Nuneaton and Bedworth

History

The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, by a merger of two former districts which were both abolished at the same time, these were:

• Bedworth Urban District
• Nuneaton Municipal Borough The new district was initially named Nuneaton, after its largest town. Nuneaton's borough status, which it had held since 1907, was transferred to the enlarged district, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor. Following a campaign from Bedworth residents the borough's name was changed to "Nuneaton and Bedworth" with effect from 1 October 1980.

Governance

Labour Labour : Labour (19) ;Other parties (19) : : Green (2)

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Warwickshire County Council. There are no civil parishes in the borough, which is an unparished area.

Political control

At the 2024 election, Labour won a two-seat majority on the council. A subsequent change of allegiance in December 2024 left Labour with exactly half the seats on the council, since when it has been under no overall control.

Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms has been as follows:

Leadership

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Nuneaton and Bedworth. Political leadership is provided instead by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1974 have been:

Composition

Following the 2024 election, and a subsequent change of allegiance in December 2024, the composition of the council was:

The next election is due in May 2026.

Elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2024 the council has comprised 38 councillors representing 19 wards, with each ward electing two councillors. Elections are held in alternate years, with half the council (one councillor for each ward) elected each time for a four-year term of office.

Premises

The council is based at Nuneaton Town Hall on Coton Road in Nuneaton. The building was purpose-built for the old Nuneaton Borough Council and opened in 1934.

Subdivisions

Nuneaton and Bedworth are divided into 19 wards, each represented by 2 councillors, giving a total of 38 councillors. The borough has no civil parishes.

For a sortable list of wards in Nuneaton and Bedworth by population, see List of wards in Nuneaton and Bedworth by population.

Twinnings

Nuneaton and Bedworth is twinned with:

• France Roanne, France
• Spain Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha, Spain
• Germany Cottbus, Germany

References

References

1. "Nuneaton and Bedworth Local Authority".
2. {{cite legislation UK. (1972)
3. {{cite legislation UK. (1973)
4. "Nuneaton Urban District / Municipal Borough". GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth.
5. (28 March 1974). "District Councils and Boroughs".
6. (1981). "Alteration of Areas and Status of Local Authorities 1 October 1980 to 1 April 1981". Department of the Environment.
7. "Bedworth Timeline".
8. "Council minutes, 14 May 2025".
9. (23 February 2024). "New Chief Executive named".
10. {{cite legislation UK. (1972)
11. "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey.
12. (2024-05-03). "Labour gains control of Nuneaton and Bedworth council after Conservative loss".
13. (12 December 2024). "Labour loses control of council after defection". BBC News.
14. "Compositions Calculator". University of Exeter.
15. (2009-04-19). "Nuneaton & Bedworth". [[BBC News Online]].
16. (22 June 1973). "Tories challenge one-party choice in Nuneaton". Coventry Evening Telegraph.
17. (21 January 1975). "Former mayor dies at work". Coventry Evening Telegraph.
18. (6 February 1975). "Labour group's new leader". Coventry Evening Telegraph.
19. (6 May 1982). "Bedworth goes to the polls". Bedworth Echo.
20. (9 May 1986). "Alliance squeezed from the picture". Coventry Evening Telegraph.
21. (12 June 1986). "Club land sale plans ruled out". Coventry Evening Telegraph.
22. (30 November 2017). "Borough council leader announces shock retirement". Coventry Live.
23. (2 May 2008). "Conservative control for Nuneaton". BBC News.
24. "The Rt Hon Marcus Jones".
25. (8 May 2010). "Election 2010: Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council control in the balance". Coventry Live.
26. (4 May 2018). "Labour sensationally lose control in Nuneaton and Bedworth election". Coventry Live.
27. (17 May 2018). "First female leader elected at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council". Coventry Live.
28. (8 May 2021). "Elections 2021: Conservatives take control of Nuneaton and Bedworth council". BBC News.
29. "Council minutes, 19 May 2021".
30. "Council minutes, 15 May 2024".
31. (16 May 2024). "'Be courteous' says new council leader after toxic Town Hall claims". Coventry Live.
32. "Nuneaton & Bedworth election result". BBC News.
33. "Nuneaton and Bedworth". Thorncliffe.
34. {{cite legislation UK. (2024)
35. Veasey, E.A. (2002), Nuneaton A History, Phillimore & Co. Limited, pages 104, 113–114, 126 {{ISBN. 1 86077 215 3.