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Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
Local government of Blaenau Gwent, Wales
Local government of Blaenau Gwent, Wales
| Field | Value | |
|---|---|---|
| name | Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council | |
| native_name | Cyngor Bwrdeisdref Sirol Blaenau Gwent | |
| native_name_lang | cy | |
| logo_pic | Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council logo.svg | |
| logo_res | 200px | |
| foundation | 1 April 1974 | |
| leader1_type | Presiding Member | |
| leader1 | Chris Smith | |
| party1 | ||
| Labour | ||
| election1 | 26 May 2022 | |
| leader2_type | Leader | |
| leader2 | Steve Thomas | |
| party2 | ||
| Labour | ||
| election2 | 26 May 2022 | |
| leader3_type | Chief Executive | |
| leader3 | Stephen Vickers | |
| party3 | ||
| election3 | June 2024 | |
| seats | 33 councillors | |
| structure1 | File:Blaenau Gwent County Council 2026.svg | |
| structure1_res | 260 | |
| : | border | darkgray}} Labour (19) |
| : | border | darkgray}} Independent (12) |
| : | border | darkgray}} Reform UK (1) |
| : | border | darkgray}} Green (1) |
| term_length | 5 years | |
| last_election1 | 5 May 2022 | |
| next_election1 | 6 May 2027 | |
| session_room | Porticoed entranceway to Grade II* listed building, Ebbw Vale - geograph.org.uk - 2733380.jpg | |
| meeting_place | General Offices, Steelworks Road, Ebbw Vale, NP236DN | |
| website |
Labour Labour ; Administration : Labour (19) ; Other parties : Independent (12) : Reform UK (1) : Green (1) Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council () is the local authority for Blaenau Gwent, one of the Principal Areas of Wales. The council is based in Ebbw Vale. It has been under Labour majority control since 2022.
History
The council was first created in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 as a lower-tier district council. Later that year it was awarded borough status, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor. Gwent County Council provided county-level services for the area. 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.
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.
In 2024 the council agreed to share a chief executive with neighbouring Torfaen County Borough Council.
Political control
The council has been under Labour majority control since the 2022 election.
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:
Lower-tier borough
| Party in control | Years |
|---|---|
| 1974–1996 |
County borough
| Party in control | Years |
|---|---|
| 1996–2008 | |
| 2008–2012 | |
| 2012–2017 | |
| 2017–2022 | |
| 2022–present |
Leadership
The leaders of the council since 1976 have been:
| Councillor | Party | From | To | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ron Evans | May 1976 | ||||||||||
| Brian Scully | May 1976 | May 1985 | |||||||||
| Lloyd Williams | May 1985 | May 1987 | |||||||||
| last1=Nowaczyk | first1=Wayne | title=Ex-mayor is left out of party posts | url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0004733%2F19870513&page=1 | access-date=14 August 2025 | work=South Wales Echo | date=13 May 1987 | location=Cardiff | page=1}} | May 1987 | May 1991 | |
| Bernard Assinder | May 1991 | 23 Mar 1998 | |||||||||
| John Hopkins | Apr 1998 | Nov 2007 | |||||||||
| title=Labour goes on charm offensive | url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/1867492.labour-goes-on-charm-offensive/ | access-date=14 August 2025 | work=South Wales Argus | date=29 November 2007}} | Nov 2007 | May 2008 | |||||
| Des Hillman | May 2008 | 10 Oct 2011 | |||||||||
| John Mason | 14 Oct 2011 | May 2012 | |||||||||
| Hedley McCarthy | May 2012 | 2 Dec 2015 | |||||||||
| Steve Thomas | 2 Dec 2015 | May 2017 | |||||||||
| Nigel Daniels | 25 May 2017 | May 2022 | |||||||||
| title=Council minutes, 26 May 2022 | url=https://democracy.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=1217&MId=2468&LLL=0 | website=Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council | access-date=14 August 2025}} | 26 May 2022 |
Composition
Following the 2022 election and subsequent changes of allegiance and by-elections up to February 2024, the composition of the council was:
| Party | Councillors | Total | 33 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | |||
| 12 |
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.
| Year | Seats | Labour | Independent | Liberal Democrats | Plaid Cymru | Conservative | Notes | Welsh Labour}}; width: 3px;" | Independent politician}}; width: 3px;" | Welsh Liberal Democrats}}; width: 3px;" | Plaid Cymru}}; width: 3px;" | Welsh Conservatives}}; width: 3px;" | Welsh Labour}}; width: 3px;" | Independent politician}}; width: 3px;" | Welsh Liberal Democrats}}; width: 3px;" | Plaid Cymru}}; width: 3px;" | Welsh Conservatives}}; width: 3px;" | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 42 | 33 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Labour majority control | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999 | 42 | 34 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Labour majority control | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004 | 42 | 32 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Labour majority control | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | 42 | 17 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Independent / People's Voice / Liberal Democrat coalition | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | 42 | 33 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Labour majority control | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | 42 | 13 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Independent majority control | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 33 | 21 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Labour majority control. New ward boundaries. |
Party with the most elected councillors in bold. Coalition agreements in notes column
Premises
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. The General Office building had been built in 1916 as the offices for the Ebbw Vale Iron and Steel Company. The refurbished and extended building also serves as a conference centre and houses Gwent Archives.
Electoral wards
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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. 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 | Abertillery & Llanhilleth Town* (Abertillery ward) | Rhiw Park, Aberillery Park |
| Badminton | 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 | 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 | Nantyglo & Blaina Town* (Blaina ward) | Cwm Celyn, Bournville |
| Brynmawr | Brynmawr Town* | |
| Cwm | Cwm | Waunllwyd |
| Cwmtillery | Abertillery & Llanhilleth Town* (Cwmtillery ward) | Rose Heyworth |
| Ebbw Vale North | 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 | That part of the Community of Ebbw Vale not contained in the Ebbw Vale North ward | Garden City, Tyllwyn, Hilltop, Briery Hill |
| Georgetown | Tredegar Town* (Georgetown ward) | Troedrhiwgwair, Peacehaven |
| Llanhilleth | Abertillery & Llanhilleth Town* (Llanhilleth ward) | Brynithel, Aberbeeg, Swffryd |
| Nantyglo | Nantyglo & Blaina Town* (Nantyglo ward) | Winchestown, Coalbrookvale, Garn Fach, Coed Cae |
| Rassau | That part of the pre-2010 community of Beaufort not contained in the Badminton and Beaufort wards | Nantycroft |
| Sirhowy | Tredegar Town* (Sirhowy ward) | Tafarnaubach, Waundeg, Trevil, Dukestown, Rhoslan |
| Six Bells | Abertillery & Llanhilleth Town* (Six Bells ward) | Warm Turn |
| Tredegar Central and West | 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".
Arms
References
References
- "Council minutes, 22 May 2025".
- (27 September 1974). "Blaenau Gwent is now a borough". Gwent Gazette.
- {{cite legislation UK. (1972)
- {{cite legislation UK. (1994)
- (26 May 2017). "There will no longer be a Mayor in Blaenau Gwent".
- "Presiding member".
- (11 June 2024). "Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent shared chief executive salary agreed". South Wales Argus.
- Will Hayward. (6 May 2022). "Blaenau Gwent local elections 2022: The full results as Labour regains control". Wales Online.
- "Compositions Calculator". University of Exeter.
- (13 May 1976). "Labour hold Blaenau Gwent - but only just!". Gwent Gazette.
- (20 May 1976). "Jobs and houses stay our top priority, says Labour's new leader". Gwent Gazette.
- (16 May 1985). "Action over homes". Gwent Gazette.
- (30 May 1985). "Borough's new Mayor". Gwent Gazette.
- (13 May 1987). "Ex-mayor is left out of party posts". South Wales Echo.
- (9 May 1991). "Election shock for Labour". Gwent Gazette.
- (30 May 1991). "Bernard in driving seat". Gwent Gazette.
- (26 March 1998). "Gone!". Gwent Gazette.
- (14 August 2025). "Councillors vote for a new leader". Gwent Gazette.
- (23 November 2007). "Blaenau Gwent leader is selected". BBC News.
- (29 November 2007). "Labour goes on charm offensive". South Wales Argus.
- (31 May 2008). "Can Oxford save Brown?". The Guardian.
- (3 May 2008). "Possible coalition for Blaenau Gwent". South Wales Argus.
- (7 October 2011). "Blaenau Gwent council leader Des Hillman resigns". BBC News.
- (15 October 2011). "New leader elected for Blaenau Gwent". South Wales Argus.
- (4 May 2012). "A hat trick for Labour in Blaenau Gwent as the party regains the council". Wales Online.
- (4 May 2012). "Council elections: Labour regains Blaenau Gwent heartland". South Wales Argus.
- (1 December 2015). "Blaenau Gwent leader Hedley McCarthy quits over cuts". BBC News.
- "Council minutes, 2 December 2015".
- "Council minutes, 25 May 2017".
- (7 May 2022). "Local elections 2022: Wales' 22 council leaders after voters make their choices". Wales Online.
- "Council minutes, 26 May 2022".
- "Former council leader returns to top job in Blaenau Gwent". Nation.Cymru.
- (8 July 2023). "Ebbw Vale Cllr Carl Bainton in backlash for joining Labour". South Wales Argus.
- "Blaenau Gwent". Thorncliffe.
- "Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council Election Results 1995-2012".
- "Wales local elections 2017". BBC News.
- (5 May 2017). "Local Elections: Independents take control of Blaenau Gwent from Labour". South Wales Argus.
- "Blaenau Gwent result - Local Elections 2022". BBC News.
- {{cite legislation UK. (2021)
- (26 March 2021). "Demolition of Ebbw Vale Civic Centre gets the go-ahead". South Wales Argus.
- {{National Historic Assets of Wales
- "Conference and meeting facilities".
- (6 April 2022). "Candidates in Blaenau Gwent in 2022 council elections". [[South Wales Argus]].
- Private Eye, Issue 1519, p.18
- "Wales". Civic Heraldry of Wales.
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