Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council

The council’s origins are from 1865 when it was incorporated as a municipal borough which allowed the development of an elected town council. This consisted of a mayor, alderman and councillors.[1]

In 1888 Dudley Council became a county borough and so the council took responsibility for neighbouring towns and districts.

In April 1966, under the West Midlands order of the borough, Dudley was extended to take in former Brierley Hill and Sedgley Urban Districts as well as parts of the Coseley Urban District.

Dudley Council has its main offices in Dudley town centre (where Dudley Council House is located), along with additional smaller offices throughout the borough. The council is made up of 72 councillors representing 24 wards.

On its formation in 1974, the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley was controlled by the Labour Party. Since then the controlling party has frequently changed, sometimes with no political party having a clear majority.[2]

The Tories currently have control of Dudley Council as a majority run administration. After a no overall control result in the previous local elections the Tories gained control of Dudley council in the 2021 local elections.[3][4]

The 24 wards of the Dudley Borough are each represented by 3 councillors. The council groups wards together into 5 Community Forums to enable community engagement under the banner 'Your home, your forum'.[5]

During 2023 The Local Government Boundary Commission England carried out consultation on the ward boundaries in Dudley borough. Final recommendations are due to be published in October 2023 and come into effect for elections in May 2024.[6]

Current members of parliament for constituencies within Dudley MBC area are:

The Mayor presides over meetings of the full Council to ensure that business is carried out properly and efficiently, with due regard to the rights of Councillors and the interest of the Community.[7] The Mayor of the Borough is elected at the Annual Meeting of the Council (usually in May each year) from the existing elected councillors.

The Mayor also nominates charities they wish to support during their mayoral year[8] and hosts the annual Mayors Ball and Civic Awards. The Civic Awards aim to recognise individuals and groups who make a difference in the borough. Each award is named for a local personality in that field.[9]

• The Frank Foley award for community spirit
• The William Shenstone award for environment
• The Duncan Edwards award for sport
• The Cedric Hardwicke award for arts
• The Thomas Attwood award for education
• The Mike Holder award for business

Dudley’s coat of arms was designed in 1975.[1] It symbolises each of the authorities that came together to form the present borough. Key themes on the civic arms reflect the area’s pride in its industrial past.

The council adopted “Unity and Progress” as its motto in 1974.[1]

In 2021, the council proposed the borough (rather than simply the town) of Dudley become a city, as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.[10] The bid was unsuccessful,[11] having also been unsuccessful in 2011.[12]