Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
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.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Cyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 1 April 1996 |
| Preceded by | Mid Glamorgan County Council Cynon Valley Borough Council Rhondda Borough Council Taff-Ely Borough Council |
| Leadership | |
Paul Mee since 1 December 2022[2] | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 75 councillors[3] |
Political groups |
|
Length of term | 5 years |
| Elections | |
| 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 | |
History
editThe 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).[4] The council now uses the latter spelling for both languages.[5]
Political control
editThe 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 held by the following parties:[6]
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 1996–1999 | |
| Plaid Cymru | 1999–2004 | |
| Labour | 2004–present | |
Leadership
editThe first leader of the council, Bill Murphy, was the last leader of the old Rhondda Borough Council. The leaders since 1996 have been:[7]
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Murphy[8] | Labour | 1996 | 1999 | |
| Pauline Jarman | Plaid Cymru | 1999 | 2004 | |
| Russell Roberts[9] | Labour | 2004 | 6 May 2012 | |
| Anthony Christopher[10] | Labour | May 2012 | 15 May 2014 | |
| Andrew Morgan[11] | Labour | 28 May 2014 | ||
Composition
editFollowing the 2022 election and subsequent by-elections in September and November 2022, the composition of the council was:[12]
| Party | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 59 | |
| Plaid Cymru | 8 | |
| Independent | 6 | |
| Conservative | 2 | |
| Total | 75 | |
Four of the independent councillors sit together as the 'RCT Independent Group', the other two form the 'Independent Group'.[13] The next election is due in 2027.
Elections
editSince 2012, elections take place every five years.[14]
| 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
editThe 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.[15] 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.[16]
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.[17] The recently built site at The Pavilions was secured for the new council in 1995.[18] The older offices at Aberdare and Pontypridd continue to be used by the council as secondary offices, whilst the Pentre building has been sold.[19] The Pavilions is earmarked to become a new special school for the area.
Mayors of Rhondda Cynon Taf
editPast mayors of the council are:[20]
- 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–present: Dan Owen-Jones
Electoral wards
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Since the 2022 elections, the Rhondda Cynon Taf county borough has been divided into 46 electoral wards returning 75 councillors.[21][22] 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:
* = Communities which elect a community council
c = Ward coterminous with community of the same name [23]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Council minutes, 08 May 2024" (PDF). Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ "Appointment of new Chief Executive Officer agreed by the Council". Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ "Open Council Data UK - compositions councillors parties wards elections". opencouncildata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- ^ "Local Government (Wales) Act 1994", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1994 c. 19, retrieved 24 October 2022
- ^ "Welcome". Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
- ^ "Council minutes". Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
- ^ "Former RCT Council boss speaks out on jobs losses". Wales Online. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
- ^ Smith, Mark (10 May 2012). "Ousted council leader Russell Roberts speaks out". Wales Online. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
- ^ "RCT council leader Anthony Christopher dies after illness". BBC News. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
- ^ "New Rhondda Cynon Taf Council leader to be appointed". Wales Online. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
- ^ "Election results". Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ "Your councillors by political grouping". Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ "Welsh unitary councils". 2 June 2015.
- ^ "Llys Cadwyn development in Pontypridd". Willmott Dixon. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ "Democratic Services Committee report, 27 November 2023" (PDF). Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ "Storm over new HQ". Rhondda Leader. 2 February 1995. p. 3. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "Pavilions 'perfect' site for council". Rhondda Leader. 8 June 1995. p. 2. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ "What is happening to the old Pentre Town Hall building?". Wales Online. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ "Previous Mayors". Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "The County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ Election Maps, Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
External links
edit- Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council Archived 6 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine