Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council (Welsh: Cyngor bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful) is the governing body for Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, one of the Principal Areas of Wales.

Merthyr Tydfil Council

Cyngor Merthyr Tudful
Type
Type
History
Founded1 April 1996
Preceded byMid Glamorgan County Council
Merthyr Tydfil Borough Council
Leadership
Cllr Malcolm Colbran, Independent
since 2020/21
Leader of the Council
Cllr Lisa Mytton, Independent
Deputy Leader
Cllr Geraint Thomas, Independent
Leader of the Opposition
Cllr Darren Roberts, Labour
Chief Executive
Ellis Cooper
Structure
Seats33 councillors
Political groups
Administration
  Independent (9)
Other parties
  Labour (15)
  Community Independents (5)
  Park & Dowlais Independent Group (2)
  Non-aligned (1)
Length of term
5 years
Elections
First-past-the-post
First election
4 May 1995
Last election
4 May 2017
Next election
5 May 2022
Website
www.merthyr.gov.uk

Background

Elections took place every four years, though from 2017 will be every 5 years.

At the May 2004 elections the Labour group were challenged by a new party, People Before Politics (PBP), who won nine of the 33 seats[1] across four wards. PBP's numbers reduced to three and the party was disbanded before the next election.[1][2]

The last election was 4 May 2017. This election saw a big swing, with Independent councillors winning majority control from the Labour Party, in what was previously a Labour stronghold. The final result was delayed because of the death of a candidate in the Cyfarthfa ward, where the election took place on 8 June to choose the final three councillors.[3] Labour council leader Brendan Toomey lost his seat at the election.[4] In December 2020 the Independent leader of the council, Kevin O'Neill, was removed from the council for 7 months for a breach of the code of conduct for failing to declare a personal interest in a council matter.[5] He was replaced as leader by Lisa Mytton.

Political makeup

Current composition
Group affiliation Members
  Independent
18
Labour 15
 Total
 33

Historic results
Year Labour Liberal Democrats UKIP Plaid Cymru Others
2017[3] 15 0 0 0 18
2012 23 0 1 0 9
2008 8 6 0 0 19
2004 17 0 0 0 16
1999 16 0 0 4 13
1995 29 0 0 0 4

Electoral divisions
Electoral divisions in Merthyr Tydfil

The county borough is divided into 11 electoral wards returning 33 councillors. Most of these wards are coterminous with communities (parishes) of the same name.[6]

Bedlinog & Trelewis Community Council is the only community council in Merthyr Tydfil.

The following table lists council wards, communities and associated geographical areas.

Ward Communities (Parishes) Other geographic areas
Bedlinog c Bedlinog Cwmfelin, Trelewis
Cyfarthfa c Cyfarthfa Clwydyfagwyr, Gelli-deg, Heolgerrig, Winch Fawr, Ynysfach
Dowlais Pantyscallog, Rhydybedd, Tair Twynau, Dowlais Top, Caeharris, Caeracca,
Gurnos c Gurnos
Merthyr Vale c Merthyr Vale Aberfan, Mount Pleasant,
Park c Park
Penydarren c Penydarren Galon Uchaf
Plymouth Troed-y-rhiw Abercanaid, Pentrebach
Town c Town Twynyrodyn, Penyard
Treharris c Treharris Quakers Yard, Pentwyn, Fiddler's Elbow, Edwardsville
Vaynor c Vaynor Cefn Coed, Pontsticill, Trefechan

c = Ward coterminous with community of the same name

See also

References
  1. "Regeneration is a key issue in Valleys town". Wales Online (published 23 April 2008). 29 March 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  2. Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Election Results 1995–2012, The Election Centre. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  3. "Independents win control of Merthyr Tydfil council and oust Labour after delayed ward vote". Wales Online. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  4. "Ousted Merthyr leader Brendan Toomey says people are 'fed up with politics'". Wales Online. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  5. "Merthyr Council leader Kevin O'Neill suspended for seven months". BBC News. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  6. "Election maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
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