Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council () is the governing body for Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, one of the Principal Areas of Wales. Background. Elections took place every four years, though from 2017 will be every 5 years. At the May 2004 elections the Labour group were challenged by a new party, People Before Politics (PBP), who won nine of the 33 seats across four wards. PBP's numbers reduced to three and the party was disbanded before the next election. The last election was 4 May 2017. This election saw a big swing, with Independent councillors  winning majority control from the Labour Party, in what was previously a Labour stronghold. The final result was delayed because of the death of a candidate in the Cyfarthfa ward, where the election took place on 8 June to choose the final three councillors. Labour council leader Brendan Toomey lost his seat at the election. In December 2020 the Independent leader of the council, Kevin O'Neill, was removed from the council for 7 months for a breach of the code of conduct for failing to declare a personal interest in a council matter. He was replaced as leader by Lisa  Mytton. Electoral divisions. The county borough is divided into 11 electoral wards returning 33 councillors. Most of these wards are coterminous with communities (parishes) of the same name. Bedlinog & Trelewis Community Council is the only community council in Merthyr Tydfil. The following table lists council wards, communities and associated geographical areas.