# Bangor City Council

Bangor City Council or officially the City of Bangor Council is an elected community council serving Bangor in Gwynedd, Wales.

## Background

Bangor's council was created in 1883 by royal charter. In 1974 it became City of Bangor Council, after Bangor had been granted city status, though many of its previous powers were passed to Arfon Borough Council (1974–1996) and the new Gwynedd Council, based in Caernarfon.
The city council's roles include consultation on all planning applications within the city boundaries, as well as applications for alcohol licenses. Its current responsibilities extend to maintaining footpaths and bus shelters, as well as managing a number of woodland areas and open public spaces.
The city council is most notably responsible for the maintenance of Wales' second longest pier, the Garth Pier. After Arfon Borough Council had decided to demolish it in 1974, Bangor City Council bought the 1,550 feet (470 m) pier for a nominal one pence. However, in 2012 the council only had £1 million of the estimated £2 million needed to repair it. The council-financed £1 million restoration began in 2017, phased over three to four years.
In addition the city council owns a number of important buildings, including the Town Clock, the City Council Offices and Penhryn Hall (containing the Council Chamber) in Ffordd Gwynedd. It owns Nantporth Football Stadium, which it leases to Bangor City Football Club. It also owns Hafan Drop-in Centre which is managed by Age Concern Cymru as a city centre drop in for the elderly and disabled.
In June 2012 a curfew keeping young people out of Bangor city centre made the UK national news. Bangor City Council had to call an emergency meeting to raise their concerns, because Gwynedd Council and the local police had imposed the curfew without consulting city councillors.
In May 2021 Bangor became the first Welsh city council and the sixteenth in the UK to pass a resolution supporting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

## Representation

Twenty councillors were elected from the eight electoral wards in the city, namely: Deiniol (2), Dewi (3), Garth (2), Glyder (3), Hendre (2), Hirael (2), Marchog (3) and Menai (3). In 2017 half of the seats were won by Plaid Cymru. The eight wards also elected ten county councillors to Gwynedd Council.
As a result of The County of Gwynedd (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021 the Deiniol ward was split and merged with its neighbouring wards of Hendre and Hirael, effective from the 2022 elections. Representation on the city council was adjusted to Dewi (3), Garth (1), Glyder (3), Hendre (3), Hirael (3), Marchog (4) and Menai (3), remaining at a total of twenty councillors.

## Mayor

The council elects a city mayor and deputy mayor annually. The Mayor making for 2020 was delayed by a year due to COVID-19 and both the Deputy Mayor and Mayor were to remain in their posts for another year until 2021.
In May 2021 22-year old Owen Hurcum was elected mayor, the youngest ever mayor in Wales and also possibly the first non-binary person in the world to hold such a position.
List of City Mayors since 1974:
2024 - Gareth M.Parry 2023 - Dr.Elin Walker Jones 2022 - Gwynant Roberts 2021 - Owen J. Hurcum 2020 - John Wynn Williams 2019 - John Wynn Williams 2018 - John Wynn Jones 2017 - Derek C. Hainge 2016 - Dewi Wynn Williams 2015 - Evelyn M. Butler 2014 - Jean Elizabeth Forsyth 2013 - Douglas Madge 2012 - Bryn Hughes 2011 - Edward Huw Williams 2010 - Dorothy M. Bulled, MBE 2009 - Jean Elizabeth Forsyth 2008 - John Wynn Jones 2007 - Derek C. Hainge 2006 - Douglas Madge 2005 - Geraint H. Roberts 2004 - Bryn Hughes 2003 - June E. Marshall 2002 - Dorothy M. Bulled 2001 - John Martin 2000 - Tony W.Eccles 1999 - John Wynn Jones 1998 - Derek C. Hainge 1997 - Lesley Hales 1996 - Gill Luther-Jones 1995 - Evelyn M. Butler 1994 - T. Arwyn Evans 1993 - Gareth Buckley-Jones 1992 - John Llewelyn-Jones 1991 - Keith Greenly-Jones 1990 - Doreen N. Murray 1989 - Tony W. Eccles 1988 - John Martin 1987 - Edward T. Dogan 1986 - R. Keith Marshall 1985 - Christine C. Norris 1984 - Iris M.Parry, MBE, JP 1983 - Frank Woodcock 1982 - John Haydn Jones 1981 - Edward T. Dogan 1980 - Glenda W.Jones 1979 - Gareth Buckley-Jones 1978 - Jean D. Christie 1977 - Charles A. Hainge 1976 - Iris M. Parry 1975 - Frank Woodcock 1974 - Jean D. Christie

## Council composition

As of 20 June 2022 :
| Affiliation | Members |
| Plaid Cymru | 12 |
| Independent | 7 |
| Vacant | 1 |