Powys County Council (Welsh: Cyngor Sir Powys) is the local authority for Powys, one of the 22 principal areas of Wales. The council is based at County Hall in Llandrindod Wells.
Powys County Council Cyngor Sir Powys | |
|---|---|
 | |
.svg) | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 1 April 1974 |
| Preceded by | Brecknockshire Montgomeryshire Radnorshire |
| Leadership | |
Emma Palmer since 23 October 2023[3] | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 68 councillors |
 | |
Political groups |
|
Length of term | 5 years |
| Elections | |
| First past the post | |
Last election | 5 May 2022 |
Next election | 6 May 2027 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| County Hall, Spa Road East, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 5LG | |
| Website | |
| www | |
History
editThe county of Powys was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the area of the three administrative counties of Brecknockshire,[a] Montgomeryshire, and Radnorshire, which were abolished at the same time. From 1974 until 1996 there were two principal tiers of local government, with Powys County Council as the upper tier authority and three district councils below it, each of which corresponded to one of the pre-1974 counties: Brecknock Borough Council, Montgomeryshire District Council, and Radnorshire District Council.[4]
The three districts were abolished under the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, with Powys County Council becoming a unitary authority with effect from 1 April 1996, taking on the functions formerly performed by the district councils.[5]
Political control
editThe council has been under no overall control since 2017. Following the 2022 election a Liberal Democrat and Labour coalition formed to take control of the council.[6] The Green councillor later joined the coalition.[7]
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 held by the following parties:[8]
Upper-tier county council
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Independent | 1974–1996 | |
Unitary authority
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Independent | 1996–2017 | |
| No overall control | 2017–present | |
Leadership
editThe leaders of the council since 2002 (formally called the chairman of the board prior to 2011) have been:[9]
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Jones[10][11] | Independent | 2002 | 17 May 2012 | |
| David Jones[12] | Independent | 17 May 2012 | 10 Jan 2014 | |
| Barry Thomas[13] | Independent | 10 Jan 2014 | 7 May 2017 | |
| Rosemarie Harris[14] | Independent | 18 May 2017 | 8 May 2022 | |
| James Gibson-Watt | Liberal Democrats | 26 May 2022 | ||
Composition
editFollowing the 2022 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to October 2024, the composition of the council was:[15]
| Party | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | 22 | |
| Independent | 17 | |
| Conservative | 15 | |
| Labour | 9 | |
| Plaid Cymru | 4 | |
| Green | 1 | |
| Total | 68 | |
Of the independent councillors, 15 form the 'Powys Independents' group and the other two are not affiliated to any group.[16] The next election is due in 2027.[17]
Elections
editElections are held every five years. Since the last ward boundary changes in 2022, 68 councillors have been elected from 60 wards.[18] Prior to 2012, elections were generally held every four years.
| Year | Seats | Independent | Labour | Liberal Democrats | Conservative | Plaid Cymru | Green Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 84 | 62 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | Independent majority controlled |
| 1999 | 73 | 57 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | New ward boundaries.[19] Independent majority controlled |
| 2004 | 73 | 54 | 4 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Independent majority controlled |
| 2008 | 73 | 45 | 4 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 0 | Independent majority controlled |
| 2012 | 73 | 48 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 0 | 0 | Independent majority controlled |
| 2017 | 73 | 30 | 7 | 13 | 19 | 2 | 1 | Independent–Conservative coalition |
| 2022 | 68 | 17 | 9 | 24 | 14 | 3 | 1 | New ward boundaries.[18] Lib Dem–Lab Coalition[20] |
Party with the most elected councillors in bold. Coalition agreements in Notes column.
Cabinet
edit2022–present
edit| Position[21] | Holder | Political group | Ward | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leader of the Council | James Gibson-Watt | Liberal Democrats | Glasbury | |
| Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Powys | Matthew Dorrance | Labour | Brecon West | |
| Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys | David Selby | Liberal Democrats | Newtown Central and South | |
| Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Transformation | David Thomas | Labour | Tawe Uchaf | |
| Cabinet Member for a Caring Powys | Sian Cox | Liberal Democrats | Llangors with Bwlch | |
| Cabinet Member for a Safer Powys | Richard Church | Liberal Democrats | Welshpool Castle | |
| Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys | Pete Roberts | Liberal Democrats | Llandrindod South | |
| Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys | Jackie Charlton | Liberal Democrats | Llangattock and Llangynidr | |
| Cabinet Members for Future Generations | Sandra Davies | Labour | Cwm-twrch Ynyscedwyn | |
| Cabinet Member for a Connected Powys | Jake Berriman | Liberal Democrats | Llandrindod North | |
Premises
editThe council has its headquarters at County Hall on Spa Road East in Llandrindod Wells, which opened in 1990.[22] The site was formerly occupied by the Pump House Hotel, which had been the meeting place of the former Radnorshire County Council from 1889 and then served as both the offices and meeting place of Powys Council Council following the local government reorganisation in 1974. The old building was found to be structurally unstable in the late 1980s and it was decided to build a new county hall on the same site.[23]
The council also has three area offices, being one inherited from each of the three former districts abolished in 1996:[24]
- Neuadd Brycheiniog in Brecon, built in the 1980s as the headquarters for Brecknock Borough Council.
- The Gwalia in Llandrindod Wells, built in 1900 as the Gwalia Hotel, becoming offices of Radnorshire County Council 1950–1974 then Radnorshire District Council 1974–1996.
- Park Office in Newtown, built in 1968 as Newtown Town Hall, being the shared headquarters of Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Urban District and Newtown and Llanidloes Rural District Councils, then used as an area office for Montgomeryshire District Council 1974–1996
The former headquarters of Montgomeryshire District Council at Neuadd Maldwyn in Welshpool also served as an area office for Powys County Council until 2019 when it was sold.[25]
Electoral wards
edit.svg){kind=spacer}
Powys is administered by Powys County Council and has 68 elected councillors representing 60 council wards. Although it is a unitary authority, the highway functions of the council, along with the allocation of small grants, are delegated to the three Shire Committees. Brecknockshire has 24 councillors, Radnorshire has 15 and Montgomeryshire has 34.[26]
Local elections take place every five years. Some of the electoral wards are coterminous with communities (parishes) of the same name. There are 112 communities in the principal area. Nearly all communities have a local community council.
The following table lists the council wards, the political group representing them, and the communities they cover. Communities with a community council are indicated with a '*':
| Ward | Political group | Councillor | Communities | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aber-craf and Ystradgynlais | Labour | Huw Williams |
| |
| Labour | Sarah Williams | |||
| Banwy, Llanfihangel and Llanwddyn | Plaid Cymru | Bryn Davies | ||
| Berriew and Castle Caereinion | Conservative | Adrian Jones | ||
| Brecon East | Labour | Liz Rijnenberg |
| |
| Labour | Chris Walsh | |||
| Brecon West | Labour | Matthew Dorrance |
| |
| Labour | David Meredith | |||
| Bronllys and Felin-fach | Liberal Democrats | Thomas Colbert | ||
| Builth | Independent | Jeremy Pugh | ||
| Caersws | Conservative | Les George | ||
| Churchstoke | Liberal Democrats | Danny Bebb | ||
| Crickhowell with Cwmdu and Tretower | Liberal Democrats | Claire Hall (since November 23 by-election) |
| |
| Liberal Democrats | Chloe Masefield (since November 23 by-election) | |||
| Cwm-twrch | Labour | Sandra Davies |
| |
| Disserth and Trecoed with Newbridge | Independent | Little Brighouse |
| |
| Dolforwyn | Conservative | Gareth Pugh |
| |
| Forden and Montgomery | Green | Jeremy Thorp |
| |
| Glantwymyn | Plaid Cymru | Elwyn Vaughan | ||
| Glasbury | Liberal Democrats | James Gibson-Watt | ||
| Guilsfield | Conservative | Ian Harrison | ||
| Gwernyfed | Liberal Democrats | William Lloyd | ||
| Hay | Liberal Democrats | Gareth Ratcliffe |
| |
| Ithon Valley | Independent | Geoff Morgan | ||
| Kerry | Conservative | Benjamin Breeze |
| |
| Knighton with Beguildy | Liberal Democrats | Corinna Kenyon-Wade | ||
| Independent | Ange Williams | |||
| Llanafanfawr with Garth | Independent | Bryan Davies |
| |
| Llanbrynmair | Plaid Cymru | Gary Mitchell | ||
| Llandinam with Dolfor | Conservative | Karl Lewis | ||
| Llandrindod North | Liberal Democrats | Jake Berriman |
| |
| Llandrindod South | Liberal Democrats | Josie Ewing |
| |
| Liberal Democrats | Pete Roberts | |||
| Llandrinio | Conservative | Lucy Roberts |
| |
| Llandysilio | Independent | Arwel Jones | ||
| Llanelwedd | Independent | Gareth Emlyn Jones | ||
| Llanfair Caereinion and Llanerfyl | Independent | Gareth Jones | ||
| Llanfyllin | Conservative | Peter Lewis | ||
| Llangattock and Llangynidr | Liberal Democrats | Jackie Charlton | ||
| Llangors with Bwlch | Liberal Democrats | Sian Cox | ||
| Llangunllo with Norton | Independent | Deb Edwards |
| |
| Llangyniew and Meifod | Conservative | Jonathan Wilkinson | ||
| Llanidloes | Liberal Democrats | Gareth Morgan | ||
| Liberal Democrats | Glyn Preston | |||
| Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant and Llansilin | Conservative | Aled Davies | ||
| Llansantffraid | Conservative | Gwynfor Thomas | ||
| Llanwrtyd Wells | Independent | Peter James |
| |
| Llanyre with Nantmel | Independent | Claire Mills |
| |
| Machynlleth | Plaid Cymru | Alwyn Evans (Since 9 October 2024 by-election) | ||
| Maescar and Llywel | Independent | Edwin Roderick | ||
| Newtown Central and South | Liberal Democrats | Kelly Healy |
| |
| Liberal Democrats | David Selby | |||
| Newtown East | Independent | Joy Jones |
| |
| Newtown North | Liberal Democrats | Adam Kennerley |
| |
| Newtown West | Conservative | Peter Lewington |
| |
| Old Radnor | Independent | Edward Jones | ||
| Presteigne | Independent | Beverley Baynham |
| |
| Rhayader | Liberal Democrats | Angela Davies | ||
| Rhiwcynon | Independent | Heulwen Hulme |
| |
| Talgarth | Liberal Democrats | William Powell | ||
| Talybont-on-Usk | Liberal Democrats | Raiff Devlin (since November 23 by-election) | ||
| Tawe Uchaf | Labour | David Thomas | ||
| Trelystan and Trewern | Conservative | Amanda Jenner | ||
| Welshpool Castle | Liberal Democrats | Richard Church |
| |
| Welshpool Gungrog | Liberal Democrats | Carol Robinson |
| |
| Welshpool Llanerchyddol | Independent | Graham Breeze |
| |
| Ynyscedwyn | Labour | Susan McNicholas |
| |
| Yscir with Honddu Isaf and Llanddew | Conservative | Iain McIntosh | ||
External links
editReferences
edit- ^ "Cabinet revealed by new Powys council leader". Brecon and Radnor Express. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ^ Hearn, Elgan (17 May 2024). "Cllr Jonathan WIlkinson confirmed as Powys council chairman". Brecon and Radnor Express. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "New Chief Executive". Powys County Council. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 27 September 2022
- ^ "Local Government (Wales) Act 1994", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1994 c. 19, retrieved 27 September 2022
- ^ "Lib Dems and Labour to take control of Powys Council". Brecon and Radnor Express. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ Hearn, Elgan (11 July 2023). "Two councillors quit Powys Lib Dems over school closure vote". Powys County Times. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- ^ "Council minutes". Powys Council. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- ^ Brumwell, Ariane (9 May 2022). "Former Powys leader retired after nearly 40 years as a Radnorshire councillor". Brecon & Radnor Express. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- ^ Masters, Adrian (17 May 2012). "Powys Council Leader Chosen". ITV News. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- ^ "Powys council: David Jones elected as new leader". BBC News. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- ^ "Powys council leader Barry Thomas to stand down in May". BBC News. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- ^ "Rosemarie Harris first woman leader for Powys council". BBC News. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- ^ "Councillors by Party". Powys County Council. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ^ "Your councillors by party". Powys County Council. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ "Powys". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ a b "The County of Powys (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2021/1081, retrieved 28 September 2022
- ^ "The County of Powys (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1998", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1998/3143, retrieved 28 September 2022
- ^ "Powys result - Local Elections 2022". BBC News.
- ^ "Powys Council AGM". Brecon and Radnor Express. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ^ "Chief Executive's Department" (PDF). Powys County Council. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ "The Pump House Hotel". Powys Built Heritage. Archived from the original on 24 February 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
- ^ "Contact us". Powys County Council. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ Hearn, Elgan (4 April 2019). "Powys: Neuadd Maldwyn could become care facility". Powys County Times. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
- ^ "Articles of the Constitution, Part 2 Article 10" (PDF). Powys Council. Retrieved 22 December 2006.[permanent dead link]