City of York Council

The ancient liberty of the City of York was replaced in 1836 by a municipal borough, with city status, as a result of the Municipal Corporations Act 1835. As a municipal borough, the York Corporation was responsible for all local government services in the City of York. The municipal borough was expanded to serve the following areas:[1]

The municipal borough was replaced in 1884 by a county borough, with city status, as a result of the Municipal Corporations Act 1882. As a county borough, the York Corporation was responsible for all local government services in the City of York. When county councils were established for the East Riding, North Riding, and West Riding in 1889, as a result of the Local Government Act 1888, the City of York remained outside of their jurisdiction. The county borough was expanded and reduced in size to serve the following areas:[1]

The county borough was replaced in 1974 by a non-metropolitan district, with city status, as a result of the Local Government Act 1972. As a non-metropolitan district, York City Council was responsible for some local government services in the City of York, with others being the responsibility of North Yorkshire County Council. The non-metropolitan district served the same area as the county borough:

The non-metropolitan district was replaced in 1996 by a unitary authority, with city status, as a result of the Local Government Act 1992. As a unitary authority, City of York Council is responsible for all local government services in the City of York, except for services provided by York's town and parish councils. The unitary authority serves the following areas:

In October 2020, the UK government invited proposals for reform of local government in North Yorkshire, including the City of York.[2][3] The districts of Craven, Harrogate, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough and Selby submitted a proposal for an "East & West model" of two unitary councils in North Yorkshire, including the City of York. The two new councils would cover Ryedale, Scarborough, Selby and York in the east, and Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate and Richmondshire in the west.[4] The City of York Council submitted an alternative proposal to retain its existing status, and supported a proposal by North Yorkshire County Council for a single unitary authority for North Yorkshire (excluding the City of York). In July 2021, local government minister Robert Jenrick approved the alternative proposal.[5]

Under the new arrangements the two councils proposed to form a combined authority for York and North Yorkshire.[6] In August 2022 the government and the two councils agreed proposals for a devolution deal, which will require the formation of a combined authority and election of a directly elected mayor for the combined authority. The proposals are subject to a public consultation, and anticipate that elections for the first mayor would take place in May 2024.[7]

Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, holding 26 of the 47 seats, formed a joint administration to run the council in May 2015. Both parties are opposed to green belt development on the scale proposed by the Labour Party.[8] The working majority of the joint administration shrunk in February 2018 to 24 seats, when former council leader David Carr (Copmanthorpe Ward) and Suzie Mercer (Wheldrake Ward) quit the Conservative group and party,[9] Labour councillors Fiona Derbyshire and Hilary Shepherd resigned from the Labour Party in August to sit as Independent Socialists York.[10]

Map showing the makeup of York City Council as of 10 November 2017

Due to no overall control, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party, who hold 25 of the 47 seats between them, joined forces to form a coalition to run the City of York Council, announced by YorkMix on 14 May 2019. Support for the Liberal Democrats and Green Party in York increased at the poll. Both parties combined received more than 50% of the vote.[11]

Map showing the makeup of York City Council as of 22 May 2019

The Labour Party won a majority of seats in the 2023 election, receiving 24 out of 47 seats leading to a one-seat majority. The Green Party lost all the seats they were defending to Labour, including that of council deputy leader Andy D'Agorne, while the Conservatives gained two seats from independent councillors while losing their leaders' seat in Strensall to the Liberal Democrats.

May showing the composition of the City of York Council following the May 2023 local election