# Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council (Welsh: Cyngor bwrdeistref Sirol Blaenau Gwent) is the governing body for Blaenau Gwent, 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. The county council was abolished in 1996 and Blaenau Gwent became a principal area with county borough status, with the council taking over the functions previously performed by the county council.
Borough status allows Blaenau Gwent to give the chair of the council the title of mayor. However, the council discontinued the role of mayor in 2017, with the last mayor being Barrie Sutton. A presiding member role has been created instead to chair meetings.
In 2024 the council agreed to share a chief executive with neighbouring Torfaen County Borough Council.

## Political control

The council has been under Labour majority control since the 2022 election.
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:
Lower-tier borough
| Party in control | Party in control | Years |
| | Labour | 1974–1996 |
County borough
| Party in control | Years |
| Labour | 1996–2008 |
| Independent | 2008–2012 |
| Labour | 2012–2017 |
| Independent | 2017–2022 |
| Labour | 2022–present |

### Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2001 have been:
| Councillor | Party | From | To |
| John Hopkins | Labour | pre-2001 | Nov 2007 |
| Hedley McCarthy | Labour | Nov 2007 | 2008 |
| Des Hillman | Independent | 2008 | 10 Oct 2011 |
| John Mason | Independent | 14 Oct 2011 | May 2012 |
| Hedley McCarthy | Labour | May 2012 | 2 Dec 2015 |
| Steve Thomas | Labour | 2 Dec 2015 | 25 May 2017 |
| Nigel Daniels | Independent | 25 May 2017 | 8 May 2022 |
| Steve Thomas | Labour | 26 May 2022 | |

### Composition

Following the 2022 election and subsequent changes of allegiance and by-elections up to February 2024, the composition of the council was:
| Party | Party | Councillors |
| | Labour | 21 |
| | Independent | 12 |
| Total | Total | 33 |
The next election is due in 2027.

## Elections

Summary of the council composition after council elections, click on the year for full details of each election.
| Year | Seats | Labour | Independent | Liberal Democrats | Plaid Cymru | Conservative | Notes |
| 1995 | 42 | 33 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Labour majority controlled |
| 1999 | 42 | 34 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Labour majority controlled |
| 2004 | 42 | 32 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Labour majority controlled |
| 2008 | 42 | 17 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Independent / People's Voice / Liberal Democrat Coalition |
| 2012 | 42 | 33 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Labour majority controlled |
| 2017 | 42 | 13 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Independent majority controlled |
| 2022 | 33 | 21 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Labour majority controlled. New ward boundaries. |
Party with the most elected councillors in bold. Coalition agreements in notes column
* ↑ Including two Ratepayers' Association councillors and one Independent Labour.
* ↑ Including four Ratepayers' Association councillors and one Independent Labour.
* ↑ Including five Blaenau Gwent People's Voice councillors.

## Premises

Until 2021 the council was based at Ebbw Vale Civic Centre, which had been built in the 1960s for the former Ebbw Vale Urban District Council. In 2021 the council voted to demolish the civic centre and moved its meeting place and headquarters to the General Office building adjoining Ebbw Vale Town railway station. The General Office building had been built in 1916 as the offices for the Ebbw Vale Iron and Steel Company. The refurbished and extended building also serves as a conference centre and houses Gwent Archives.

## Electoral wards

Following a review by the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales the number of electoral wards reduced from 16 to 14 at the 2022 local elections. The number of councillors dropped from 42 to 33. The following table lists the pre-2022 council wards, as well as communities and associated geographical areas. Communities with a community council are indicated with an asterisk (*).
| Ward | Communities | Other geographic areas |
| Abertillery (3 Seats - 1 No Party, 2 Labour) | Abertillery & Llanhilleth Town* (Abertillery ward) | Rhiw Park, Aberillery Park |
| Badminton (2 seats) | That part of the Community of Beaufort specified in relation to the existing district ward of Badminton in column 2 of the Schedule to the Blaenau Gwent (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1986 | Newchurch, Glyncoed |
| Beaufort (2 seats) | That part of the Community of Beaufort specified in relation to the existing district ward of Badminton in column 2 of the Schedule to the Blaenau Gwent (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1986 | Garn Lydan, Carmeltown, |
| Blaina (3 seats) | Nantyglo & Blaina Town* (Blaina ward) | Cwm Celyn, Bournville |
| Brynmawr (3 seats) | Brynmawr Town* | |
| Cwm (2 seats) | Cwm | Waunllwyd |
| Cwmtillery (3 seats) | Abertillery & Llanhilleth Town* (Cwmtillery ward) | Rose Heyworth |
| Ebbw Vale North (3 seats) | That part of the Community of Ebbw Vale specified in relation to the existing district ward of Ebbw Vale North in column 2 of the Schedule to the Blaenau Gwent (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1986 | Mountain Air, Willowtown, Waun-y-pound, Newtown |
| Ebbw Vale South (2 seats) | That part of the Community of Ebbw Vale not contained in the Ebbw Vale North ward | Garden City, Tyllwyn, Hilltop, Briery Hill |
| Georgetown (2 seats) | Tredegar Town* (Georgetown ward) | Troedrhiwgwair, Peacehaven |
| Llanhilleth (3 seats) | Abertillery & Llanhilleth Town* (Llanhilleth ward) | Brynithel, Aberbeeg, Swffryd |
| Nantyglo (3 seats) | Nantyglo & Blaina Town* (Nantyglo ward) | Winchestown, Coalbrookvale, Garn Fach, Coed Cae |
| Rassau (2 seats) | That part of the pre-2010 community of Beaufort not contained in the Badminton and Beaufort wards | Nantycroft |
| Sirhowy (3 seats) | Tredegar Town* (Sirhowy ward) | Tafarnaubach, Waundeg, Trevil, Dukestown, Rhoslan |
| Six Bells (2 seats) | Abertillery & Llanhilleth Town* (Six Bells ward) | Warm Turn |
| Tredegar Central and West (4 seats) | Tredegar Town* (Central and West ward) | Bedwellty Pits, Cefn Golau, Ashvale |

## Criticism of councillors' conduct

Joanne Collins, the council's executive member for education and also a governor of her son's primary school took her family on holiday during school term time, "in direct contravention of her department's own policy", reported Private Eye in April 2020. The council reportedly distributes a pamphlet titled "School Attendance - a guide for parents of children starting school" that clearly states Blaenau Gwent Council "requested headteachers do not authorise any holidays in term time". The booklet had been published by Families First, a Welsh Government project, in conjunction with the council. Collins' action reportedly caused resentment among local families who had been refused permission to take a holiday during term time to save on cost. In response, council leader, Nigel Daniels, issued a statement to the South Wales Argus newspaper stating the "holiday in question was authorised ... and fully complied with the policy".

## Arms

Coat of arms of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council :
* NotesOriginally granted to Blaenau Gwent Borough Council on 13 November 1975.
* CrestOn a wreath of the colours upon a rocky mount Proper a dragon passant Gules breathing flames collared with a ring of steel and supporting with the dexter foreleg a pair of millrolls Proper.
* EscutcheonPaly wavy of six Argent and Vert on a chief dancetty of three points downward per pale Azure and Sable three fleurs de lys Or.
* SupportersOn either side a dragon Gules breathing flames collared with a ring of steel and supporting with the dexter foreleg a pick axe head downward Proper.
* MottoUnbed A Rhyddid (Unity & Freedom)
* BadgeA roundel paly wavy of six Argent and Vert charged with six fleurs de lys Or.