Blackpool Council is the local authority of the Borough of Blackpool, Lancashire, England. It is a unitary authority, having the powers of a county council and district council combined.
Blackpool Council | |
---|---|
Type | |
Type | |
Leadership | |
Neil Jack since 21 July 2011[3] | |
Structure | |
Seats | 42 councillors[4] |
Political groups |
|
Length of term | 4 years |
Elections | |
Plurality-at-large[a] | |
Last election | 4 May 2023 |
Next election | 2027 |
Motto | |
Progress | |
Meeting place | |
Town Hall, Talbot Square, Blackpool, FY1 1GB | |
Website | |
blackpool |
Blackpool's first elected local authority was the Layton with Warbreck Local Board, established in 1851 and named after the historic township that included the nascent town of Blackpool.[5] The board was renamed the Blackpool Local Board in 1868.[6] In 1876 the district was elevated to become a municipal borough, governed by a body formally called the "mayor, aldermen and burgesses of the borough of Blackpool", but generally known as the corporation or town council.[7]
From 1904 to 1974, Blackpool was a county borough, independent from Lancashire County Council.[8] Under the Local Government Act 1972 Blackpool was reconstituted as a non-metropolitan district, with the county council providing services to the town again.[9] Blackpool became a unitary authority on 1 April 1998, regaining its independence from Lancashire County Council.[10]
The council has been under Labour majority control since the 2023 election.
The first election to the council as reformed by the Local Government Act 1972 was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority until the new arrangements took effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[11][12]
Non-metropolitan district
Party in control | Years | |
---|---|---|
Conservative | 1974–1987 | |
No overall control | 1987–1991 | |
Labour | 1991–1998 |
Unitary authority
Party in control | Years | |
---|---|---|
Labour | 1998–2007 | |
Conservative | 2007–2011 | |
Labour | 2011–2021 | |
No overall control | 2021–2023 | |
Labour | 2023–present |
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Blackpool. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1991 have been:[13]
Councillor | Party | From | To | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ivan Taylor[14] | Labour | 1991 | 5 Jun 2000 | |
George Bancroft[15] | Labour | 12 Jul 2000 | 11 Jul 2001 | |
Roy Fisher[16] | Labour | Aug 2001 | 6 May 2007 | |
Peter Callow | Conservative | 21 May 2007 | 23 May 2011 | |
Simon Blackburn | Labour | 23 May 2011 | Jun 2020 | |
Lynn Williams | Labour | 20 Jul 2020 |
Following the 2023 election, the composition of the council was as follows:[17]
Party | Councillors | |
---|---|---|
Labour | 28 | |
Conservative | 14 | |
Total | 42 |
The next election is due in 2027.
Since the last boundary changes in 2023 the council has comprised 42 councillors representing 21 wards, with each ward electing two councillors. The whole council is elected together every four years.[18]
The council is based at Blackpool Town Hall on Talbot Square. The building was built in 1900.[19]