Vale of Glamorgan Council

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Vale of Glamorgan Council

Cyngor Bro Morgannwg
Type
Type
History
Founded1 April 1996
Preceded byVale of Glamorgan Borough Council
South Glamorgan County Council
Leadership
Julie Aviet,
Labour
since 10 May 2023[1]
Lis Burnett,
Labour
since 23 May 2022[2]
Rob Thomas
since 1 May 2015[3]
Structure
Seats54 councillors[4][5]
Political groups
Administration (30)
  Labour (25)
  Llantwit First (4)
  Independent (1)
Other Parties (24)
  Conservative (13)
  Plaid Cymru (8)
  Independent (3)
Length of term
5 years
Elections
First past the post
First election
4 May 1995
Last election
5 May 2022
Next election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
Civic Offices, Holton Road, Barry, CF63 4RU
Website
www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

The Vale of Glamorgan Council is the governing body for the Vale of Glamorgan, one of the Principal Areas of Wales.

History[edit]

The new Vale of Glamorgan Council unitary authority came into effect on 1 April 1996, following the dissolution of South Glamorgan. It replaced the Vale of Glamorgan Borough Council, which had been created in 1974 as a second-tier authority to South Glamorgan County Council.

Political control[edit]

The council has been under no overall control since 2012. Since the 2022 election the council has been run by a coalition of Labour, the Llantwit First Independents, and one of the independent councillors.[6]

The first election to the reconstituted council was held in 1995, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until it came into its powers on 1 April 1996. Political control of the council since 1996 has been as follows:[7]

Party in control Years
Labour 1996–1999
No overall control 1999–2008
Conservative 2008–2012
No overall control 2012–present

Leadership[edit]

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Vale of Glamorgan, with political leadership provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1999 have been:[8]

Councillor Party From To
Jeff James[9] Conservative May 1999 6 Dec 2006
Margaret Alexander[10] Labour 6 Dec 2006 May 2008
Gordon Kemp[11] Conservative May 2008 May 2012
Neil Moore[12] Labour May 2012 24 May 2017
John Thomas Conservative 24 May 2017 20 May 2019
Neil Moore[13] Labour 20 May 2019 8 May 2022
Lis Burnett Labour 23 May 2022

Composition[edit]

Following the 2022 election the composition of the council was:

Party Councillors
Labour 25
Conservative 13
Plaid Cymru 8
Llantwit First Independent 4
Independent 4
Total 54

The next election is due in 2027.

Elections[edit]

Since 2012, elections have taken place every five years. The last election was 5 May 2022.[7]

Year Seats Labour Conservative Plaid Cymru Independent Liberal Democrats UKIP Notes
1995[14] 47 36 6 5 0 0 0 Labour majority controlled
1999 47 18 22 6 0 1 0
2004[15] 47 16 20 8 3 0 0
2008 47 13 25 6 3 0 0
2012 47 22 11 6 7 0 1 [16]
2017[17] 47 14 23 4 6 0 0
2022[18] 54 25 13 8 8 0 0 [18]

Party with the most elected councillors in bold. Coalition agreements in notes column.

Premises[edit]

The council is based at the Civic Offices on Holton Road in Barry, which were built in 1981 for the old Vale of Glamorgan Borough Council.[9]

Electoral divisions[edit]

Electoral ward boundaries in the Vale of Glamorgan from 2022
Pre-2022 electoral ward boundaries in the Vale of Glamorgan

Until 2022 the county borough was divided into 23 electoral wards returning 47 councillors. Some of these wards are coterminous with communities (parishes) of the same name. Other wards may encompass several communities and in some cases communities can encompass more than one ward. The following table lists council wards, communities and associated geographical areas prior to the 2022 boundary changes. Communities with a community council are indicated with a '*':

Ward Communities (Parishes) Other geographic areas
Baruc Barry Town* (Baruc ward) The Knap, Garden Suburb, Barry Island
Buttrills Barry Town* (Buttrills ward)
Cadoc Barry Town* (Cadoc ward) Cadoxton, Palmerstown
Castleland Barry Town* (Castleland ward) Bendricks
Cornerswell Penarth Town* (Cornerswell ward) Cogan
Court Barry Town* (Court ward)
Cowbridge Aberthin, City, Craig Penllyn, Llanblethian, Llandough, Llansannor, Penllyn, Pentre Meyrick, St Mary Church, St. Hillary, Trehyngyll, Ystradowen
Dinas Powys Eastbrook, Leckwith, Michaelston le Pit, Murch, St Andrew's Major, Westra
Dyfan Barry Town* (Dyfan ward) Colcot, Highlight Park
Gibbonsdown Barry Town* (Gibbonsdown ward) Merthyr Dyfan
Illtyd Barry Town* (Illtyd ward) Cwm Talwg
Llandough Llandough*
Llandow/Ewenny Colwinston, Corntown, Llysworney, Ruthin, St. Mary Hill, Sigingstone, Troes,
Llantwit Major Boverton, Llanmaes, Monknash
Peterston-super-Ely Clawdd Coch, Downs, Drope, Gwern y Steeple, Hensol, Pendoylan, St. Brides-super-Ely, St. George's
Plymouth Penarth Town* (Plymouth ward) Lower Penarth, Cosmeston
Rhoose East Aberthaw, Fonmon, Font-y-gari, Llanbethery, Llancadle, Llancarfan, Llantrithyd, Moulton, Penmark, Porthkerry, Tredogan, Walerston,
St Athan St Athan* Flemingston, Gileston, West Aberthaw, East Camp, Eglwys Brewis
St Augustine's Penarth Town* (St. Augustine ward) Headlands, Penarth Marina,
St. Bride's Major
  • St. Bride's Major*
  • Wick*
Boughton, Ogmore, Ogmore-by-Sea, Southerndown
Stanwell Penarth Town* (Stanwell ward)
Sully Sully and Lavernock* Cog, Cosmeston, Swanbridge
Wenvoe Dyffryn, St. Lythans

In the news[edit]

In 2010 it was revealed that the chief executive of the Vale of Glamorgan Council was the fourth highest paid in Wales, at £160,000 and £170,000 per annum. This was more than the salary of the Prime Minister of The United Kingdom and the First Minister of Wales. The Vale of Glamorgan Council released in a press statement that, "The salary is on a par with other council chief executives".[19]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Council minutes, 10 May 2023" (PDF). Vale of Glamorgan Council. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Council minutes, 23 May 2022" (PDF). Vale of Glamorgan Council. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  3. ^ Paine, David (28 April 2015). "Workforce: People news and moves". Local Government Chronicle. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Open Council Data UK - compositions councillors parties wards elections". opencouncildata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Labour councillor leaves party over 'toxic and bullying environment'". 30 April 2021.
  6. ^ Peskett, Ted (24 May 2022). "Labour announce coalition partners at first post-election Vale of Glamorgan Council meeting". Wales Online. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Council minutes". Vale of Glamorgan Council. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Jeff James reflects on 38 years' service for Rhoose and Vale". Bridgend and Portcawl Gem. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  10. ^ "Council leader Jeff James ousted". Barry and District News. 7 December 2006. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  11. ^ "Election 2012: Tories ousted in the Vale but Labour falls short of a majority". Wales Online. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  12. ^ Seabrook, Alex (29 April 2022). "Vale of Glamorgan council leader retires after more than three decades as councillor". Wales Online. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  13. ^ Discombe, Matt (15 May 2019). "Tory rebels pledge support to Labour in shock council twist". walesonline. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  14. ^ "Vale of Glamorgan Council Election Results 1995-2012" (PDF). The Elections Centre.
  15. ^ "Vale Of Glamorgan council". BBC. 11 June 2004. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  16. ^ "Vale of Glamorgan Council elections 2012: Results", Penarth Times, 4 May 2012
  17. ^ "Vale of Glamorgan Council". BBC. BBC News. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  18. ^ a b "Vale of Glamorgan result - Local Elections 2022". BBC News. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  19. ^ "Council chief executives earn more than first minister", BBC News, 25 February 2010.

External links[edit]