City of Wolverhampton Council

City of Wolverhampton Council
Coat of arms
Type
Type	Metropolitan borough council
Leadership
Mayor	Linda Leach, Labour since 15 May 2024 [1]
Leader	Stephen Simkins, Labour since 13 September 2023 [2]
Chief Executive	Tim Johnson since July 2018 [3]
Structure
Seats	60 councillors [4]
Political groups	Administration (46)   Labour (46) Other parties (14)   Conservative (12)   Independent (2)
Joint committees	West Midlands Combined Authority
Elections
Voting system	Plurality-at-large
Last election	2 May 2024
Next election	7 May 2026
Motto
Out of Darkness Cometh Light
Meeting place
Civic Centre, St Peter's Square, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SH
Website
www.wolverhampton.gov.uk

City of Wolverhampton Council is the local authority for the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands, England. Wolverhampton has had an elected local authority since 1848, which has been reformed several times. Since 1974 the council has been a metropolitan borough council. It provides the majority of local government services in the city. The council has been a member of the West Midlands Combined Authority since 2016.

The council has been under Labour majority control since 2011. It is based at the Civic Centre on St Peter's Square.

History

Wolverhampton gained the beginnings of modern local government in 1777, when a body of improvement commissioners known as the Wolverhampton Town Commissioners was created. ^[5] The commissioners undertook a variety of local improvement work such as punishing bear baiting, improving drainage and widening streets. By the end of the eighteenth century street lighting had been provided at every street corner and over the doorway of every inn, and water supply had been improved by the sinking of ten new wells and the provision of a great water tank in the market place. Policing had been improved with the appointment of ten watchmen and attempts were also made to regulate the markets and inspect hazardous food. ^{[6] [7]}

Old Town Hall: Council's headquarters 1871–1979

Wolverhampton (Improvements) Act 1776
Act of Parliament
Parliament of Great Britain
Long title	An Act for widening, cleansing, and lighting, the several Streets, Lanes, Alleys, Ways, and other publick Passages, within the Town of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford; and for taking down, altering, or re-building, certain Buildings therein mentioned, and for removing all other Nuisances and Encroachments; and for regulating Carts and other Carriages within the said Town.
Citation	17 Geo. 3. c. 25
Dates
Royal assent	16 May 1777

Wolverhampton was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1848. It was then governed by a body formally called the 'mayor, aldermen and burgesses of the borough of Wolverhampton', generally known as the corporation, town council or borough council. The first meeting of the council, consisting of 12 aldermen and 36 councillors, was held on 22 May 1848. ^{[8] [9]}

Wolverhampton in 1921

When elected county councils were established in 1889, Wolverhampton was considered large enough to provide its own county-level services, and so it became a county borough, independent from the new Staffordshire County Council, whilst remaining part of the geographical county of Staffordshire. The borough boundaries were enlarged on several occasions, notably absorbing Heath Town in 1927, parts of several neighbouring parishes in 1933, and Bilston, Tettenhall and Wednesfield in 1966 (alongside adjustments to the boundaries with several other neighbouring districts). The vast majority of the later additions had previously been part of the ancient parish of Wolverhampton and the original parliamentary borough (constituency). ^[10]

Wolverhampton had no further changes made to its boundaries during the 1974 reorganisation of local government, the borough already having a population larger than the 250,000 required for education authorities. This contrasted with both the Redcliffe-Maud Report, and the initial White Paper for the 1974 reforms ^[11] which had proposed adding large areas of the present South Staffordshire district to Wolverhampton. As part of the 1974 the borough was redesignated as a metropolitan borough rather than a county borough and it was transferred to the new metropolitan county of the West Midlands. ^[12] The reconstituted district retained its borough status, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor, continuing Wolverhampton's series of mayors dating back to 1848. ^[13]

From 1974 until 1986 the council was a lower-tier authority, with upper-tier functions provided by the West Midlands County Council. The county council was abolished in 1986 and its functions passed to the county's seven borough councils, including Wolverhampton, with some services provided through joint committees. ^[14]

Since 2016 the council has been a member of the West Midlands Combined Authority, which has been led by the directly elected Mayor of the West Midlands since 2017. The combined authority provides strategic leadership and co-ordination for certain functions across the county, but City of Wolverhampton Council continues to be responsible for most local government functions. ^{[15] [16]}

From 1974 until 2001 the council was called 'Wolverhampton Metropolitan Borough Council'. Wolverhampton was awarded city status in 2001, after which the council was called 'Wolverhampton City Council'. ^[17] In 2015 the council rebranded itself as 'City of Wolverhampton Council'. ^{[18] [19]}

Governance

The city council provides metropolitan borough services. Some strategic functions in the area are provided by the West Midlands Combined Authority; the leader and deputy leader of the council sit on the board of the combined authority as Wolverhampton's representatives. ^[20] There are no civil parishes in the borough. ^[21]

The council won Local Authority of the Year, Most Improved Local Authority of the Year, Leadership Team of the Year and Governance & Scrutiny Team of the Year at the Municipal Journal National Awards in 2017. ^[22]

The council's housing stock is managed by Wolverhampton Homes. ^[23]

Political control

The council has been under Labour majority control since 2011.

Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows: ^{[24] [25]}

Party in control		Years
	Labour	1974–1978
	No overall control	1978–1980
	Labour	1980–1987
	No overall control	1987–1988
	Labour	1988–1992
	No overall control	1992–1994
	Labour	1994–2008
	No overall control	2008–2011
	Labour	2011–present

Leadership

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Wolverhampton. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1974 have been: ^[26]

Councillor	Party		From	To
John Bird [27]		Labour	1974	1987
Bill Clarke [28]		Conservative	20 May 1987	May 1988
Norman Davies		Labour	May 1988	May 1992
Bill Clarke [29] [30]		Conservative	May 1992	May 1994
Norman Davies [31]		Labour	May 1994	5 May 2002
Roger Lawrence		Labour	15 May 2002	14 May 2008
Neville Patten		Conservative	14 May 2008	15 Dec 2010
Roger Lawrence [32]		Labour	15 Dec 2010	15 May 2019
Ian Brookfield [33]		Labour	15 May 2019	2 July 2023
Stephen Simkins [34]		Labour	13 Sep 2023

Composition

Following the 2024 election ^[35] and subsequent changes in allegiance ^[36] the composition of the council is: ^[37]

Party		Councillors
	Labour	46
	Conservative	12
	Independent	2
Total		60

The next election is due in May 2026.

Elections

See also: City of Wolverhampton Council elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2023, the council has comprised 60 councillors representing 20 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) being elected each time for a four-year term of office. ^[38]

Premises

The council meets and has its main offices at Wolverhampton Civic Centre, in St Peter's Square in the city centre. ^[39] The building was purpose-built for the council and opened in 1979. ^{[40] [41]} Prior to 1979 the council had met at the Town Hall on North Street, which had been completed in 1871 for the old borough council. ^[42]

Coat of arms

Commemorative plaque showing the coat of arms of Wolverhampton Council pre 1898

The coat of arms of Wolverhampton was granted on 31 December 1898, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the council. ^[43]

The various symbols within the arms are representative of the history of the city. The book represents the education within the city, specifically the 16th century Wolverhampton Grammar School; ^[43] the woolpack represents the mediaeval woollen trade within the city; ^[43] the column is a representation of the Saxon pillar that can be found within the churchyard of St. Peter's Collegiate Church in the city centre; ^[43] whilst the keys are representative of the church itself and its dedication to St. Peter. ^[43] The padlock represents one of the major industries of the area at the time of the granting of the arms – that of lock-making; ^[43] whilst the brazier at the top is indicative of the general metal-working industries in the area. ^[43] The cross is ascribed to King Edgar. ^[43]

The motto on the coat of arms is 'Out of Darkness Cometh Light'. ^[43]

Prior to 1898 there was a former coat of arms that had been in use since 1848, though these arms were never officially granted. ^[44]

References

1. "The Mayor of Wolverhampton". City of Wolverhampton Council. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
2. "Wolverhampton Labour group elects new city council leader" . Retrieved 6 September 2023.
3. Ross, Alex (18 July 2018). "Wolverhampton council to appoint new managing director Tim Johnson". Express and Star. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
4. "Your Councillors". 22 December 2021.
5. Wolverhampton (Improvements) Act 1776 (17 Geo. 3. c. 25)
6. Keith Farley (1985). "Wolverhampton 985 – 1985". Wolverhampton History & Heritage Society. Retrieved 8 July 2007.
7. "Local Government in Wolverhampton". The History of Wolverhampton – The City and its People. 2005. Archived from the original on 24 December 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
8. Centenary of the Incorporation of the Borough of Wolverhampton; County Borough of Wolverhampton; 1948; p32
9. "Archive Gazetter – Wolverhampton". Staffordshire County Archives. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
10. "Wolverhampton Ancient Parish / Civil Parish / Township / Chapelry". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
11. HMSO. Local Government in England: Government Proposals for Reorganisation. Cmnd. 4584
12. "Local Government Act 1972: Schedule 1", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1972 c. 70 (sch.1), retrieved 13 June 2024
13. "District Councils and Boroughs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . 28 March 1974. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
14. "Local Government Act 1985", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1985 c. 51, retrieved 5 April 2024
15. "The West Midlands Combined Authority Order 2016", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2016/653, retrieved 11 June 2024
16. "Understand how your council works". gov.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
17. "No. 56109". The London Gazette . 5 February 2001. p. 1431.
18. "Wolverhampton City Council wants to rebrand itself". Express and Star . 18 June 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
19. "Find your local council". gov.uk. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
20. "Contact details WMCA Board". West Midlands Combined Authority. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
21. "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
22. Ltd, Hemming Group. "Last year's local government winners of the MJ Achievement Awards". awards.themj.co.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
23. "Looking for a council house". Wolverhampton City Council. Archived from the original on 18 March 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
24. "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
25. "Wolverhampton City Council local elections 2008". BBC Online. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2008.
26. "Council minutes". City of Wolverhampton Council. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
27. Johnson, Steve (7 March 1987). "Labour Euro vote is slashed". Sandwell Evening Mail. West Bromwich. p. 8. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
28. "'Wolves in peril' claim as Tories win". Sandwell Evening Mail. West Bromwich. 21 May 1987. p. 1. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
29. "Tories storm Black Country Development Corporation". Birmingham Post. 10 August 1992. p. 7. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
30. Haywood, Bob (6 February 1994). "So just what can a Tory candidate say on your doorstep?". Sunday Mercury. Birmingham. p. 19. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
31. "Warm tributes paid to former leader of city council". City of Wolverhampton Council. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
32. Madeley, Peter (30 January 2019). "Wolverhampton Council leader Roger Lawrence to stand down after 15 years". Express and Star. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
33. Ashmore, Kelly (3 July 2023). "Tributes to 'relentlessly dedicated' Wolverhampton Council leader who died following 'fearless cancer battle', aged 57". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
34. "Wolverhampton Labour group elects new city council leader" . Retrieved 6 September 2023.
35. "Local elections 2024: full mayoral and council results for England". The Guardian. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
36. Gall, Caroline (24 June 2024). "Ex-mayor criticises Starmer in resignation letter". BBC News . Retrieved 3 July 2024.
37. "Your Councillors". Wolverhampton Council. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
38. "The Wolverhampton (Electoral Changes) Order 2022", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2022/967, retrieved 14 June 2024
39. "City of Wolverhampton Council: Contact Us". Wolverhampton City Council. Archived from the original on 23 May 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2008.
40. "Wolverhampton Civic Centre". History Website. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
41. "Black Country Bugle, No. 652". Wolverhampton Archives & Local Studies. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
42. Historic England. "The Law Courts, North Street (Grade II) (1201845)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 14 June 2024.
43. "Wolverhampton Coat of Arms – Wolverhampton History". Wolverhampton City Council. Retrieved 11 June 2008.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
44. Wolverhampton Borough Council Coat of Arms