Swindon Borough Council | |
---|---|
Type | |
Type | |
History | |
Founded | 1 April 1997 [lower-alpha 1] |
Preceded by | Thamesdown Borough Council Wiltshire County Council |
Leadership | |
Samantha Mowbray | |
Structure | |
Seats | 57 councillors |
Political groups |
|
Length of term | 4 years |
Elections | |
Plurality-at-large | |
Last election | 4 May 2023 |
Next election | 2 May 2024 |
Meeting place | |
Civic Offices, Euclid Street, Swindon, SN1 2JH | |
Website | |
www |
Swindon Borough Council is the local authority of the Borough of Swindon in Wiltshire, England. It is a unitary authority, having the powers of a non-metropolitan county and district council combined. As such, it is administratively separate from the rest of Wiltshire. It was formed in 1997, replacing Thamesdown Borough Council.
The local authority derives its powers and functions from the Local Government Act 1972 and subsequent legislation. For the purposes of local government, Swindon Borough is a non-metropolitan area of England. As a unitary authority, Swindon Borough Council has the powers and functions of both a non-metropolitan county and district council. In its capacity as a district council it is a billing authority collecting Council Tax and business rates, it processes local planning applications, and it is responsible for housing, waste collection and environmental health. In its capacity as a county council it is a local education authority, responsible for social services, libraries and waste disposal. [1]
Since 2010, many schools in the area have become academies, with the council losing control. It was also the owner of Swindon's main bus operator, Thamesdown Transport, until 2017 when it sold the business to the Go-Ahead Group due to issues with funding. [2] Maintenance services are usually contracted to Swindon Commercial Services (SCS), who work in partnership with the council. [3]
The council's principal decision-making body is its cabinet, which comprises the leader and (as of 2022 [update] ) nine portfolio-holding members. [4]
The first election to Thamesdown Borough Council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until it came into its powers on 1 April 1974. Thamesdown was renamed Swindon and became a unitary authority on 1 April 1997. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows: [5]
Thamesdown Borough Council (non-metropolitan district)
Party in control | Years | |
---|---|---|
Labour | 1974–1976 | |
No overall control | 1976–1978 | |
Labour | 1978–1997 |
Swindon Borough Council (unitary authority)
Party in control | Years | |
---|---|---|
Labour | 1997–2000 | |
No overall control | 2000–2004 | |
Conservative | 2004–2023 | |
Labour | 2023–present |
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Swindon, with political leadership instead being provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1998 have been: [6]
Councillor | Party | From | To | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sue Bates | Labour | 1998 | ||
Maurice Fanning | Labour | 1998 | 1999 | |
Sue Bates | Labour | 1999 | 27 Sep 2001 | |
Mike Bawden | Conservative | 11 Oct 2001 | 17 May 2002 | |
Sue Bates | Labour | 17 May 2002 | 21 Aug 2002 | |
Kevin Small | Labour | 21 Aug 2002 | 16 May 2003 | |
Mike Bawden | Conservative | 16 May 2003 | 19 May 2006 | |
Roderick Bluh | Conservative | 19 May 2006 | 11 Apr 2013 | |
David Renard | Conservative | 11 Apr 2013 | 7 May 2023 | |
Jim Robbins | Labour | 19 May 2023 |
Following the 2023 election and one subsequent change of allegiance and a by-election in July 2023, the composition of the council was: [7] [8] [9]
Party | Councillors | |
---|---|---|
Labour | 32 | |
Conservative | 23 | |
Liberal Democrats | 1 | |
Independent | 1 | |
Total | 57 |
The next elections are due in May 2024.
The council is based at the Civic Offices on Euclid Street in Swindon. [10] The building was built for the old municipal borough council, and had been formally opened by Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester on 5 July 1938. [11]
Fifty-seven councillors are elected by the borough's 20 wards for four-year terms. Approximately one-third of the council stands for election in rotation every year for three consecutive years, and in the fourth year there are no elections. [12]
Parliamentary constituency | Ward | Councillor | Party | Term of office | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
North Swindon | Blunsdon and Highworth | Steve Weisinger | Conservative | 2022–26 | |
Nick Gardiner | Conservative | 2023–27 | |||
Vijay Manro | Conservative | 2021–24 | |||
Gorse Hill and Pinehurst | Carol Shelley | Labour | 2022–26 | ||
John Ballman | Labour | 2023-27 | |||
Ray Ballman | Labour | 2021–24 | |||
Haydon Wick | Matt Lodge | Labour | 2022–26 | ||
Stanka Adamcova | Labour | 2023-27 | |||
John Jackson | Conservative | 2021–24 | |||
Penhill and Upper Stratton | Claire Crilly | Labour | 2022–26 | ||
Ravi Ventakesh | Labour | 2023-27 | |||
Dan Smith | Conservative | 2021–24 | |||
Priory Vale | Rob Heath | Labour | 2022–26 | ||
Rajhia Ali | Labour | 2023-27 | |||
Jo Morris | Conservative | 2021–24 | |||
Rodbourne Cheney | William Stone | Labour | 2022–26 | ||
Jim Grant | Labour | 2023-27 | |||
Sudha Sri Nukana | Conservative | 2021–24 | |||
St Andrews | Jake Chandler | Conservative | 2022–26 | ||
Jason Mills | Labour | 2023-27 | |||
Daniel Adams | Conservative | 2021–24 | |||
St Margaret and South Marston | Matthew Vallender | Conservative | 2022–26 | ||
Tom Butcher | Labour | 2023-27 | |||
Russell Holland | Conservative | 2021–24 | |||
Both constituencies | Covingham and Dorcan | Kevin Parry | Conservative | ||
Dale Heenan | Conservative | 2023-27 | |||
Barbara Parry | Conservative | 2021–24 | |||
Mannington and Western | Jim Robbins | Labour | 2022–26 | ||
Fay Howard | Labour | 2023-27 | |||
Kevin Small | Labour | 2021–24 | |||
South Swindon | Central | Anabelle Pegado | Conservative | 2022–26 | |
Adorabelle Amaral-Shaikh | Labour | 2023-27 | |||
Lourenco Fernandes | Conservative | 2021–24 | |||
Chiseldon and Lawn | Lawrence Elliott | Conservative | 2022–26 | ||
Neil Hopkins | Labour | 2023-27 | |||
Eastcott | Imtiyaz Shaikh | Labour | 2022–26 | ||
Paul Dixon | Labour | 2023-27 | |||
Marina Strinkovsky | Labour | 2021–24 | |||
Liden, Eldene and Park South | Janine Howarth | Labour | 2022–26 | ||
Mike Davies | Labour | 2023-27 | |||
Curtis Flux | Conservative | 2021–24 | |||
Lydiard and Freshbrook | Sean Wilson | Labour | 2022–26 | ||
Repi Begum | Labour | 2023-27 | |||
Matthew Courtliff | Conservative | 2021–24 | |||
Old Town | Nadine Watts | Labour | 2022–26 | ||
Chris Watts | Labour | 2023-27 | |||
Jane Milner-Barry | Labour | 2021–24 | |||
Ridgeway | Gary Sumner | Conservative | 2021–24 | ||
Shaw | Suresha Gattapur | Conservative | 2022–26 | ||
Junab Ali | Labour | 2023-27 | |||
Keith Williams | Conservative | 2021–24 | |||
Walcot and Park North | Abdul Amin | Labour | 2022–26 | ||
Emma Bushell | Labour | 2023-27 | |||
Jamal Miah | Labour | 2021–24 | |||
Wroughton and Wichelstowe | David Martyn | Conservative | 2022–26 | ||
Adam Poole | Liberal Democrats | 2023-27 | |||
Brian Ford | Conservative | 2021–24 |
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