Bridgend County Borough Council

Bridgend County Borough Council () is the local authority for the county borough of Bridgend, one of the principal areas of Wales.

History Bridgend County Borough and its 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.

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.

Political control The council has been under Labour majority control since the 2022 election.

The first election to the council was held in 1995, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1996. Political control of the council since 1996 has been as follows: (Put "Bridgend" in search box to see specific results.)

Party in controlYears 1996–2004 2004–2012 2012–2017 2017–2022 2022–present

Leadership The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Bridgend, with political leadership instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1996 have been: Councillor Party From To Jeff Jones 1 Apr 1996 Jun 2004 Cheryl Green Jun 2004 May 2008 Mel Nott 14 May 2008 5 Oct 2016 Huw David 5 Oct 2016 15 May 2024 John Spanswick 15 May 2024

Composition Following the 2022 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to May 2025, the composition of the council was:

Party Councillors 24 25 1 1Total51 Thirteen of the independent councillors form the "Bridgend County Independents" group. Plaid Cymru and seven of the independent councillors sit together as the "Democratic Alliance". The other three independent councillors do not belong to a group. The next election is due in 2027.

Elections Since 2012, elections take place every five years. YearSeatsLabourPlaid CymruLiberal DemocratsConservative OthersNotes1995484600 02Labour majority control1999544125 15Labour majority control20045422113 711Liberal Democrat, Conservative, Independent coalition20085427111 692012543913110Labour majority control201754263111132022512720121Labour majority control Party with the most elected councillors in bold. Coalition agreements in notes column.

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.

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.

In May 2022, Labour regained a majority and control of the council, though their majority was reduced following the Bridgend Central by-election on 11 August.

Premises The council is based at the Civic Offices on Angel Street in Bridgend, on the banks of the River Ogmore (). The building was built in 1986 for the council's predecessor, Ogwr Borough Council.

Electoral divisions

Prior to May 2022, the county borough was divided into 39 electoral wards.

Since the 2022 local elections the county borough has been divided into 28 electoral wards electing 51 councillors. Some communities also have their own elected council and community wards. The following table lists council wards, communities and associated community wards. Communities with a community council are indicated with a '*':

Ward CountycouncillorsCommunitiesCommunity wards Aberkenfig 1Llangynwyd Lower*Newcastle Higher* (part) AberkenfigBlackmill 1Ogmore Valley* (part)BlackmillEvanstownBrackla East andCoychurch Lower 2Brackla* (part)Brackla EastCoychurch Lower* Brackla East Central 1Brackla* (part)Brackla East CentralBrackla West 1Brackla* (part)Brackla WestBrackla West Central 1Brackla* (part)Brackla West CentralBridgend Central 3Bridgend* (part)MorfaNewcastleBryntirion, Laleston andMerthyr Mawr 3Merthyr Mawr*Laleston* (part)Laleston/BryntirionCaerau 2Maesteg* (part)CaerauNantyffyllonCefn Glas 2Laleston* (part)Cefn Glas 1Cefn Glas 2Coity Higher 3Coity Higher* CoityLitchard PendreCornelly c 2Cornelly*Garw Valley 3Garw Valley* BettwsBlaengarwLlangeinorPontycymmerLlangynwyd 1Llangynwyd Middle*Maesteg East 2Maesteg* (part)Maesteg EastMaesteg West 2Maesteg* (part)Maesteg WestNant-y-Moel 1Ogmore Valley* (part)Nant-y-MoelNewton 1Porthcawl Town* (part)NewtonNottage 1Porthcawl Town* (part)NottageOgmore Vale 1Ogmore Valley* (part)Ogmore ValeOldcastle 2Bridgend Town* (part)OldcastlePencoed and Penprysg 3Coychurch Higher*Pencoed* FelindreHendrePenprysgPen-y-fai 1Newcastle Higher* (part)Pen-y-faiPorthcawl East Central 2Porthcawl Town* (part)East CentralPorthcawl West Central 1Porthcawl Town* (part)West CentralPyle, Kenfig Hill and Cefn Cribwr 3Cefn Cribwr*Pyle*Rest Bay 1Porthcawl Town* (part)Rest BaySt Bride's Minor andYnysawdre 3St Bride's Minor*BryncethinBryncochSarnYnysawdre*TonduBrynmenyn

* = Communities which elect a community council

Arms

Bridgend County Borough Council

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