Tyne and Wear County Council

Tyne and Wear County Council
History
Founded	1 April 1974
Disbanded	31 March 1986
Succeeded by	Gateshead Council Newcastle City Council North Tyneside Council South Tyneside Council Sunderland City Council
Elections
Last election	1981
Meeting place
Sandyford House, Newcastle upon Tyne

Tyne and Wear County Council was the county council of the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear in north-east England from 1974 to 1986. The council was based at Sandyford House in Newcastle upon Tyne. It provided certain county-level functions across the area, notably including public transport and strategic town planning. District-level functions were provided by Tyne and Wear's five metropolitan borough councils. On the county council's abolition in 1986, county-level functions were taken over by the five metropolitan borough councils, with some services provided through joint committees.

History

The council came into its powers on 1 April 1974. The county council was based at Sandyford House in Newcastle upon Tyne. The council was abolished in 1986; from 1 April 1986 the former county council's functions passed to the county's five existing metropolitan borough councils: Gateshead Council, Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside Council, South Tyneside Council and Sunderland City Council. ^{[1] [2]}

Political control

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. Throughout the council's existence from 1974 to 1986, Labour held a majority of the seats on the council. ^[3]

Party in control		Years
	Labour	1974–1986

Leadership

Throughout the council's existence the leader of the council was Michael Campbell.

Councillor	Party		From	To
Michael Campbell [4] [5]		Labour	1 Apr 1974	31 Mar 1986

Council elections

• 1973 Tyne and Wear County Council election
• 1977 Tyne and Wear County Council election
• 1981 Tyne and Wear County Council election

References

1. "The Local Government Reorganisation (Property) (Tyne and Wear) Order 1987". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
2. "Archives Collection, Acquisition and Disposal Policy" (PDF). Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
3. "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 21 May 2025. (Put "Tyne & Wear" in search box to see specific results.)
4. "Men at the helm of 'shadow' council: Two fighters with one aim". Newcastle Journal. 16 April 1973. p. 2. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
5. "Gone but not forgotten". Shields Daily Gazette. 1 April 1986. p. 8. Retrieved 1 July 2025.