# Caerphilly County Borough Council

Caerphilly County Borough Council (Welsh: Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili) is the governing body for Caerphilly County Borough, one of the principal areas of Wales. The last full council elections took place 5 May 2022.

## Political control

The first election to the new 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:
| Party in control | Years |
| Labour | 1996–1999 |
| Plaid Cymru | 1999–2004 |
| Labour | 2004–2008 |
| No overall control | 2008–2012 |
| Labour | 2012–present |

### Leadership

The first leader of the council, Graham Court, was the last leader of the old Rhymney Valley District Council. The leaders of Caerphilly since 1996 have been:
| Councillor | Party | From | To |
| Graham Court | Labour | 1 Apr 1996 | 20 May 1999 |
| Lindsay Whittle | Plaid Cymru | 20 May 1999 | 24 Jun 2004 |
| Harry Andrews | Labour | 24 Jun 2004 | 15 May 2008 |
| Lindsay Whittle | Plaid Cymru | 15 May 2008 | 24 May 2011 |
| Allan Pritchard | Plaid Cymru | 24 May 2011 | 24 May 2012 |
| Harry Andrews | Labour | 24 May 2012 | 8 May 2014 |
| Keith Reynolds | Labour | 8 May 2014 | 10 Apr 2017 |
| David Poole | Labour | 18 May 2017 | 20 Sep 2019 |
| Philippa Marsden | Labour | 19 Nov 2019 | 8 May 2022 |
| Sean Morgan | Labour | 19 May 2022 | |

### Composition

Following the 2022 election the composition of the council was:
| Party | Party | Councillors |
| | Labour | 45 |
| | Plaid Cymru | 18 |
| | Independent | 6 |
| Total | Total | 69 |
The next election is due in 2027.

## Elections

| Year | Seats | Labour | Plaid Cymru | Independent | Liberal Democrats | Notes |
| 1995 | 67 | 55 | 9 | 3 | 0 | Labour majority controlled |
| 1999 | 73 | 28 | 38 | 6 | 1 | Plaid Cymru majority controlled |
| 2004 | 73 | 41 | 26 | 6 | 0 | Labour majority controlled |
| 2008 | 73 | 32 | 32 | 9 | 0 | No overall control; Plaid Cymru-led administration. |
| 2012 | 73 | 50 | 20 | 3 | 0 | Labour majority controlled |
| 2017 | 73 | 50 | 18 | 5 | 0 | Labour majority controlled |
| 2022 | 69 | 45 | 18 | 6 | 0 | Labour majority controlled |
Party with the most elected councillors in bold. Coalition agreements in notes column

## Premises

The council inherited two main offices from its predecessor authorities: Ystrad Fawr House at Ystrad Mynach from Rhymney Valley District Council, and Pontllanfraith House in Pontllanfraith from Islwyn Borough Council. Ystrad Fawr House was demolished in 2008 to make way for the Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr hospital. A new headquarters was built at Penallta House in the Tredomen area of Ystrad Mynach (in the community of Gelligaer), opening in April 2008. The other office at Pontllanfraith House subsequently closed in 2015 and has since been demolished.

## Electoral divisions

The county borough is divided into 30 electoral wards returning 69 councillors. Many of these wards are coterminous with communities (parishes) of the same name. The following table lists council wards, communities and community ward areas.
| Ward | Communities | Community ward | Councillors |
| Aber Valley | Aber Valley | Abertridwr, Senghenydd | 3 |
| Aberbargoed and Bargoed | Bargoed | Aberbargoed, Bargoed | 3 |
| Aber-carn | Aber-carn | Aber-carn | 2 |
| Argoed | Argoed | Argoed, Hollybush, Markham | 1 |
| Bedwas and Trethomas | Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen | Bedwas, Trethomas | 3 |
| Blackwood | Blackwood | Blackwood Central, Blackwood North, Blackwood South, Cefn Fforest East | 3 |
| Cefn Fforest and Pengam | Cefn Fforest, Pengam | Cefn Fforest, Pengam | 3 |
| Crumlin | Crumlin | Crumlin | 2 |
| Darran Valley | Darran Valley | Deri, Fochriw | 1 |
| Gilfach | Bargoed | Gilfach | 1 |
| Hengoed | Gelligaer | Cefn Hengoed, Hengoed | 2 |
| Llanbradach | Llanbradach and Pwllypant | Llanbradach, Pwllypant, Wingfield | 2 |
| Machen and Rudry | Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen, Rudry | Llanfedw, Machen, Rhydygwern, Rudry | 2 |
| Maesycwmmer | Maesycwmmer | Maesycwmmer | 1 |
| Morgan Jones | Caerphilly | Bryncenydd, Parcyfelin, Tonyfelin | 3 |
| Moriah and Pontlottyn | Rhymney | Abertysswg, Moriah, Pontlottyn, St David's | 2 |
| Nelson | Nelson | Llanfabon, Llwyncelyn | 2 |
| New Tredegar | New Tredegar | Brithdir, Cwmsyfiog, New Tredegar, Phillipstown, Tir-phil | 2 |
| Newbridge | Newbridge | Newbridge | 3 |
| Penmaen | Penmaen | Penmaen | 2 |
| Penyrheol | Penyrheol, Trecenydd and Energlyn | Energlyn, Penyrheol, Trecenydd | 4 |
| Pontllanfraith | Pontllanfraith | Pontllanfraith, Springfield | 3 |
| Risca East | Risca East | Pontymister and Ty-Sign, Pontymister Upper, Trenewydd | 3 |
| Risca West | Risca West | Pontymister Lower, Risca Danygraig, Risca Fernlea and Town, Ty-Isaf Fields Road | 2 |
| St Cattwg | Gelligaer | Cascade, Greenhill, Tir-y-berth | 3 |
| St Martins | Caerphilly | Castle, Cwrt Rawlins, Twyn, Watford | 3 |
| Twyn Carno | Rhymney | Twyn Carno | 1 |
| Van | Van | Brynau, Lansbury, Porset | 2 |
| Ystrad Mynach | Gelligaer | Ystrad Mynach | 3 |

### Former wards

Until 2022, the county borough was divided into 33 electoral wards returning 73 councillors. Communities with a community council are indicated with a '*':
| Ward | Communities (Parishes) | Other geographic areas |
| Aberbargoed | Bargoed Town* (Aberbargoed ward) | Bedwellty |
| Abercarn | Abercarn | Chapel of Ease, Cwmcarn, Llanfach, West End |
| Aber Valley | Aber Valley* | Senghenydd, Abertridwr |
| Argoed | Argoed* | Cwm Corrwg, Hollybush, Manmoel, Markham |
| Bargoed | Bargoed Town* (Bargoed and Park wards) | Gilfach Estate |
| Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen | Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen* | Bedwas, Trethomas, Machen, Graig-y-Rhacca |
| Blackwood | Blackwood Town* | Britannia, Cwm Gelli, Highfields |
| Cefn Fforest | Cefn Fforest | |
| Crosskeys | Crosskeys | Pontywaun |
| Crumlin | Crumlin | Bont Pren, Croespenmaen, Hafodyrnynys, Kendon, Treowen, Trinant |
| Darran Valley | Darran Valley* | Deri, Groesfaen, Pentwyn, Fochriw |
| Gilfach | Bargoed Town* (Gilfach ward) | |
| Hengoed | Gelligaer* (Cefn Hengoed and Hengoed wards) | |
| Llanbradach | Llanbradach & Pwllypant* | |
| Maesycwmmer | Maesycwmmer* | |
| Morgan Jones | Caerphilly Town* (Bryncenydd, Parcyfelin and Tonyfelin wards) | Bryncenydd, Churchill Park, Pontypandy |
| Moriah | Rhymney* (Abertysswg, Moriah and St.David's wards) | Abertysswg, Tan-y-bryn |
| Nelson | Nelson* | |
| Newbridge | Newbridge | Cwmdows, Pant, Pentwynmawr |
| New Tredegar | New Tredegar* | Brithdir, Phillipstown, Tirphil, Elliotstown, Cwmsyfiog |
| Pengam | Pengam | Britannia, Fleur de Lis, Gellihaf |
| Penmain | Penmain (Penmaen) | Oakdale, Pen-y-fan, Woodfieldside |
| Penyrheol | Penyrheol, Trecenydd and Energlyn* | Trecenydd, Hendredenny, Energlyn, Groeswen |
| Pontllanfraith | Pontllanfraith | Bryn, Gelligroes, Springfield, Penllwyn |
| Pontlottyn | Rhymney* (Pontlottyn ward) | |
| Risca East | That part of the Community of Risca bounded by a line commencing at the point on the boundary of the former borough of Islwyn at Grid Reference ST 24879259, thence southwards along a track to Grid Reference ST 24799214, thence southwestwards along a cart track to Grid Reference ST 24679204, thence southwestwards along field boundaries to the stream at Grid Reference ST 24459185, thence along that stream southwestwards to the place where it enters the Monmouthshire Canal. | Ty Sign |
| Risca West | The area of Risca not contained in Risca East | |
| St. Cattwg | Gelligaer* | Cascade, Cefn Hengoed, Glan-y-nant, Penpedairheol, Tir-y-berth |
| St. James | Rudry*, Van* | Lansbury Park, Mornington Meadows, Waterloo, Llwyn Gwyn |
| St. Martins | Caerphilly Town* (Castle, Twyn and Watford wards) | Watford, Bonfield Park, Castle View |
| Twyn Carno | Rhymney* (Twyn Carno ward) | Llechryd, Princetown |
| Ynysddu | Ynysddu | Brynawel, Wattsville, Wyllie, Cwmfelinfach, Mynyddislyn |
| Ystrad Mynach | Gelligaer* (Ystrad Mynach ward) | Tredomen, Penallta |

## Allegations of misconduct

In 2015 Anthony O'Sullivan, the chief executive and two other executives were charged with misconduct during public office. It was alleged that they specifically 'wilfully misconducted themselves in relation to securing Caerphilly County Borough Council's approval of a remuneration package for the said council's chief officers from which they stood to gain for themselves'.
Relating to this and other failings the Welsh Assembly commissioned a special report on the council in January 2014