results 1995-2012" (PDF). Elections Centre Plymouth University. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  17. "Wales local elections 2017". BBC News. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  18. "Local Elections: Independents take control of Blaenau Gwent from Labour". South Wales Argus. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  19. "Blaenau Gwent result - Local Elections 2022". BBC News. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  20. "The County Borough of Blaenau Gwent (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2021/1161, retrieved 10 October 2022
  21. Gill, Emily (26 March 2021). "Demolition of Ebbw Vale Civic Centre gets the go-ahead". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  22. Cadw. "British Steel Tinplate Works General Office (Grade II*) (22530)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  23. "Conference and meeting facilities". Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  24. "Candidates in Blaenau Gwent in 2022 council elections". South Wales Argus. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  25. Private Eye, Issue 1519, p.18
  26. "Wales". Civic Heraldry of Wales. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
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