Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

Last updated

Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council
Coat of arms of Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council.png
Calderdale Council.svg
Council Logo
Type
Type
History
Founded1 April 1974
Leadership
Ashley Evans,
Liberal Democrat
since 17 May 2023
Jane Scullion,
Labour
since 17 May 2023
Robin Tuddenham
since 8 May 2017
Structure
Seats51 councillors
Political groups
Administration (29)
  Labour (29)
Other parties (22)
  Conservative (11)
  Liberal Democrats (6)
  Green (3)
  Workers Party (1)
  Independent (1)
Joint committees
West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Length of term
4 years
Elections
First-past-the-post
Last election
2 May 2024
Next election
7 May 2026
Meeting place
RIMG10233.JPG
Town Hall, Crossley Street, Halifax, HX1 1UJ
Website
www.calderdale.gov.uk

Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council is the local authority for the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. The council styles itself Calderdale Council. It is a metropolitan district council, one of five in West Yorkshire and one of 36 in the metropolitan counties of England. It provides the majority of local government services in Calderdale. Since 2014 the council has been a constituent member of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Contents

History

The metropolitan district of Calderdale was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. It covered the area of eight former districts and part of a ninth, which were all abolished at the same time: [1] [2]

The county borough of Halifax had provided all local government services in its area. The other eight districts had been lower-tier authorities with West Riding County Council providing county-level services. The new Calderdale district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor. [3]

Calderdale was initially a district-level authority, with West Yorkshire County Council providing county-level services. However, the metropolitan county councils, including West Yorkshire County Council, were abolished in 1986 under the Local Government Act 1985. Since 1986 Calderdale Council has therefore been responsible for most local government functions. [4]

The council has been a constituent member of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority since 2014, which has been led by the directly elected Mayor of West Yorkshire since 2021. [5]

Governance

Political control

The council has been under Labour majority control since 2019.

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. County-level services were provided by West Yorkshire County Council until its abolition in 1986, when Calderdale became a unitary authority. Political control of the council since 1973 has been held by the following parties: [6]

Party in controlYears
Labour 1974–1975
Conservative 1975–1980
No overall control 1980–1990
Labour 1990–1992
No overall control 1992–1995
Labour 1995–1999
No overall control 1999–2000
Conservative 2000–2002
No overall control 2002–2019
Labour 2019–present

Leadership

The role of Mayor of Calderdale is largely ceremonial. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1999 have been: [7]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Pamela Warhurst Labour May 199519 May 1999
Michael Higgins Labour 19 May 19997 May 2000
John Ford Conservative 17 May 200017 May 2006
Ann McAllister Conservative 17 May 20062008
Stephen Baines Conservative 1 Oct 200824 May 2010
Janet Battye Liberal Democrats 24 May 201023 May 2012
Tim Swift Labour 23 May 201230 Jul 2014
Stephen Baines Conservative 30 Jul 201427 May 2015
Tim Swift Labour 27 May 201517 May 2023
Jane Scullion Labour 17 May 2023

Composition

Following the 2024 election, the composition of the council was: [8]

PartyCouncillors
Labour 29
Conservative 11
Liberal Democrats 6
Green 3
Workers Party 1
Independent 1
Total51

The next election is due in 2026.

Premises

The council is based at Halifax Town Hall, which had been built for one of the council's predecessors, the Halifax Borough Council, in 1863. [9] [10]

Elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2004 the council has comprised 51 councillors representing 17 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) elected each time for a four-year term of office. [11]

Wards

Wards within Calderdale Council Calderdale Council Wards Numbered.png
Wards within Calderdale Council
Calder Valley Halifax

1. Todmorden
2. Calder
3. Luddendenfoot
4. Ryburn
8. Greetland and Stainland
14. Elland
15. Hipperholme and Lightcliffe
16. Brighouse
17. Rastrick

5. Illingworth and Mixenden
6. Warley
7. Sowerby Bridge
9. Ovenden
10. Park
11. Skircoat
12. Northowram and Shelf
13. Town

Mayor

The mayors since 1974 have been:

Name [12] Years
Ann Kingstone2024–
Ashley Evans2023–2024
Angie Gallagher2022–2023
Chris Pillai2021–2022
Dot Foster2019–2021
Marcus Thompson2018–2019
Ferman Ali2017–2018
Howard Blagbrough2016–2017
Lisa Lambert2015–2016
Pat Allen2014–2015
Ann Martin2013–2014
John Hardy2012–2013
Nader Fekri2011–2012
Keith Watson2010–2011
Ann McAllister2010
Arshad Mahmood2009–2010
Conrad Winterburn2008–2009
Martin Peel2007–2008
Colin Stout2006–2007
John Williamson2005–2006
Olwen Jennings2004–2005
Geraldine Carter2003–2004
Patrick Phillips2002–2003
Chris O'Connor2001–2002
Peter Coles2000–2001
Graham Hall1999–2000
Alan Worth1998–1999
Alan Worth1997–1998
Susan Tucker1997
Dawn Neal1996–1997
Graham Reason1995–1996
Stephen Pearson1994–1995
Tony Mazey1993–1994
Bill Carpenter1992–1993
Tom McElroy1991–1992
Joe Tolan1990–1991
Joe Kneafsey1989–1990
Albert Berry1988–1989
Wilfred Sharp1987–1988
David Fox1986–1987
Tom Lawler1985–1986
John Bradley1984–1985
Kevin Lord1983–1984
David Shutt 1982–1983
Eric Whitehead1981–1982
Harry Wilson1980–1981
Betty Wildsmith1979–1980
Richard Deadman1978–1979
Eric Dennett1977–1978
Mona Mitchell1976–1977
Kathleen Cawdry1975–1976
Joe Tolan1974–1975

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References

  1. "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 18 June 2023
  2. "The Metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1973/137, retrieved 18 June 2023
  3. "District Councils and Boroughs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . 28 March 1974. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  4. "Local Government Act 1985", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1985 c. 51, retrieved 18 June 2023
  5. "The West Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2014". www.legislation.gov.uk.
  6. "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  7. "Council minutes". Calderdale Council. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  8. "Election of Local Councillors 2024 - 02/05/2024". Election results. Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale . Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  9. "Contacts". Calderdale Council. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  10. Historic England. "Town Hall, Crossley Street (Grade 2) (1314024)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  11. "The Borough of Calderdale (Electoral Changes) Order 2003", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2003/3088, retrieved 19 June 2023
  12. Calderdale Votes: 40 years of local democracy. Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 20 August 2017.

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