Caerphilly County Borough Council

Caerphilly County Borough Council Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili (Welsh)
Type
Type	Principal council
History
Founded	1 April 1996
Preceded by	Islwyn Borough Council Rhymney Valley District Council Mid Glamorgan County Council Gwent County Council
Leadership
Presiding member	Colin Gordon, Labour since 9 May 2024 [1] [2]
Leader	Jamie Pritchard, Labour since 11 November 2025
Chief Executive	Ed Edmunds since 30 January 2025 [3]
Structure
Seats	69 councillors
Political groups	Administration (41)     Labour (41) Other parties (27)     Plaid Cymru (19)     Green (1)     Independent (7) Vacancy (1)     Vacant (1)
Length of term	5 years
Elections
Voting system	First-past-the-post
Last election	5 May 2022
Next election	6 May 2027
Meeting place
Penallta House, Tredomen Park, Ystrad Mynach, Hengoed, CF82 7PG
Website
www.caerphilly.gov.uk

Caerphilly County Borough Council (Welsh : Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili) is the local authority for the county borough of Caerphilly, one of the principal areas of Wales. The council is based at Penallta House in Ystrad Mynach. The council has been under Labour majority control since 2012. The last full council elections took place on 5 May 2022.

History

The county borough and its council were created on 1 April 1996, covering the area of the abolished Rhymney Valley district of Mid Glamorgan and the Islwyn borough of Gwent. The new council took over the functions of both abolished district councils and of the two abolished county councils. ^[4]

The council is allowed to appoint a mayor; until 2024 the mayor chaired council meetings and also acted as the council's ceremonial figurehead. In 2024 the separate role of presiding member was created to chair meetings, leaving the mayor a purely ceremonial role. ^[5] The role of mayor was discontinued in 2026 as a cost saving measure. ^[6]

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 assuming its powers on 1 April 1996. Political control of the council since 1996 has been as follows: ^[7]

Party in control		Years
	Labour	1996–1999
	Plaid Cymru	1999–2004
	Labour	2004–2008
	No overall control	2008–2012
	Labour	2012–present

Leadership

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. ^[8] The leaders of Caerphilly County Borough Council since 1996 have been:

Councillor	Party		From	To
Graham Court [9] [10]		Labour	1 Apr 1996	May 1999
Lindsay Whittle [11] [12]		Plaid Cymru	20 May 1999	Jun 2004
Harry Andrews [13] [14]		Labour	24 Jun 2004	15 May 2008
Lindsay Whittle [14] [15] [16]		Plaid Cymru	15 May 2008	24 May 2011
Allan Pritchard [16] [17] [18]		Plaid Cymru	24 May 2011	May 2012
Harry Andrews [19]		Labour	24 May 2012	8 May 2014
Keith Reynolds [20] [21]		Labour	8 May 2014	10 Apr 2017
David Poole [22] [23] [24]		Labour	18 May 2017	20 Sep 2019
Philippa Marsden [25] [26]		Labour	19 Nov 2019	May 2022
Sean Morgan [27] [28] [29]		Labour	19 May 2022	11 Sep 2025
Jamie Pritchard [30]		Labour	11 Nov 2025

Composition

Following the 2022 election, and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to October 2026, the composition of the council was: ^{[31] [32]}

Party		Seats
	Labour	41
	Plaid Cymru	19
	Green	1
	Independent	7
	Vacant	1
Total		69

A by-election may be held for the vacant seat. The next full council election is due in 2027. ^[32]

Elections

Year	Seats	Labour	Plaid Cymru	Independent	Liberal Democrats	Notes
1995	67 [33]	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 [34]	73	50	18	5	0	Labour majority control
2022 [35]	69	45	18	6	0	Labour majority control

Party with the most elected councillors in bold. Coalition agreements in notes column

Premises

The council is based at Penallta House in Tredomen Park, Ystrad Mynach (in the community of Gelligaer). The building was purpose-built for the council and opened in April 2008. ^[36]

When first created, the council inherited two main offices from 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. ^[36] The other office at Pontllanfraith House subsequently closed in 2015 and has since been demolished. ^{[37] [38]}

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.

Ward [39]	Communities	Community ward	Councillors
Aber Valley	Aber Valley	Abertridwr, Senghenydd	3
Aberbargoed and Bargoed	Bargoed	Aberbargoed, Bargoed	3
Aber-carn	Aber-carn	Aber-carn	2
Argoed	Argoed	Argoed, Hollybush, Markham	1
Bedwas and Trethomas	Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen	Bedwas, Trethomas	3
Blackwood	Blackwood	Blackwood Central, Blackwood North, Blackwood South, Cefn Fforest East	3
Cefn Fforest and Pengam	Cefn Fforest, Pengam	Cefn Fforest, Pengam	3
Crumlin	Crumlin	Crumlin	2
Darran Valley	Darran Valley	Deri, Fochriw	1
Gilfach	Bargoed	Gilfach	1
Hengoed	Gelligaer	Cefn Hengoed, Hengoed	2
Llanbradach	Llanbradach and Pwllypant	Llanbradach, Pwllypant, Wingfield	2
Machen and Rudry	Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen, Rudry	Llanfedw, Machen, Rhydygwern, Rudry	2
Maesycwmmer	Maesycwmmer	Maesycwmmer	1
Morgan Jones	Caerphilly	Bryncenydd, Parcyfelin, Tonyfelin	3
Moriah and Pontlottyn	Rhymney	Abertysswg, Moriah, Pontlottyn, St David's	2
Nelson	Nelson	Llanfabon, Llwyncelyn	2
New Tredegar	New Tredegar	Brithdir, Cwmsyfiog, New Tredegar, Phillipstown, Tir-phil	2
Newbridge	Newbridge	Newbridge	3
Penmaen	Penmaen	Penmaen	2
Penyrheol	Penyrheol, Trecenydd and Energlyn	Energlyn, Penyrheol, Trecenydd	4
Pontllanfraith	Pontllanfraith	Pontllanfraith, Springfield	3
Risca East	Risca East	Pontymister and Ty-Sign, Pontymister Upper, Trenewydd	3
Risca West	Risca West	Pontymister Lower, Risca Danygraig, Risca Fernlea and Town, Ty-Isaf Fields Road	2
St Cattwg	Gelligaer	Cascade, Greenhill, Tir-y-berth	3
St Martins	Caerphilly	Castle, Cwrt Rawlins, Twyn, Watford	3
Twyn Carno	Rhymney	Twyn Carno	1
Van	Van	Brynau, Lansbury, Porset	2
Ystrad Mynach	Gelligaer	Ystrad Mynach	3

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 '*':

Ward	Communities (Parishes)	Other geographic areas
Aberbargoed	Bargoed Town* (Aberbargoed ward)	Bedwellty
Abercarn	Abercarn	Chapel of Ease, Cwmcarn, Llanfach, West End
Aber Valley	Aber Valley*	Senghenydd, Abertridwr
Argoed	Argoed*	Cwm Corrwg, Hollybush, Manmoel, Markham
Bargoed	Bargoed Town* (Bargoed and Park wards)	Gilfach Estate
Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen	Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen*	Bedwas, Trethomas, Machen, Graig-y-Rhacca
Blackwood	Blackwood Town*	Britannia, Cwm Gelli, Highfields
Cefn Fforest	Cefn Fforest
Crosskeys	Crosskeys	Pontywaun
Crumlin	Crumlin	Bont Pren, Croespenmaen, Hafodyrnynys, Kendon, Treowen, Trinant
Darran Valley	Darran Valley*	Deri, Groesfaen, Pentwyn, Fochriw
Gilfach	Bargoed Town* (Gilfach ward)
Hengoed	Gelligaer* (Cefn Hengoed and Hengoed wards)
Llanbradach	Llanbradach & Pwllypant*
Maesycwmmer	Maesycwmmer*
Morgan Jones	Caerphilly Town* (Bryncenydd, Parcyfelin and Tonyfelin wards)	Bryncenydd, Churchill Park, Pontypandy
Moriah	Rhymney* (Abertysswg, Moriah and St.David's wards)	Abertysswg, Tan-y-bryn
Nelson	Nelson*
Newbridge	Newbridge	Cwmdows, Pant, Pentwynmawr
New Tredegar	New Tredegar*	Brithdir, Phillipstown, Tirphil, Elliotstown, Cwmsyfiog
Pengam	Pengam	Britannia, Fleur de Lis, Gellihaf
Penmain	Penmain (Penmaen)	Oakdale, Pen-y-fan, Woodfieldside
Penyrheol	Penyrheol, Trecenydd and Energlyn*	Trecenydd, Hendredenny, Energlyn, Groeswen
Pontllanfraith	Pontllanfraith	Bryn, Gelligroes, Springfield, Penllwyn
Pontlottyn	Rhymney* (Pontlottyn ward)
Risca East	That 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. [40]	Ty Sign
Risca West	The area of Risca not contained in Risca East
St. Cattwg	Gelligaer*	Cascade, Cefn Hengoed, Glan-y-nant, Penpedairheol, Tir-y-berth
St. James	Rudry*, Van*	Lansbury Park, Mornington Meadows, Waterloo, Llwyn Gwyn
St. Martins	Caerphilly Town* (Castle, Twyn and Watford wards)	Watford, Bonfield Park, Castle View
Twyn Carno	Rhymney* (Twyn Carno ward)	Llechryd, Princetown
Ynysddu	Ynysddu	Brynawel, Wattsville, Wyllie, Cwmfelinfach, Mynyddislyn
Ystrad Mynach	Gelligaer* (Ystrad Mynach ward)	Tredomen, Penallta

References

1. Thomas, Nicholas (10 May 2024). "Critics say new presiding member role is unnecessary and 'more snouts in the trough'". Caerphilly Observer. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
2. "Council minutes, 19 May 2026" (PDF). Caerphilly County Borough Council. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
3. Russell, Nathan (1 February 2025). "Caerphilly County Borough Council appoints new chief executive". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
4. "Local Government (Wales) Act 1994". The National Archives. legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
5. Thomas, Nicholas (13 May 2024). "Councillors in Caerphilly row over new presiding member role". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
6. "Front line services boosted by Mayor savings". Caerphilly County Borough Council. 28 May 2026. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
7. "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 21 May 2025. (Put "Caerphilly" in search box to see specific results.)
8. "Bay, Valley in new link-up". Cardiff Post. 20 July 1995. p. 7. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
9. "Council minutes, 1 April 1996" (PDF). Caerphilly County Borough Council. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
10. "Authorities braced to take action". South Wales Echo. 6 April 1999. p. 7. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
11. "Council minutes, 20 May 1999" (PDF). Caerphilly County Borough Council. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
12. "Mixed fortunes for Labour". BBC News. 11 June 2004. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
13. "Council minutes, 24 June 2004" (PDF). Caerphilly County Borough Council. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
14. "Council minutes, 15 May 2008" (PDF). Caerphilly County Borough Council. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
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17. Gurner, Richard (24 May 2011). "New leader of Caerphilly Borough Council elected". Caerphilly Observer. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
18. Gurner, Richard (11 May 2012). "Former Caerphilly Council leader Allan Pritchard". Caerphilly Observer. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
19. Hill, Gareth (25 April 2014). "Caerphilly Council leader Harry Andrews to retire". Caerphilly Observer. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
20. "Council minutes, 8 May 2014" (PDF). Caerphilly County Borough Council. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
21. "Tributes paid following death of Caerphilly council leader Keith Reynolds". South Wales Argus. 10 April 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
22. "Council minutes, 18 May 2017" (PDF). Caerphilly County Borough Council. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
23. Gupwell, Katie-Ann (19 May 2017). "This is who has been named the new leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council". Wales Online. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
24. Hayward, Will (20 September 2019). "Caerphilly council leader resigns as investigation launched". Wales Online. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
25. "Council minutes, 19 November 2019" (PDF). Caerphilly County Borough Council. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
26. James, Rhiannon (6 May 2022). "Caerphilly Council Election 2022: Leader loses her seat". Caerphilly Observer. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
27. "Council minutes, 19 May 2022" (PDF). Caerphilly County Borough Council. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
28. James, Rhiannon (20 May 2022). "Caerphilly councillors appoint new leader". Nation Cymru. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
29. Thomas, Nicholas (11 September 2025). "Council leader steps down and says he is no longer 'aligned' with Labour Party". Caerphilly Observer. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
30. Thomas, Nicholas (12 November 2026). "Message of unity from council's new leader". Caerphilly Observer. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
31. "Open Council Data UK - compositions councillors parties wards elections emails". opencouncildata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
32. "Caerphilly". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
33. "Caerphilly County Borough Council Election Result 1995-2012" (PDF). The Elections Centre. Plymouth University.
34. "Council Election 2017: Labour keep hold of power in Caerphilly County Borough". 5 May 2017.
35. "Caerphilly result - Local Elections 2022". BBC News. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
36. "£28m for a leaky building". Wales Online. 24 July 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
37. "Pontllanfraith House Site Development Brief". Caerphilly County Borough Council. 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
38. "Caerphilly Council's Pontllanfraith House closure takes a step closer". Caerphilly Observer. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
39. Final report ldbc.gov.wales ^{[ dead link ]}
40. "NAMES AND AREAS OF AND NUMBERS OF COUNCILLORS FOR NEW ELECTORAL DIVISIONS". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2023.

External links

• Caerphilly County Borough Council Archived 23 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine