Blackpool Council
Blackpool Council | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Neil Jack since 21 July 2011[3] | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 42 councillors[4] |
Political groups |
|
Length of term | 4 years |
| Elections | |
| Plurality-at-large[a] | |
Last election | 4 May 2023 |
Next election | 2027 |
| Motto | |
| Progress | |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Town Hall, Talbot Square, Blackpool, FY1 1GB | |
| Website | |
| blackpool | |
Blackpool Council is the local authority of the Borough of Blackpool, Lancashire, England. It is a unitary authority, having the powers of a county council and district council combined.
History[edit]
Blackpool's first elected local authority was the Layton with Warbreck Local Board, established in 1851 and named after the historic township that included the nascent town of Blackpool.[5] The board was renamed the Blackpool Local Board in 1868.[6] In 1876 the district was elevated to become a municipal borough, governed by a body formally called the "mayor, aldermen and burgesses of the borough of Blackpool", but generally known as the corporation or town council.[7]
From 1904 to 1974, Blackpool was a county borough, independent from Lancashire County Council.[8] Under the Local Government Act 1972 Blackpool was reconstituted as a non-metropolitan district, with the county council providing services to the town again.[9] Blackpool became a unitary authority on 1 April 1998, regaining its independence from Lancashire County Council.[10]
Political control[edit]
The council has been under Labour majority control since the 2023 election.
The first election to the council as reformed by the Local Government Act 1972 was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority until the new arrangements took effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[11][12]
Non-metropolitan district
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 1974–1987 | |
| No overall control | 1987–1991 | |
| Labour | 1991–1998 | |
Unitary authority
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 1998–2007 | |
| Conservative | 2007–2011 | |
| Labour | 2011–2021 | |
| No overall control | 2021–2023 | |
| Labour | 2023–present | |
Leadership[edit]
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Blackpool. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1991 have been:[13]
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ivan Taylor[14] | Labour | 1991 | 5 Jun 2000 | |
| George Bancroft[15] | Labour | 12 Jul 2000 | 11 Jul 2001 | |
| Roy Fisher[16] | Labour | Aug 2001 | 6 May 2007 | |
| Peter Callow | Conservative | 21 May 2007 | 23 May 2011 | |
| Simon Blackburn | Labour | 23 May 2011 | Jun 2020 | |
| Lynn Williams | Labour | 20 Jul 2020 | ||
Composition[edit]
Following the 2023 election, the composition of the council was as follows:[17]
| Party | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 28 | |
| Conservative | 14 | |
| Total | 42 | |
The next election is due in 2027.
Elections[edit]
Since the last boundary changes in 2023 the council has comprised 42 councillors representing 21 wards, with each ward electing two councillors. The whole council is elected together every four years.[18]
Premises[edit]
The council is based at Blackpool Town Hall on Talbot Square. The building was built in 1900.[19]
Notes[edit]
- ^ First-past-the-post used in by-elections.
References[edit]
- ^ "Council minutes, 18 May 2022". Blackpool Council. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
- ^ "Council minutes, 20 July 2020" (PDF). Blackpool Council. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ "Chief executive changes in Blackpool and West Lancashire". Inside Media. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
- ^ "Blackpool Council political make-up".
- ^ "No. 21259". The London Gazette. 4 November 1851. p. 2869.
- ^ Cunningham Glen, W. (1869). The Law relating to Public Health and Local Government. London: Butterworths. p. 746. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
- ^ Farrer, William; Brownbill, J. (1912). A History of the County of Lancaster. London: Victoria County History. pp. 247–251. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
- ^ "Lancashire Record Office: What's in it for Blackpool?" (PDF). Lancashire County Council. November 2010. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 23 August 2022
- ^ "The Lancashire (Boroughs of Blackburn and Blackpool) (Structural Change) Order 1996", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1996/1868, retrieved 22 August 2022
- ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ "Blackpool". BBC News Online. Retrieved 26 September 2009.
- ^ "Council minutes". Blackpool Council. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ "Labour 'ship' now rudderless - Tory". Lancashire Telegraph. 9 June 2000. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ "Blackpool mourns leader". Lancashire Telegraph. 13 July 2001. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ "Borough chief to retire early". Lancashire Telegraph. 1 August 2001. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ "Local elections 2023: full council results for England". The Guardian. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ "The Blackpool (Electoral Changes) Order 2022", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2022/1373, retrieved 20 May 2023
- ^ Historic England. "Town Hall, Blackpool (1205893)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
