Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council () is the local authority for the county borough of 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, styled as a county borough, 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: (Put "Blaenau Gwent" in search box to see specific results.)

Lower-tier borough Party in controlYears 1974–1996

County borough Party in controlYears 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 Marilyn Pitman May 1987 May 1991 Bernard Assinder May 1991 23 Mar 1998 John Hopkins Apr 1998 Nov 2007 Hedley McCarthy 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 Steve Thomas 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 21 12Total33 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.

YearSeatsLabourIndependentLiberal DemocratsPlaid CymruConservativeNotes 199542 33 6 1 1 1 Labour majority control 199942 34 7 1 0 0 Labour majority control 200442 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 control2022 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

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 (*).

WardCommunitiesOther geographic areasAbertillery (3 Seats - 1 No Party, 2 Labour)Abertillery & Llanhilleth Town* (Abertillery ward)Rhiw Park, Aberillery Park Badminton (2 seats)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 1986Newchurch, Glyncoed Beaufort (2 seats)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 1986Garn Lydan, Carmeltown, Blaina (3 seats)Nantyglo & Blaina Town* (Blaina ward)Cwm Celyn, Bournville Brynmawr (3 seats)Brynmawr Town*Cwm (2 seats)CwmWaunllwyd Cwmtillery (3 seats)Abertillery & Llanhilleth Town* (Cwmtillery ward)Rose Heyworth Ebbw Vale North (3 seats)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 1986Mountain Air, Willowtown, Waun-y-pound, Newtown Ebbw Vale South (2 seats)That part of the Community of Ebbw Vale not contained in the Ebbw Vale North wardGarden City, Tyllwyn, Hilltop, Briery Hill Georgetown (2 seats)Tredegar Town* (Georgetown ward)Troedrhiwgwair, PeacehavenLlanhilleth (3 seats)Abertillery & Llanhilleth Town* (Llanhilleth ward) Brynithel, Aberbeeg, Swffryd Nantyglo (3 seats)Nantyglo & Blaina Town* (Nantyglo ward)Winchestown, Coalbrookvale, Garn Fach, Coed Cae Rassau (2 seats)That part of the pre-2010 community of Beaufort not contained in the Badminton and Beaufort wardsNantycroft Sirhowy (3 seats)Tredegar Town* (Sirhowy ward)Tafarnaubach, Waundeg, Trevil, Dukestown, Rhoslan Six Bells (2 seats)Abertillery & Llanhilleth Town* (Six Bells ward)Warm Turn Tredegar Central and West (4 seats)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".Private Eye, Issue 1519, p.18

Arms

References

External links Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council