# Aberystwyth Town Council

Aberystwyth Town Council (Welsh: Cyngor Tref Aberystwyth) is the community council that governs the ancient borough, town and community of Aberystwyth. For electoral purposes, it is divided into five electoral divisions (often known as wards).

## Background

The council appoints a chairman as its presiding officer who is then known as the Mayor of Aberystwyth. The Town Council is now a statutory body, but it also holds the town's Borough Charter in trust, granted by King Edward I on 28 December 1277 and confirmed by successive monarchs, resulting in the members also being charter trustees. Since the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 came into force, Aberystwyth's status as a borough has been wholly ceremonial. The Local Government Act 1972 (in force from 1 April 1974) prevents the town council being known in name as a borough council as previously, although the town councillors as charter trustees can still, for example, take part in all of the ceremonial activities (wearing civic outfits), elect mayors (who can wear the chain of office) and organise markets (according to the original royal charter). The current mayor of Aberystwyth is Maldwyn Pryse; the Deputy Mayor for 2024-25 is Emlyn Jones.
Aberystwyth Town Council comprises five wards - Bronglais, Central, North, Penparcau and Rheidol - electing between three and five town councillors each.
Clockwise, from the north, it borders the communities of Tirymynach, Faenor, Llanbadarn Fawr and Llanfarian.

## Current composition

2023 :
| Group affiliation | Group affiliation | Members |
| | Plaid Cymru | 13 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 2 |
| | Labour | 2 |
| | Independent | 2 |
| | vacant seat | 0 |
| Total | Total | 19 |

## Election history

Aberystwyth Town Council is made up of 19 councillors elected from the five wards. The most recent elections were held in 2022. Plaid Cymru have an overall majority. There are currently 2 vacancies for the Council, in Central and Rheidol Ward (22/5/24).

### 2022 election

The 2022 Aberystwyth Town Council elections were held alongside the elections for elections for Ceredigion County council on 5 May 2022. All 14 seats from the Bronglais, Central, North and Rheidol wards were up for election. There was no election in the Penparcau ward as there were only 2 candidates for the 5 seats representing the ward. The election resulted in 12 seats for Plaid Cymru, 2 for Labour, 1 for Liberal Democrats and 3 vacant seats.
| Ward | Party | Town councillors elected 2022 |
| Bronglais | Plaid Cymru | Talat Chaudhri |
| Bronglais | Plaid Cymru | Lucy Huws |
| Bronglais | Plaid Cymru | Mari Turner |
| Bronglais | Plaid Cymru | Alun Williams |
| Central | Plaid Cymru | Owain Hughes |
| Central | Plaid Cymru | Emlyn Wyn Jones |
| Central | Plaid Cymru | Sienna Quinn Lewis |
| North | Plaid Cymru | Maldwyn Pryse |
| North | Plaid Cymru | Jeff Smith |
| North | Plaid Cymru | Mark Antony Strong |
| Penparcau | Independent | Steve Davies |
| Penparcau | Labour | Dylan Lewis-Rowlands |
| Penparcau | Plaid Cymru | Carl Worrall (co-opted) |
| Penparcau | Liberal Democrats | Bryony Davies (co-opted) |
| Penparcau | Independent | Connor Edwards (co-opted) |
| Rheidol | Liberal Democrats | Mair Benjamin |
| Rheidol | Plaid Cymru | Brian Davies |
| Rheidol | Plaid Cymru | Kerry Elizabeth Ferguson |
| Rheidol | Labour Co-op | Matthew Norman |

### 2017 election

The 2017 Aberystwyth town council elections were held alongside the elections for Ceredigion County council on 4 May 2017. All 19 seats were up for election, which resulted in the election of 11 councillors for Plaid Cymru, 6 for the Welsh Liberal Democrats and 2 Welsh Labour councillors. One seat became vacant in May 2017, reducing the number held by the Welsh Liberal Democrats to 5. This position was filled by Brendan Somers in September 2017, bringing the total number of Plaid councillors up to 12. However, Councillor Brendan Somers resigned from Plaid Cymru on 30 April 2019 and now sits as an independent.
| Ward | Party | Town councillors elected 2017 |
| Bronglais | Plaid Cymru | Alun Williams |
| Bronglais | Plaid Cymru | Susan Jane Jones-Davies |
| Bronglais | Plaid Cymru | Endaf Edwards |
| Bronglais | Plaid Cymru | Lucy Huws |
| Central | Liberal Democrats | David Lees |
| Central | Liberal Democrats | Emily Price (deceased 12 May 2017) |
| Central | Liberal Democrats | Michael Chappell |
| North | Plaid Cymru | Mark Strong |
| North | Plaid Cymru | Talat Chaudhri |
| North | Plaid Cymru | Sara Hammel |
| Penparcau | Plaid Cymru | Steve Davies |
| Penparcau | Plaid Cymru | Dylan Lewis |
| Penparcau | Liberal Democrats | Charlie Kingsbury |
| Penparcau | Labour | Alex Mangold |
| Penparcau | Liberal Democrats | Brenda Haines |
| Rheidol | Liberal Democrats | Mair Benjamin |
| Rheidol | Labour | Claudine Young |
| Rheidol | Plaid Cymru | Rhodri Francis |
| Rheidol | Plaid Cymru | Mari Turner |

### 2012 election

The 2012 Aberystwyth town council elections were held alongside the elections for Ceredigion County council on 3 May 2012. All 19 seats were up for election. The 2012 elections had previously resulted in 11 councillors for Plaid Cymru, 5 for the Welsh Lib Democrats and 3 independents. Lucy Teresa Huws (Plaid Cymru) was elected for Bronglais Ward in November 2013, replacing Christopher Griffiths. Brendan Somers (Plaid Cymru) joined for Central Ward in January 2014, replacing Carys Morgan (resigned 2013), and Dr Talat Zafar Chaudhri (Plaid Cymru) joined for Penparcau in September 2015, replacing Dylan Lewis (resigned 2015). There were subsequently 12 councillors for Plaid Cymru, 4 for the Welsh Liberal Democrats and 3 independents for the remainder of the term.
| Ward | Party | Town councillors elected 2012 |
| Bronglais | Plaid Cymru | Alun Williams |
| Bronglais | Plaid Cymru | Susan Jane Jones-Davies |
| Bronglais | Plaid Cymru | Endaf Edwards |
| Bronglais | Plaid Cymru | Christopher Griffiths |
| Central | Liberal Democrats | Ceredig Davies |
| Central | Liberal Democrats | Sarah Bowen |
| Central | Plaid Cymru | Carys Morgan |
| North | Plaid Cymru | Mark Strong |
| North | Independent | Aled Davies |
| North | Plaid Cymru | Jeff Smith |
| Penparcau | Plaid Cymru | Steve Davies |
| Penparcau | Independent | Dylan Lewis |
| Penparcau | Plaid Cymru | Mererid Jones |
| Penparcau | Plaid Cymru | Kevin Price |
| Penparcau | Liberal Democrats | Brenda Haines |
| Rheidol | Liberal Democrats | Wendy Morris-Twiddy |
| Rheidol | Plaid Cymru | Brian Davies |
| Rheidol | Liberal Democrats | Mair Benjamin (resigned from the Liberal Democrats on 15 May 2012) |
| Rheidol | Independent | Martin Shewring |

### 2008-2012 by-elections

| By-election | Date | Incumbent party | Result | Candidate | Reason |
| Rheidol | 18 September 2008 | Liberal Democrats | Liberal Democrats | Martin Shewring | Resignation of Elian Lorrae Jones-Southgate |
| Penparcau | 18 September 2008 | Independent | Plaid Cymru | Owain Jones | Death of Owen Jones |
| Central | 25 November 2010 | Liberal Democrats | Liberal Democrats | Ceredig Davies | Resignation of Trevor Shaftoe |
| Rheidol | 4 August 2011 | Liberal Democrats | Liberal Democrats | Wendy Morris-Twiddy | Resignation of Martin Shewring |

### 2008 election

In the 2008 elections, 9 seats were won by Plaid Cymru, 6 by the Welsh Liberal Democrats, 2 by independents, 1 by Welsh Labour and 1 by the Green Party.
| Ward | Party | Town councillors elected 2008 |
| Bronglais | Plaid Cymru | Alun Williams |
| Bronglais | Plaid Cymru | Susan Jane Jones-Davies |
| Bronglais | Plaid Cymru | Aled Davies |
| Bronglais | Plaid Cymru | Ann-Marie Hinde |
| Central | Liberal Democrats | Alec Dauncey |
| Central | Plaid Cymru | Lyn Lewis Dafis |
| Central | Liberal Democrats | Trevor Graham Shaftoe |
| North | Green | Christopher Guy Borrill Simpson |
| North | Plaid Cymru | Mark Strong |
| North | Plaid Cymru | Dafydd Wyn Thomas |
| Penparcau | Plaid Cymru | Rob Gorman |
| Penparcau | Independent | Goronwy Edwards |
| Penparcau | Plaid Cymru | Steve Davies |
| Penparcau | Independent | Owen Jones |
| Penparcau | Labour | Richard Boudier |
| Rheidol | Liberal Democrats | Elian Lorrae Jones-Southgate |
| Rheidol | Liberal Democrats | Sam Hearne |
| Rheidol | Liberal Democrats | Mair Benjamin |
| Rheidol | Liberal Democrats | Ceri Meehan |

## Mayoral history

| Year | Name | Party | Notes |
| 2022-23 | Talat Chaudhri | Plaid Cymru | |
| 2021-22 | Alun Williams | Plaid Cymru | |
| 2020-21 | Charlie Kingsbury | Liberal Democrats | |
| 2019-20 | Mari Rhian Turner | Plaid Cymru | |
| 2018-19 | Talat Zafar Chaudhri | Plaid Cymru | First Pakistani Punjabi and ethnic minority mayor of Aberystwyth. |
| 2017-18 | Steve Davies | Plaid Cymru | Elected as Plaid Cymru mayoral candidate and mayor-elect. |
| 2016-17 | Brendan Somers | Plaid Cymru | Lost seat at election held on 4 May 2017 |
| 2015-16 | Endaf Edwards | Plaid Cymru | |
| 2014-15 | Brenda Haines | Liberal Democrats | |
| 2013-14 | Wendy Morris-Twiddy | Liberal Democrats | |
| 2012-13 | Dylan Wilson-Lewis | Labour | |
| 2011-12 | Richard Boudier | Labour | General election candidate for Ceredigion UK parliamentary constituency |
| 2010-11 | Samantha Hearne | Liberal Democrats | |
| 2009-10 | Trevor Shaftoe | Liberal Democrats | |
| 2008-09 | Susan Jones-Davies | Plaid Cymru | |
| 2007-08 | Lorrae Jones-Southgate | Liberal Democrats | Resigned June 2008. |
| 2006-07 | Michael Jones | Plaid Cymru | |
| 2005-06 | Aled Davies | Plaid Cymru | |
| 2004-05 | John T. James | Plaid Cymru | Independent from March 2005. |
| 2003-04 | John T. James | Plaid Cymru | |
| 2002-03 | Carol Kolczak | Liberal Democrats | |
| 2000-01 | Jaci Taylor | Plaid Cymru | |
| 1999-00 | Siôn Jobbins | Plaid Cymru | |
| 1998-99 | Graham T. Parry | Liberal Democrats | |
| 1997-98 | Elin Jones | Plaid Cymru | |
| 1996-97 | Carol Kolczak | Liberal Democrats | |
| 1995-96 | Hywel Jones | Independent | Removed from office February 1996. |
| 1994-95 | Bob Griffin | Liberal Democrats | Husband of Rose Simpson. |