Nuneaton and Bedworth is a local government district with borough status in Warwickshire, England. It includes the towns of Nuneaton (where the council is based) and Bedworth, as well as a modest rural hinterland including the village of Bulkington.
The neighbouring districts are Rugby, Coventry, North Warwickshire and Hinckley and Bosworth. History The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, by a merger of two former districts which were both abolished at the same time, these were: Bedworth Urban District (which included Ash Green, Bulkington, Exhall, and part of Keresley) Nuneaton Municipal Borough The new district was initially named Nuneaton, after its largest town. Nuneaton's borough status, which it had held since 1907, was transferred to the enlarged district, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor. Following a campaign from Bedworth residents the borough's name was changed to "Nuneaton and Bedworth" with effect from 1 October 1980.
Abolition Under current local government reorganisation plans, all district councils in Warwickshire, as well as the county council, will be abolished in 2028, with the district forming part of a new North Warwickshire unitary authority, also including the areas of the Rugby and North Warwickshire districts.
Governance
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Warwickshire County Council. There are no civil parishes in the borough, which is an unparished area.
Political control The council has been under no overall control since December 2024. At the 2026 election the council remained under no overall control, but Reform UK overtook Labour to become the largest party, since when Reform have been running the council as a minority administration.
Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms has been as follows: (Put "Nuneaton & Bedworth" in search box to see specific results.)
Party in control Years 1974–2008 2008–2010 2010–2012 2012–2018 2018–2021 2021–2024 2024–2024 2024–present
Leadership The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Nuneaton and Bedworth. Political leadership is provided instead by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1974 have been:
Councillor Party From To Fred Warr 1 Apr 1974 Jan 1975 John Haynes Feb 1975 1982 Bill Olner May 1982 May 1986 Dennis Harvey 1986 May 2008 Marcus Jones May 2008 2009 Peter Gilbert 2009 May 2010 Dennis Harvey May 2010 May 2018 Julie Jackson 16 May 2018 May 2021 Kris Wilson 19 May 2021 15 May 2024 Chris Watkins 15 May 2024 21 Jan 2026 Steve Hey 21 Jan 2026 May 2026 George Finch 20 May 2026
Composition Following the 2026 election, and a subsequent by-election in June 2026, the composition of the council was:
Elections
Since the last boundary changes in 2024 the council has comprised 38 councillors representing 19 wards, with each ward electing two councillors. Elections are held in alternate years, with half the council (one councillor for each ward) elected each time for a four-year term of office.
Premises The council is based at Nuneaton Town Hall on Coton Road in Nuneaton. The building was purpose-built for the old Nuneaton Borough Council and opened in 1934.Veasey, E.A. (2002), Nuneaton A History, Phillimore & Co. Limited, pages 104, 113–114, 126 .
Subdivisions
Nuneaton and Bedworth are divided into 19 wards, each represented by 2 councillors, giving a total of 38 councillors. The borough has no civil parishes.
Ward name Approximate coverage Population(2001 census) Population(2011 census) Arbury Heath End, Glendale, Bermuda, Arbury5,4826,736 Attleborough Attleborough, Maple Park, SW Whitestone7,5647,676 Bede Collycroft (east), Furnace Fields (north), Bedworth town centre, Burnside, Water Tower estate6,7606,666 Bulkington Bulkington, Weston-in-Arden, Ryton, Marston Jabbett, Bramcote (west)6,3036,146 Camp Hill Camp Hill7,3257,321 Chilvers Coton Chilvers Coton Eastboro Eastboro Exhall Exhall (west), Ash Green, Neals Green, Keresley End7,3818,006 Galley Common Galley Common, Chapel End, Whittleford7,5938,233 Heath Bedworth Heath, Goodyers End, Market End6,3777,473 Milby Milby Poplar Furnace Fields (south), Coalpit Field, Exhall (east), Hawkesbury Village6,8508,043 Slough Collycroft (west), Mount Pleasant, Bedworth Woodlands, Woodland Park7,0587,041 St Mary's St Mary's St Nicolas Horeston Grange, Hinckley Road, The Long Shoot, St Nicolas Park (south)7,0736,943 Stockingford East Stockingford East Stockingford West Stockingford West Weddington Weddington, St Nicolas Park (north)7,2867,256 Whitestone Whitestone (except SW part), Attleborough Fields7,4356,877 TOTAL NUNEATON & BEDWORTH119,132125,252
For a sortable list of wards in Nuneaton and Bedworth by population, see List of wards in Nuneaton and Bedworth by population.
Twinnings
Nuneaton and Bedworth is twinned with: Roanne, France Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha, Spain Cottbus, Germany
References
External links The Nuneaton Local History Group Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council Election Results