Caerphilly County Borough Council () is the local authority for the county borough of Caerphilly, one of the principal areas of Wales. The last full council elections took place 5 May 2022.
History The council was former in April 1996 following the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 by merging Islwyn Borough Council and the Rhymney Valley District Council.
In September 2025, Sean Morgan resigned from Welsh Labour and hence leader of the council in order to back Plaid Cymru in the 2025 Caerphilly by-election, although he later joined the Green Party, became its first ever member on the council.
Political control The council has been under Labour majority control since 2012.
The first election to the new council was held in 1995. It initially operated as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities before coming into its powers on 1 April 1996. Political control of the council since 1996 has been as follows: (Put "Caerphilly" in search box to see specific results.)
Party in controlYears 1996–1999 1999–2004 2004–2008 2008–2012 2012–present
Leadership The role of Mayor of Caerphilly is largely ceremonial. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The first leader, Graham Court, was the last leader of the old Rhymney Valley District Council. The leaders of Caerphilly County Borough Council since 1996 have been:
Councillor Party From To Graham Court 1 Apr 1996 May 1999 Lindsay Whittle 20 May 1999 Jun 2004 Harry Andrews 24 Jun 2004 15 May 2008 Lindsay Whittle 15 May 2008 24 May 2011 Allan Pritchard 24 May 2011 May 2012 Harry Andrews 24 May 2012 8 May 2014 Keith Reynolds 8 May 2014 10 Apr 2017 David Poole 18 May 2017 20 Sep 2019 Philippa Marsden 19 Nov 2019 May 2022 Sean Morgan 19 May 2022 11 September 2025 Jamie Pritchard 11 November 2025Present
Composition Following the 2022 election, and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to February 2026, the composition of the council was: Party Councillors 43 19 1 6Total69 The next election is due in 2027.
Elections
YearSeatsLabourPlaid CymruIndependentLiberal DemocratsNotes 1995 67 55 9 3 0 Labour majority controlled 1999 73 28 38 6 1 Plaid Cymru majority control 2004 73 41 26 6 0 Labour majority control 2008 73 32 32 9 0 No overall control; Plaid Cymru led administration. 2012 73 50 20 3 0 Labour majority control 2017 73 50 18 5 0 Labour majority control 2022 69 45 18 6 0 Labour majority control Party with the most elected councillors in bold. Coalition agreements in notes column
Premises The council meets at Penallta House in Tredomen Park, a part of Ystrad Mynach ward, it opened in April 2008. The council used to meet in the two main offices of its predecessor authorities: Ystrad Fawr House at Ystrad Mynach from Rhymney Valley District Council, and Pontllanfraith House in Pontllanfraith from Islwyn Borough Council. Ystrad Fawr House was demolished in 2008 to make way for the Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr hospital. The other office at Pontllanfraith House subsequently closed in 2015 and has since been demolished.
Electoral divisions The county borough is divided into 30 electoral wards returning 69 councillors. Many of these wards are coterminous with communities (parishes) of the same name. The following table lists council wards, communities and community ward areas.
WardFinal report ldbc.gov.wales CommunitiesCommunity wardCouncillorsAber ValleyAber ValleyAbertridwr, Senghenydd3Aberbargoed and BargoedBargoedAberbargoed, Bargoed3Aber-carnAber-carnAber-carn2ArgoedArgoedArgoed, Hollybush, Markham1Bedwas and TrethomasBedwas, Trethomas and MachenBedwas, Trethomas3BlackwoodBlackwoodBlackwood Central, Blackwood North, Blackwood South, Cefn Fforest East3Cefn Fforest and PengamCefn Fforest, PengamCefn Fforest, Pengam3CrumlinCrumlinCrumlin2Darran ValleyDarran ValleyDeri, Fochriw1GilfachBargoedGilfach1HengoedGelligaerCefn Hengoed, Hengoed2LlanbradachLlanbradach and PwllypantLlanbradach, Pwllypant, Wingfield2Machen and RudryBedwas, Trethomas and Machen, RudryLlanfedw, Machen, Rhydygwern, Rudry2MaesycwmmerMaesycwmmerMaesycwmmer1Morgan JonesCaerphillyBryncenydd, Parcyfelin, Tonyfelin3Moriah and PontlottynRhymneyAbertysswg, Moriah, Pontlottyn, St David's2NelsonNelsonLlanfabon, Llwyncelyn2New TredegarNew TredegarBrithdir, Cwmsyfiog, New Tredegar, Phillipstown, Tir-phil2NewbridgeNewbridgeNewbridge3PenmaenPenmaenPenmaen2PenyrheolPenyrheol, Trecenydd and EnerglynEnerglyn, Penyrheol, Trecenydd4PontllanfraithPontllanfraithPontllanfraith, Springfield3Risca EastRisca EastPontymister and Ty-Sign, Pontymister Upper, Trenewydd3Risca WestRisca WestPontymister Lower, Risca Danygraig, Risca Fernlea and Town, Ty-Isaf Fields Road2St CattwgGelligaerCascade, Greenhill, Tir-y-berth3St MartinsCaerphillyCastle, Cwrt Rawlins, Twyn, Watford3Twyn CarnoRhymneyTwyn Carno1VanVanBrynau, Lansbury, Porset2Ystrad MynachGelligaerYstrad Mynach3
Former wards Until 2022, the county borough was divided into 33 electoral wards returning 73 councillors. Communities with a community council are indicated with a '*':
WardCommunities (Parishes)Other geographic areasAberbargoedBargoed Town* (Aberbargoed ward)Bedwellty AbercarnAbercarnChapel of Ease, Cwmcarn, Llanfach, West EndAber ValleyAber Valley*Senghenydd, AbertridwrArgoedArgoed*Cwm Corrwg, Hollybush, Manmoel, Markham BargoedBargoed Town* (Bargoed and Park wards)Gilfach EstateBedwas, Trethomas and MachenBedwas, Trethomas and Machen*Bedwas, Trethomas, Machen, Graig-y-RhaccaBlackwoodBlackwood Town*Britannia, Cwm Gelli, HighfieldsCefn FforestCefn FforestCrosskeysCrosskeysPontywaunCrumlinCrumlinBont Pren, Croespenmaen, Hafodyrnynys, Kendon, Treowen, TrinantDarran ValleyDarran Valley*Deri, Groesfaen, Pentwyn, FochriwGilfachBargoed Town* (Gilfach ward)HengoedGelligaer* (Cefn Hengoed and Hengoed wards)LlanbradachLlanbradach & Pwllypant*MaesycwmmerMaesycwmmer*Morgan JonesCaerphilly Town* (Bryncenydd, Parcyfelin and Tonyfelin wards)Bryncenydd, Churchill Park, PontypandyMoriahRhymney* (Abertysswg, Moriah and St.David's wards)Abertysswg, Tan-y-brynNelsonNelson*NewbridgeNewbridgeCwmdows, Pant, PentwynmawrNew TredegarNew Tredegar*Brithdir, Phillipstown, Tirphil, Elliotstown, Cwmsyfiog PengamPengamBritannia, Fleur de Lis, GellihafPenmainPenmain (Penmaen)Oakdale, Pen-y-fan, WoodfieldsidePenyrheolPenyrheol, Trecenydd and Energlyn*Trecenydd, Hendredenny, Energlyn, GroeswenPontllanfraithPontllanfraithBryn, Gelligroes, Springfield, PenllwynPontlottynRhymney* (Pontlottyn ward)Risca EastThat part of the Community of Risca bounded by a line commencing at the point on the boundary of the former borough of Islwyn at Grid Reference ST 24879259, thence southwards along a track to Grid Reference ST 24799214, thence southwestwards along a cart track to Grid Reference ST 24679204, thence southwestwards along field boundaries to the stream at Grid Reference ST 24459185, thence along that stream southwestwards to the place where it enters the Monmouthshire Canal.Ty SignRisca WestThe area of Risca not contained in Risca EastSt. CattwgGelligaer*Cascade, Cefn Hengoed, Glan-y-nant, Penpedairheol, Tir-y-berth St. JamesRudry*, Van*Lansbury Park, Mornington Meadows, Waterloo, Llwyn GwynSt. MartinsCaerphilly Town* (Castle, Twyn and Watford wards)Watford, Bonfield Park, Castle ViewTwyn CarnoRhymney* (Twyn Carno ward)Llechryd, PrincetownYnysdduYnysdduBrynawel, Wattsville, Wyllie, Cwmfelinfach, MynyddislynYstrad MynachGelligaer* (Ystrad Mynach ward)Tredomen, Penallta
Allegations of misconduct In 2015 Anthony O'Sullivan, the chief executive and two other executives were charged with misconduct during public office. It was alleged that they specifically 'wilfully misconducted themselves in relation to securing Caerphilly County Borough Council's approval of a remuneration package for the said council's chief officers from which they stood to gain for themselves'.
Relating to this and other failings the Welsh Assembly commissioned a special report on the council in January 2014.
References
External links Caerphilly County Borough Council