Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Cyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf
Type
Type	Principal area
History
Founded	1 April 1996
Preceded by	Mid Glamorgan County Council Cynon Valley Borough Council Rhondda Borough Council Taff-Ely Borough Council
Leadership
Mayor	Sheryl Evans, Labour since 12 February 2025 [1] [2]
Leader	Andrew Morgan, Labour since 28 May 2014
Chief Executive	Paul Mee since 1 December 2022 [3]
Structure
Seats	75 councillors [4]
Political groups	Administration (58)   Labour (58) Other parties (17)   Plaid Cymru (8)   Conservative (2)   Independent (7)
Length of term	5 years
Elections
Voting system	First past the post
First election	4 May 1995
Last election	5 May 2022
Next election	6 May 2027
Meeting place
2 Llys Cadwyn, Taff Street, Pontypridd, CF37 4TH
Website
www.rctcbc.gov.uk

Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council (Welsh : Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Rhondda Cynon Taf) is the governing body for Rhondda Cynon Taf, one of the principal areas of Wales. The council headquarters are at the Llys Cadwyn development in Pontypridd.

History

The council was established on 1 April 1996 under the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, covering the area of the three former districts of Rhondda, Cynon Valley, and Taff-Ely (except Pentyrch, which went to Cardiff). As well as taking over the functions of the abolished district councils, the new authority also took over the functions of the abolished Mid Glamorgan County Council in the area. The new county borough was described in the 1994 Act with different spellings in English and Welsh: Rhondda Cynon Taff (English) / Rhondda Cynon Taf (Welsh). ^[5] In 1999, the council adopted the spelling Rhondda Cynon Taf for use in both languages. ^{[6] [7]}

Political control

The council has been under Labour majority control since 2004.

The first election to the council was held in 1995, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1996. Political control of the council since 1996 has been as follows: ^[8]

Party in control		Years
	Labour	1996–1999
	Plaid Cymru	1999–2004
	Labour	2004–present

Leadership

The role of Mayor of Rhondda is largely ceremonial. Political leadership is provided by the leader of the council. The first leader, Bill Murphy, was the last leader of the old Rhondda Borough Council. ^[9] The leaders since 1996 have been:

Councillor	Party		From	To
Bill Murphy [10]		Labour	1 Apr 1996	May 1998
Russell Roberts [11] [12]		Labour	May 1998	1999
Pauline Jarman [13]		Plaid Cymru	1999	2004
Russell Roberts [12] [14]		Labour	2004	May 2012
Anthony Christopher [15]		Labour	23 May 2012	15 May 2014
Andrew Morgan [16]		Labour	28 May 2014

Composition

Following the 2022 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to July 2025, the composition of the council was: ^{[17] [18]}

Party		Councillors
	Labour	58
	Plaid Cymru	8
	Conservative	2
	Independent	7
Total		75

Three of the independent councillors sit together as the 'RCT Independent Group', another three form the 'Independent Group', and one is not aligned to a group. ^[19] The next election is due in 2027. ^[18]

Elections

Since 2012, elections take place every five years. ^[20]

Year	Seats	Labour	Plaid Cymru	Liberal Democrats	Conservative	Others	Notes
1995	74	54	14	1	0	5	Labour majority control
1999	75	26	38	4	0	7	Plaid Cymru majority control
2004	75	57	13	1	0	4	Labour majority control
2008	75	44	20	4	1	6	Labour majority control
2012	75	60	9	1	1	4	Labour majority control
2017	75	47	18	1	4	5	Labour majority control
2022	75	59	8	0	2	6	Labour majority control

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

Premises

The council is based at the Llys Cadwyn development on Taff Street in the centre of Pontypridd. The complex was built in 2020, comprising a library, council customer contact point, café, leisure facilities and offices. ^[21] The offices were initially marketed for rent, with some being taken up, notably by Transport for Wales. In 2023 the council decided to move its council chamber and principal offices into some of the remaining vacant office space at 2 Llys Cadwyn, moving into the building in early 2024. ^[22]

The council was previously based at The Pavilions, a group of 1990s office buildings at the Cambrian Industrial Park in the community of Cwm Clydach on the outskirts of Tonypandy in the Rhondda, which is the largest urban area in the borough. When the council was created it inherited the offices of the three former district councils, being Rock Grounds on High Street in Aberdare from Cynon Valley, the Municipal Offices on Llewellyn Street in Pentre from Rhondda, and the Municipal Buildings on Gelliwastad Road in Pontypridd from Taff-Ely. In the period leading up to the creation of the new authority there was some debate about where the new council should be based, with Plaid Cymru leading a campaign for Pontypridd to be the headquarters, but Labour preferring a location in the Rhondda. ^[9] The recently built site at The Pavilions was secured for the new council in 1995. ^[23] The older offices at Aberdare and Pontypridd continue to be used by the council as secondary offices, whilst the Pentre building has been sold. ^[24] The Pavilions is earmarked to become a new special school for the area.

Mayors of Rhondda Cynon Taf

Past mayors of the council are: ^[25]

• 1996–1997: Russell Roberts
• 1997–1998: K Rees
• 1998–1999: J David
• 1999–2000: G Beard ^[a]
• 2000–2001: R Moses ^[b]
• 2001–2002: L Jones
• 2002–2003: I Wilkins
• 2003–2004: D E B Arnold
• 2004–2005: A L Davies
• 2005–2006: E Jenkins
• 2006–2007: J Cass
• 2007–2008: Jane Ward
• 2008–2009: Margaret Davies
• 2009–2010: Robert Smith
• 2010–2011: Simon Lloyd
• 2011–2012: Sylvia J Jones
• 2012–2013: Doug H Williams
• 2013–2014: Ann Crimmings
• 2014–2015: John Watts
• 2015–2016: Barry Stephens
• 2016–2017: Rhys Lewis
• 2017–2018: Margaret Tegg
• 2018–2019: Steve Powderhill
• 2019–2020: Linda De Vet
• 2020–2021: Susan Morgans
• 2021–2022: Jill Bonetto
• 2022–2023: Wendy Treeby
• 2023–2024: Wendy Lewis
• 2024–2025: Dan Owen-Jones
• 2025–present: Sheryl Evans

1. Served as Chairman, not Mayor
2. Served as Chairwoman, not Mayor

Electoral wards

Pre-2022 electoral wards in Rhondda Cynon Taf

Main article: List of electoral wards in Rhondda Cynon Taf

Since the 2022 elections, the Rhondda Cynon Taf county borough has been divided into 46 electoral wards returning 75 councillors. ^{[26] [27]} Some of these electoral wards are coterminous with communities (parishes) of the same name. Some communities have their own elected council. The following table lists council electoral wards, communities and associated geographical areas:

Electoral wards	Councillors	Communities (civil parishes)	Other geographic areas
Aberaman	3	Aberaman North Aberaman South	Abercwmboi, Cwmaman, Glynhafod, Godreaman
Abercynon c	2	Abercynon	Carnetown, Pontcynon, Tyntetown, Ynysboeth
Aberdare East c	2	Aberdare East	Abernant, Foundry Town, Tŷ Fry
Aberdare West and Llwydcoed	3	Aberdare West Llwydcoed	Bwllfa Dare, Cwmdare, Robertstown, Trecynon,
Beddau and Tyn-y-nant	2	Llantrisant * (Beddau and Tyn-y-nant wards)	Beddau, Brynteg
Brynna and Llanharan	3	Llanharan *	Bryncae, Brynna, Dolau, Llanharan
Church Village	2	Llantwit Fardre * (Church Village ward)	Upper Church Village
Cilfynydd	1	Pontypridd Town * (Cilfynydd ward)
Cwm Clydach c	1	Cwm Clydach	Clydach Vale
Cwmbach c	2	Cwmbach
Cymer	2	Cymmer Trehafod	Cymmer, Glynfach, Trebanog, Trehafod
Ferndale and Maerdy	2	Ferndale Maerdy	Blaenllechau
Gilfach Goch c	1	Gilfach Goch *	Garden City, Hendreforgan Estate
Glyn-coch	1	Pontypridd Town * (Glyncoch ward)
Graig and Pontypridd West	2	Pontypridd Town * (Graig and Rhondda wards)	Maesycoed, Pantygraigwen, Pen-y-coedcae, Hopkinstown, Pwllgwaun
Hawthorn and Lower Rhydfelen	1	Pontypridd Town * (Hawthorn and Rhydfelen Lower wards)	Upper Boat
Hirwaun, Penderyn and Rhigos	2	Hirwaun * Rhigos *	Cwm Hwnt, Cefn Rhigos, Hirwaun, Penderyn
Llanharry	1	Llanharry * (Llanharry ward)
Llantrisant and Talbot Green	2	Llantrisant * (Llantrisant Town and Talbot Green wards)	Cross Inn, Llantrisant, Rhiwsaeson, Talbot Green, Ynysmaerdy
Llantwit Fardre	2	Llantwit Fardre * (Efail Isaf and Llantwit Fardre wards)	Efail Isaf
Llwyn-y-pia c	1	Llwynypia
Mountain Ash	2	Mountain Ash East Mountain Ash West	Cefnpennar, Cwmpennar, Fernhill, Glenboi, Newtown
Penrhiw-ceiber c	2	Penrhiwceiber	Miskin, Perthcelyn
Pentre c	2	Pentre	Ton Pentre
Pen-y-graig c	2	Pen-y-graig	Dinas, Edmondstown, Penpisgah, Williamstown
Pen-y-waun c	1	Pen-y-waun	Trenant
Pontyclun Central	1	Pontyclun * (Central ward)	Miskin, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Pontyclun
Pontyclun East	1	Pontyclun * (East ward)	Groes-faen, Mwyndy
Pontyclun West	1	Pont-y-clun * (West ward) Llanharry * (Tylagarw ward)	Brynsadler, Pontyclun, Tyla Garw
Pontypridd Town	1	Pontypridd Town * (Town ward)	Penygraigwen
Porth	2	Porth	Birchgrove, Llwyncelyn, Mount Pleasant
Rhydfelen Central	1	Pontypridd Town * (Rhydfelen Central ward)	Rhydyfelin
Taffs Well c	1	Taffs Well *	Glan-y-llyn, Nantgarw, Taff's Well, Tŷ Rhiw
Ton-teg	1	Llantwit Fardre * (Tonteg ward)
Tonypandy c	1	Tonypandy
Tonyrefail East	2	Tonyrefail * (Coedely, Collena and Tylcha wards)	Coedely
Tonyrefail West	2	Tonyrefail * (Penrhiw-fer, Thomastown and Tynybryn wards)
Trallwn	1	Pontypridd Town * (Trallwng ward)
Trealaw c	1	Trealaw
Treforest	1	Pontypridd Town * (Treforest ward)	Glyntaff
Treherbert c	2	Treherbert	Blaencwm, Blaenrhondda, Tynewydd,
Treorchy c	2	Treorchy	Cwmparc, Ynyswen
Tylorstown and Ynyshir	2	Tylorstown Ynyshir	Penrhys, Pontygwaith, Stanleytown, Wattstown
Upper Rhydfelen and Glyn-Taf	1	Pontypridd Town * (Upper Rhydfelen and Glyn-taf ward)	Rhydyfelin
Ynysybwl	2	Ynysybwl and Coed-y-Cwm *	Roberttown, Buarth-y-capel
Ystrad c	2	Ystrad	Gelli

*= Communities which elect a community council
^c= Ward coterminous with community of the same name ^[28]

See also

• Environment Agency v Clark

References

1. "Council minutes, 12 February 2025" (PDF). Rhondda Cynon Taf Council. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
2. "Council minutes, 21 May 2025" (PDF). Rhondda Cynon Taf Council. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
3. "Appointment of new Chief Executive Officer agreed by the Council". Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
4. "Open Council Data UK - compositions councillors parties wards elections". opencouncildata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
5. "Local Government (Wales) Act 1994", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1994 c. 19, retrieved 24 October 2022
6. "Historical information on changes to electoral arrangements of Local authorities, Parliamentary areas and European Parliamentary boundaries". Boundary-Line Downloads. Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 25 August 2025. (See downloadable boundary-legislation-changes-from-1973.xls spreadsheet.)
7. "Welcome". Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
8. "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 21 May 2025. (Put "Rhondda Cynon Taff" in search box to see specific results.)
9. "Storm over new HQ". Rhondda Leader. 2 February 1995. p. 3. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
10. "Former RCT Council boss speaks out on jobs losses". Wales Online. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
11. "New leader takes over at RCT". Aberdare Leader. 14 May 1998. p. 5. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
12. "Council leader is reappointed". Wales Online. 29 May 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
13. Smith, Lewis; Jones, John (6 May 2022). "Wales local elections 2022: Plaid Cymru leader in RCT Pauline Jarman loses seat". Wales Online. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
14. Smith, Mark (10 May 2012). "Ousted council leader Russell Roberts speaks out". Wales Online. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
15. "RCT council leader Anthony Christopher dies after illness". BBC News. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
16. "New Rhondda Cynon Taf Council leader to be appointed". Wales Online. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
17. "Election results". Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
18. "Rhondda Cynon Taf". Local Councils. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
19. "Your councillors by political grouping". Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
20. "Welsh unitary councils". 2 June 2015.
21. "Llys Cadwyn development in Pontypridd". Willmott Dixon. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
22. "Democratic Services Committee report, 27 November 2023" (PDF). Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
23. "Pavilions 'perfect' site for council". Rhondda Leader. 8 June 1995. p. 2. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
24. "What is happening to the old Pentre Town Hall building?". Wales Online. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
25. "Previous Mayors". Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
26. Anthony Lewis (30 August 2018). "The number of electoral council wards in Rhondda Cynon Taf could be cut for 2022 election". Wales Online. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
27. "The County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
28. Election Maps, Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 21 June 2022.

External links

• Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council Archived 6 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine