Bridgend County Borough Council
Bridgend County Borough Council (Welsh: Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr) is the governing body for Bridgend County Borough, one of the Principal Areas of Wales.
Bridgend County Borough Council Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr | |
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Type | |
Type | |
History | |
Founded | 1 April 1996 |
Preceded by | Mid Glamorgan County Council |
Leadership | |
Mayor of Bridgend | |
Leader of the Council | |
Deputy Leader | Cllr Hywel Williams, Labour |
Leader of the Opposition | Cllr Norah Clarke, Independent |
Chief executive | Mark Shephard (Interim) since 2 January 2019 |
Structure | |
Seats | 54 councillors |
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Political groups |
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Length of term | 5 years |
Elections | |
First-past-the-post | |
First election | 4 May 1995 |
Last election | 4 May 2017 |
Next election | 5 May 2022 |
Meeting place | |
Civic Offices, Bridgend | |
Website | |
www |
Background
Bridgend County Borough and Bridgend County Borough Council came into effect from 1 April 1996, following the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994. Bridgend County Borough Council largely replaced Ogwr Borough Council, though St Brides Major, Ewenny and Wick were transferred from Ogwr to the Vale of Glamorgan.
Current composition
Group affiliation | Councillors[1] | ||
---|---|---|---|
2017 | Current | ||
Labour | 26 | 26 | |
Independent | 13 | 16 | |
Conservative | 11 | 7 | |
Liberal Democrats | 1 | 1 | |
Plaid Cymru | 3 | 4 | |
Total |
54 | 54 |
Historic results
Year | Labour | Liberal Democrats | Conservative | Plaid Cymru | Others |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2017 | 26 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 13 |
2012 | 39 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
2008 | 27 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 9 |
2004 | 22 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 11 |
1999 | 41 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
1995 | 39 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Prior to the May 2008 elections Bridgend Council was run by a coalition of Liberal Democrat, Conservative, Plaid Cymru and Independent councillors. After the election the leadership returned to the Labour Party, led by councillor Mel Nott.[2]
In November 2014 the council voted to propose a merger with the neighbouring Vale of Glamorgan Council, though this was rejected by the Welsh Government's Public Services Minister, Leighton Andrews, as not meeting the criteria to be able to proceed.[3]
The council elections on 5 May 2017 saw Labour lose its majority control of the council with, for example, three of the four Brackla seats being taken by the Conservatives from Labour. Keith Edwards and Ross Thomas, who'd been deselected by Labour for voting against the proposed local authority merger, won as Independents in Maesteg.[4]
Leadership
Council leader | From | To | |
---|---|---|---|
Huw David | 5 October 2016 | ||
Mel Nott | May 2008 | 5 October 2016[5] | |
Cheryl Green | June 2004 [6] | May 2008 | |
Jeff Jones | 2004 | ||
Electoral divisions
The county borough is divided into 39 electoral wards. Some of these wards are coterminous with communities (parishes) of the same name. Some communities have their own elected council. The following table lists council wards, communities and associated geographical areas. Communities with a community council are indicated with a '*':
Ward | Communities (Parishes) | Other geographic areas |
Aberkenfig |
|
|
Bettws | Garw Valley* (Bettws ward) | |
Blackmill | Ogmore Valley* (Blackmill and Evanstown wards) | |
Blaengarw | Garw Valley* (Blaengarw ward) | |
Brackla c | Brackla* | |
Bryncethin | St Bride's Minor* (Bryncethin ward) | |
Bryncoch | St Bride's Minor* (Bryncoch ward) | |
Bryntirion, Laleston and Merthyr Mawr |
|
|
Caerau | Maesteg* (Caerau and Nantyffyllon wards) | |
Cefn Cribwr c | Cefn Cribwr* | |
Cefn Glas | Laleston* (Cefn Glas 1 ward) | |
Coity | Coity Higher* (Coity ward) | |
Cornelly c | Cornelly* | |
Coychurch Lower c | Coychurch Lower* | |
Felindre | Pencoed* (Felindre ward) | |
Hendre | Pencoed* (Hendre ward) | |
Litchard | Coity Higher (Litchard ward) | |
Llangeinor | Garw Valley* (Llangeinor ward) | |
Llangewydd & Brynhyfryd | Laleston* (Cefn Glas 2 ward) | |
Llangynwyd | Llangynwyd Middle* | |
Maesteg East | Maesteg* (East ward) | |
Maesteg West | Maesteg* (West ward) | |
Morfa | Bridgend Town* (Morfa ward) | |
Nant-y-Moel | Ogmore Valley* (Nant-y-Moel ward) | |
Newcastle | Bridgend Town* (Newcastle ward) | |
Newton | Porthcawl Town* (Newton ward) | |
Nottage | Porthcawl Town* (Nottage ward) | |
Ogmore Vale | Ogmore Valley* (Ogmore Vale ward) | |
Oldcastle | Bridgend Town* (Oldcastle ward) | |
Pendre | Coity Higher* (Pendre ward) | |
Penprysg |
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|
Pen-y-fai | Newcastle Higher* (Pen-y-fai ward) | |
Pontycymer | Garw Valley* (Pontycymer ward) | |
Porthcawl East Central | Porthcawl Town* (East Central ward) | |
Porthcawl West Central | Porthcawl Town* (West Central ward) | |
Pyle c | Pyle* | |
Rest Bay | Porthcawl Town* (Rest Bay ward) | |
Sarn | St Bride's Minor* (Sarn ward) | |
Ynysawdre c | Ynysawdre* |
* = Communities which elect a community council
c = Ward coterminous with community of the same name
In January 2019 a consultation period began, to review the wards and representation in the county. It was proposed to reduce the number of electoral wards for 39 to 32, with a reduction in councillors from 54 to 52.[7]
See also
References
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "At the end of the rainbow, Labour take back control". The Glamorgan Gem. 9 May 2008. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
- Abby Boulter (19 February 2015). "Labour suspends six Bridgend councillors for not supporting failed merger bid with Vale of Glamorgan". Wales Online. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
- Abby Boulter (5 May 2017). "Labour Party suffers 'bloody nose' in Bridgend as it loses overall control". Wales Online. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
- "The leader of Bridgend council Mel Nott announces he will stand down". Wales Online. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
- "Lib-Dem to head Bridgend coalition". Wales Online. 24 June 2004. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
- "Consultation on changes to BCBC electoral wards". Glamorgan Gem. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.