Redditch Borough Council is the local authority for Redditch, a non-metropolitan district with borough status in Worcestershire, England. The council is based at Redditch Town Hall.
The council went under no overall control at the May 2026 election, since when the council has been run by a Conservative-led administration with the support of a confidence and supply agreement with Reform UK.
The borough council is due to be abolished in 2028 as part of upcoming structural changes to local government in England.
History The town of Redditch was made a local government district in 1858, governed by a local board. Such districts were renamed urban districts in 1894. The urban district in turn was abolished in 1974 and replaced by a non-metropolitan district covering the same area as the former urban district, but with different powers and responsibilities.
Redditch district was awarded borough status on 15 May 1980, changing the council's name to Redditch Borough Council and allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.
In 2026, the government announced plans to abolish the borough with effect from April 2028, with the borough council's functions passing to a new unitary authority for North Worcestershire.
Governance Redditch Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Worcestershire County Council. Feckenham is a civil parish, which forms a third tier of local government for that part of the borough; the rest of the borough is an unparished area.
Since 2008, the council has developed shared working arrangements with neighbouring Bromsgrove District Council, with the two organisations sharing a chief executive, management team and other staff.
Political control The council went under no overall control at the 2026 election. Labour was the largest party after that election, but an administration comprising the Conservatives and independent councillors took control of the council instead, led by Conservative councillor Matt Dormer. The new administration was supported by Reform UK on a confidence and supply basis.
Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms has been as follows: (Put "Redditch" in search box to see specific results.)
Party in control Years 1974–1976 1976–1983 1983–2002 2002–2004 2004–2006 2006–2008 2008–2012 2012–2018 2018–2024 2024–2026 2026–present
Leadership The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Redditch. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 2008 have been: Councillor Party From To Carole Gandy May 2008 21 May 2012 Bill Hartnett 21 May 2012 21 May 2018 Matthew Dormer 21 May 2018 20 May 2024 Joe Baker 20 May 2024 11 April 2025 Sharon Harvey 19 May 2025 26 May 2026 Matthew Dormer 26 May 2026
Composition Following the 2026 election, and subsequent changes of allegiance up to June 2026 the composition of the council was:
Premises The council is based at Redditch Town Hall on Walter Stranz Square. The foundation stone was laid in 1981. It cost £7.5 million to build and it was opened in 1982.
Elections
Since the last boundary changes in 2024, the council has comprised 27 councillors representing 9 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with a third of the council elected each time for a four-year term of office. Worcestershire County Council elections are held in the fourth year of the cycle when there are no borough council elections.
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