Torfaen County Borough Council

{{Short description|Local government of Torfaen, Wales}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}} {{Infobox legislature | name = Torfaen County Borough Council | native_name = {{native name|cy|Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Torfaen}} | native_name_lang = cym | coa_pic = Arms of Torfaen County Borough Council.svg | coa_res = 150px | coa_alt = | logo_pic = Torfaen County Borough Council.svg | logo_res = 250px | house_type = Principal area | body = | jurisdiction = | foundation = 1 April 1974 | leader1_type = Presiding Member | leader1 = Rose Seabourne | party1 = Labour | election1 = 24 May 2022<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 24 May 2022 |url=https://moderngov.torfaen.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=137&MId=6284 |website=Torfaen County Borough Council |access-date=13 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 13 May 2025 |url=https://moderngov.torfaen.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=137&MId=7180 |website=Torfaen County Borough Council |access-date=13 August 2025}}</ref> | leader2_type = Leader | leader2 = Anthony Hunt | party2 = Labour | election2 = 1 January 2017 | leader3_type = Chief Executive | leader3 = Stephen Vickers | party3 =  | election3 = 5 July 2021<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gill |first1=Emily |title=Torfaen Council announces new chief executive |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19181141.torfaen-council-announces-new-chief-executive/ |access-date=12 July 2023 |work=South Wales Argus |date=23 March 2021}}</ref> | seats = 40 councillors<ref name="opencouncildata.co.uk">{{Cite web|url=http://opencouncildata.co.uk/councils.php?model=W&y=0|title=Open Council Data UK - compositions councillors parties wards elections|website=opencouncildata.co.uk|access-date=2020-07-10}}</ref> | structure1 = File:Torfaen County Borough Council 2025.svg | structure1_res = 250 | structure1_alt = Torfaen Council composition | political_groups1 = ; Administration (28) : {{Color box|{{party color|Welsh Labour}}|border=darkgray}} Labour (28) ; Other Parties (11) : {{Color box|{{party color|Independent (politician)}}|border=darkgray}} Independent (8) : {{Color box|{{party color|Reform UK}}|border=darkgray}} Reform UK (3) ; Casual Vacancies (1) : {{Color box|white|border=darkgray}} Vacant (1) | committees1 = | joint_committees = | term_length = 5 years | voting_system1 = First past the post | last_election1 = 5 May 2022 | next_election1 = 6 May 2027 | redistricting = | motto = | session_room = Pontypool Civic Centre (geograph 2484234).jpg | session_res = | session_alt = | meeting_place = Civic Centre, Hanbury Road, Pontypool, NP4{{nbsp}}6YB | website = {{URL|www.torfaen.gov.uk}} | constitution = | footnotes = }}

'''Torfaen County Borough Council''' ({{Langx|cy|Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Torfaen}}) is the local authority for the county borough of Torfaen, one of the principal areas of Wales.

==History== The borough council was created in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 as a lower-tier district council with borough status. Gwent County Council provided county-level services for the area.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|accessdate=9 October 2022}}</ref> The county council was abolished in 1996 and Torfaen became a principal area with county borough status, with the council taking over the functions previously performed by the county council.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government (Wales) Act 1994|year=1994|chapter=19|accessdate=9 October 2022}}</ref>

Borough status allows Torfaen to give the chair of the council the title of mayor. However, the council discontinued the role of mayor in 2018. A presiding member role has been created instead to chair meetings.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mayor of Torfaen |url=https://www.torfaen.gov.uk/en/AboutTheCouncil/CouncillorsAndDemocracy/MayorofTorfaen/Mayor-of-Torfaen.aspx |website=Torfaen County Borough Council |access-date=10 October 2022}}</ref>

In June 2024 the council agreed to share a chief executive with neighbouring Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council.<ref name=Owen>{{cite news |last1=Owen |first1=Twm |title=Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent shared chief executive salary agreed |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/24380473.blaenau-gwent-torfaen-shared-chief-executive-salary-agreed/ |access-date=26 July 2024 |work=South Wales Argus |date=11 June 2024}}</ref> Torfaen's existing chief executive, Stephen Vickers, was subsequently appointed to the role of joint chief executive for the two councils from January 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=Torfaen Councillors approve appointment of Joint Chief Executive |url=https://www.torfaen.gov.uk/en/News/2025/January/21-Torfaen-Councillors-approve-appointment-of-Joint-Chief-Executive.aspx |website=Torfaen County Borough Council |access-date=13 August 2025 |date=21 January 2025}}</ref>

==Political control== The council has been under Labour majority control since 2012.

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. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:<ref name=compositions>{{cite web |title=Compositions Calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/composition_calc.html |access-date=21 May 2025 |website=The Elections Centre |publisher=University of Exeter}} (Put "Torfaen" in search box to see specific results.)</ref>

'''Lower-tier borough''' {| class="wikitable" |- !colspan="2"|Party in control!!Years |- | {{Party name with colour|Welsh Labour}} || 1974–1996 |}

'''County borough''' {| class="wikitable" |- !colspan="2"|Party in control!!Years |- | {{Party name with colour|Welsh Labour}} || 1996–2008 |- | {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2008–2012 |- | {{Party name with colour|Welsh Labour}} || 2012–present |}

===Leadership=== The leaders of the council since {{circa|1984}} have been:

{| class=wikitable ! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To |- | Brian Smith<ref>{{cite news |title=Former council leader dies aged 63 |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/4602890.former-council-leader-dies-aged-63/ |access-date=10 October 2022 |work=South Wales Argus |date=26 July 2004}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Welsh Labour}} || align=right|{{circa|1984}} || align=right|2004 |- | Bob Wellington<ref>{{cite news |title=Tributes to former council leader |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/4602852.tributes-to-former-council-leader/ |access-date=13 August 2025 |work=South Wales Argus |date=27 July 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mansfield |first1=Ruth |title=Wales' longest serving council leader to stand down |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/wales-longest-serving-council-leader-12244161 |access-date=10 October 2022 |work=Wales Online |date=28 November 2016}}</ref><ref name=13Dec2016/> || {{party name with colour|Welsh Labour}} || align=right|2004 || align=right|31 Dec 2016 |- | Anthony Hunt<ref name=13Dec2016>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 13 December 2016 |url=https://moderngov.torfaen.gov.uk/documents/s21538/Minutes%20Public%20Pack%2013122016%20Council.pdf |website=Torfaen County Borough Council |access-date=13 August 2025}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Welsh Labour}} || align=right|1 Jan 2017 || align=right| |}

===Composition=== Following the 2022 election, by-elections in February 2023 and 2025, and changes of allegiance in April 2023 and August 2024, the composition of the council was:<ref>{{cite news |last1=Owen |first1=Twm |title=Newly-elected Torfaen Council councillor for Llantarnam speaks |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/23298138.newly-elected-torfaen-council-councillor-llantarnam-speaks/ |access-date=12 July 2023 |work=South Wales Argus |date=3 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=Jonathon |title=Councillor leaves Welsh Labour party over 'insulting' proposed bin collection cuts |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/councillor-leaves-welsh-labour-party-26724590 |access-date=12 July 2023 |work=Wales Online |date=18 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-14 |title=Torfaen council: First Reform councillor elected in by-election |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0qwkq33nq4o |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" ! colspan=2| Party ! Councillors |- | {{Party name with colour|Welsh Labour}} || align=center|28 |- | {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=center|8 |- | {{Party name with colour|Reform UK}} || align=center|4 |- ! colspan=2|Total ! align=center|40 |}

Of the independent councillors, five sit together as the 'Independent Group', and the other three sit together as the 'Torfaen Independent Group'.<ref>{{cite web |title=Your councillors by party |url=https://moderngov.torfaen.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=PARTY&VW=LIST&PIC=0 |website=Torfaen County Borough Council |access-date=12 July 2023}}</ref> The next election is due in 2027.<ref>{{cite web |title=Torfaen |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=torfaen |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=13 August 2025}}</ref>

==Elections==

{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center |+Summary of the council composition after council elections:<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rallings |first1=Colin |last2=Thrasher |first2=Michael |title=Torfaen County Borough Council Election Results 1995–2012 |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Torfaen-1995-2012.pdf |website=Elections Centre |publisher=Plymouth University |access-date=10 October 2022}}</ref>

!rowspan=2|Year !rowspan=2|Seats !width="80"|Labour !width="80"|Independent !width="80"|Conservative !width="80"|Liberal Democrats !width="80"|Plaid Cymru !rowspan=2|Control of council |- !style="background-color: {{party color|Welsh Labour}}; width: 3px;" | !style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}}; width: 3px;" | !style="background-color: {{party color|Welsh Conservatives}}; width: 3px;" | !style="background-color: {{party color|Welsh Liberal Democrats}}; width: 3px;" | !style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}; width: 3px;" | |- | 1995 |44 | '''41''' | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |align=left| Labour majority control |- | 1999 |44 | '''39''' | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |align=left| Labour majority control |- | 2004 |44 | '''34''' | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 |align=left| Labour majority control. New ward boundaries.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The County Borough of Torfaen (Electoral Changes) Order 2002|year=2002|number=3279|accessdate=10 October 2022}}</ref> |- | 2008 |44 | '''18''' | 16{{efn|Including three candidates elected to represent Blaenau Gwent People's Voice.}} | 5 | 2 | 3 |align=left|Labour minority led. |- | 2012 |44 | '''30''' | 8 | 4 | 0 | 2 |align=left| Labour majority control<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Torfaen-1995-2012.pdf | website = Elections Centre Plymouth University| title = Torfaen County Borough Council Election Results 1995-2012 |accessdate=2020-06-04}}</ref> |- | 2017 |44 | '''29''' | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 |align=left| Labour majority control<ref name="ITV">{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/update/2017-05-05/torfaen-final-results-labour-hold-on-to-majority/ |title=Wales at the polls: Local elections 2017 |accessdate=2020-06-04|work=ITV News}}</ref> |- | 2022 |40 | '''30''' | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |align=left| Labour majority control. New ward boundaries.<ref name=2021order>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The County Borough of Torfaen (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021|year=2021|number=1139|accessdate=10 October 2022}}</ref> |}

==Premises== The council is based at the Civic Centre on Hanbury Road in Pontypool, comprising Pontypool Town Hall, built in 1856, and a large extension to it which was built in 1991.<ref>{{National Historic Assets of Wales|num=3132|desc=Town Hall|grade=II|access-date=10 October 2022}}</ref> Between 1996 and 2012, the council also used the six-storey former Gwent County Hall at Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran, sharing the building with Monmouthshire County Council. County Hall closed because of "concrete cancer" and was later demolished, with the council consolidating its offices at the Civic Centre in Pontypool.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-19984885 |title=Cwmbran County Hall demolition may need hole filling |work=BBC News |date=27 October 2012 |access-date=17 May 2019 }}</ref>

== Mayoralty == The roles of mayor and deputy mayor were removed from the council in May 2018 as part of the 2018/19 budget. Instead, the council created the post of Presiding Member and Deputy Presiding Member to chair council meetings. From May 2018, the roles and functions undertaken by a mayor have been undertaken by the leader of the council and cabinet members.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freepressseries.co.uk/news/16036983.former-torfaen-council-mayors-speak-budget-proposal-scrap-role/|title=Former Torfaen council mayors speak out on budget proposal to scrap role|website=Free Press Series|date=21 February 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.torfaen.gov.uk/en/AboutTheCouncil/CouncillorsAndDemocracy/MayorofTorfaen/Mayor-of-Torfaen.aspx|title=Mayor of Torfaen | Torfaen County Borough Council|website=www.torfaen.gov.uk}}</ref>

===Past Mayors=== The mayors of Torfaen from 1974 until the post's abolition in 2018 were:<ref>{{cite web |title=Past mayors |url=https://www.torfaen.gov.uk/en/AboutTheCouncil/CouncillorsAndDemocracy/MayorofTorfaen/Past-Mayors.aspx |website=Torfaen County Borough Council |access-date=10 October 2022}}</ref> {{div col}} 1974–1974: G M Day 1974–1975: D B Richards 1975–1976: M L Lee 1976–1977: D W Puddle 1977–1978: G S R Powell 1978–1979: S E A James 1979–1980: A J Davies 1980–1981: G S Evans 1981–1982: K Morgan 1982–1983: P Roberts 1983–1984: G I Davies 1984–1985: C Little 1985–1986: H J Rosser 1986–1986: C G Thomas 1986–1988: D J Lloyd 1988–1989: W M Howell 1989–1990: B J Cunningham 1990–1991: S Richards 1991–1992: D J Rex 1992–1993: T Davies 1993–1994: F H Bacon 1994–1995: M H Morgan 1995–1996: D Miller 1996–1997: S Smith 1997–1998: S J Brooks 1998–1999: K Edmunds 1999–2000: B I Ryan 2000–2001: G R Clark 2001–2002: C Thomas 2002–2003: Jack Everson 2003–2004: Doug Davies 2004–2005: Yvonne Warren 2005–2006: Lyndon Irwin 2006–2007: Mary Barnett 2007–2008: Bill King 2008–2009: Nye James 2009–2010: Bob Jones 2010–2011: Tom Huish 2011–2012: Philip Seabourne 2012–2013: Wayne Tomlinson 2013–2014: Neil Mason 2014–2015: Mandy Owen 2015–2016: Giles Davies 2016–2017: Veronica Crick 2017–2018: Jessica Powell {{div col end}}

==Electoral divisions== thumb|right|260px|Electoral wards in Torfaen The county borough is divided into 20 electoral wards, returning 40 councillors. There are 6 elected community councils in the region. The following table lists council wards, communities and associated geographical areas. Communities with a community council are indicated with a '*':<ref name=2021order/>

{| class="wikitable sortable" !Ward !Communities !Other geographic areas |- |Abersychan |Abersychan |Varteg, Cwmavon, Cwmffrwd, Talywain, The British, Pentwyn, Garndiffaith, |- |Blaenavon |Blaenavon Town* |Coed Cae, Elgam, Forge Side, Garn-y-erw |- |Brynwern |Pontymoile (Brynwern ward) | |- |Coed Eva |Fairwater (Coed Eva ward) | |- |Croesyceiliog North |Croesyceiliog & Llanyrafon* (Croesyceiliog North ward) | |- |Croesyceiliog South |Croesyceiliog & Llanyrafon* (Croesyceiliog South ward) | |- |Cwmynyscoy |Pontymoile (Cwmynyscoy ward) |Blaendare, Upper Race |- |Fairwater |Fairwater (Fairwater and Oaksford ward) |Ty Canol |- |Greenmeadow |Fairwater (Greenmeadow ward) | |- |Llantarnam | *Llantarnam *Cwmbran Central* (Southville ward) |Croes-y-mwyalach, Oakfield, Old Cwmbran |- |Llanyrafon North |Llanyrafon (Llanyrafon North ward) | |- |Llanyrafon South | *Ponthir* *Llanyrafon (Llanyrafon South ward) |Llanfrechfa |- |New Inn |New Inn |Cwmoody, Sluvad |- |Panteg |Panteg |Griffithstown, Sebastopol |- |Pontnewydd | *Pontnewydd *Cwmbran Central* (Northville ward) |Pontrhydyrun, Lowland, Northville |- |Pontnewynydd |Pen Tranch (Pontnewynydd ward) |Cwmffrwdoer |- |Pontypool |Pontymoile* |- |Snatchwood |Pen Tranch (Snatchwood ward) | |- |St. Cadocs and Penygarn | | |- |St Dials |Cwmbran Central* (St. Dials ward) | |- |Trevethin |Trevethin (Trevethin ward) | |- |Two Locks | *Cwmbran Central* (Two Locks ward) *Henllys |Hollybush |- |Upper Cwmbran |Upper Cwmbran |Thornhill, West Pontnewydd |- |Wainfelin |Pen Tranch (Wainfelin ward) |Tranch, Pantygasseg |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.torfaen.gov.uk/ Torfaen County Borough Council]

Category:Politics of Torfaen Torfaen Category:1996 establishments in Wales