Calderdale Council, also known as Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council, is the local authority for the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It is a metropolitan borough council and provides the majority of local government services in the borough. Since 2014 the council has been a constituent member of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

The council has been under Reform UK majority control since 2026. It is based at Halifax Town Hall.

History The metropolitan district of Calderdale was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. It covered the area of eight former districts and part of a ninth, which were all abolished at the same time: Brighouse Municipal Borough Elland Urban District Halifax County Borough Hebden Royd Urban District Hepton Rural District Queensbury and Shelf Urban District (Shelf part only, Queensbury went to Bradford) Ripponden Urban District Sowerby Bridge Urban District Todmorden Municipal Borough

The county borough of Halifax had provided all local government services in its area. The other eight districts had been lower-tier authorities with West Riding County Council providing county-level services. The new Calderdale district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.

Calderdale was initially a district-level authority, with West Yorkshire County Council providing county-level services. However, the metropolitan county councils, including West Yorkshire County Council, were abolished in 1986 under the Local Government Act 1985. Since 1986 Calderdale Council has therefore been responsible for most local government functions.

The council has been a constituent member of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority since 2014, which has been led by the directly elected Mayor of West Yorkshire since 2021.

Governance Political control The council has been under Reform majority control since the 2026 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 "Calderdale" in search box to see specific results.)

Party in control Years 1974–1975 1975–1980 1980–1990 1990–1992 1992–1995 1995–1999 1999–2000 2000–2002 2002–2019 2019–2026 2026–present

Composition Following the 2026 election, the composition of the council was:

The next election is due in May 2027.

Leadership The role of Mayor of Calderdale is largely ceremonial. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1988 have been:

Councillor Party From To Joe Tolan May 1988 1990 David Helliwell May 1990 22 Aug 1991 Joe Tolan 25 Sep 1991 May 1992 Tony Mazey May 1992 12 May 1993 Bob Sunderland 12 May 1993 May 1995 Pam Warhurst May 1995 May 1999 Michael Higgins 19 May 1999 May 2000 John Ford 17 May 2000 2006 Ann McAllister 17 May 2006 Sep 2008 Stephen Baines 1 Oct 2008 May 2010 Janet Battye 24 May 2010 23 May 2012 Tim Swift 23 May 2012 30 Jul 2014 Stephen Baines 30 Jul 2014 May 2015 Tim Swift 27 May 2015 17 May 2023 Jane Scullion 17 May 2023 May 2026 Dan Sutherland 20 May 2026

Premises The council is based at Halifax Town Hall, which had been built for one of the council's predecessors, the Halifax Borough Council, in 1863.

Elections

Since the last boundary changes took effect for the 2026 election, the council has comprised 54 councillors representing 18 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with a third of the council (one councillor for each ward) elected each time for a four-year term of office.

Wards

Calder Valley Halifax1. Hebden Bridge and Todmorden East 2. Todmorden West 3. Luddendenfoot 4. Ryburn 5. Greetland 6. Elland 7. Hipperholme and Lightcliffe 8. Brighouse 9. Rastrick10. Illingworth and Mixenden 11. Warley 12. Sowerby Bridge 13. Ovenden 14. Park 15. Northowram and Shelf 16. Halifax Town 17. Salterhebble, Southowram and Skircoat Green 18. Wainhouse

Mayor The mayors since 1974 have been:

NameCalderdale Votes: 40 years of local democracy. Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 20 August 2017. Years Steven Leigh 2025–2026 Ann Kingstone 2024–2025 Ashley Evans 2023–2024 Angie Gallagher 2022–2023 Chris Pillai 2021–2022 Dot Foster 2019–2021 Marcus Thompson 2018–2019 Ferman Ali 2017–2018 Howard Blagbrough 2016–2017 Lisa Lambert 2015–2016 Pat Allen 2014–2015 Ann Martin 2013–2014 John Hardy 2012–2013 Nader Fekri 2011–2012 Keith Watson 2010–2011 Ann McAllister 2010 Arshad Mahmood 2009–2010 Conrad Winterburn 2008–2009 Martin Peel 2007–2008 Colin Stout 2006–2007 John Williamson 2005–2006 Olwen Jennings 2004–2005 Geraldine Carter 2003–2004 Patrick Phillips 2002–2003 Chris O'Connor 2001–2002 Peter Coles 2000–2001 Graham Hall 1999–2000 Alan Worth 1997–1999 Susan Tucker 1997 Dawn Neal 1996–1997 Graham Reason 1995–1996 Stephen Pearson 1994–1995 Tony Mazey 1993–1994 Bill Carpenter 1992–1993 Tom McElroy 1991–1992 Joe Tolan 1990–1991 Joe Kneafsey 1989–1990 Albert Berry 1988–1989 Wilfred Sharp 1987–1988 David Fox 1986–1987 Tom Lawler 1985–1986 John Bradley 1984–1985 Kevin Lord 1983–1984 David Shutt 1982–1983 Eric Whitehead 1981–1982 Harry Wilson 1980–1981 Betty Wildsmith 1979–1980 Richard Deadman 1978–1979 Eric Dennett 1977–1978 Mona Mitchell 1976–1977 Kathleen Cawdry 1975–1976 Joe Tolan 1974–1975

References

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