Summary
Monmouthshire County Council (or simply Monmouthshire Council) (Welsh: Cyngor Sir Fynwy) is the governing body for the Monmouthshire principal area – one of the unitary authorities of Wales.
Monmouthshire County Council Cyngor Sir Fynwy | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| History | |
| Founded | 1 April 1996 |
| Preceded by | Monmouth Borough Council Gwent County Council |
| Leadership | |
Paul Matthews since 2009[3] | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 46 |
 | |
Political groups |
|
Length of term | 5 years |
| Elections | |
| First past the post | |
First election | 4 May 1995 |
Last election | 5 May 2022 |
Next election | 6 May 2027 |
| Motto | |
| Utrique Fidelis (Faithful to both)[4] | |
| Meeting place | |
| County Hall, The Rhadyr, Usk, NP15 1GA | |
| Website | |
| monmouthshire | |
The current unitary authority was created in 1996 and covers the eastern three-fifths of the historic county of Monmouthshire. The county council is based at County Hall in the hamlet of The Rhadyr, near Usk.
Since the 2022 elections the council has been under no overall control, with Labour the largest party. The leader of the council since the 2022 elections has been Mary Ann Brocklesby of Labour. In May 2023, Green Party Councillor Ian Chandler joined the administration.
History edit
The current Monmouthshire County Council is the second body of that name. The first Monmouthshire County Council was created in 1889 under the Local Government Act 1888, taking over the local government functions of the quarter sessions.[5] That council was based in Newport, initially meeting at the town hall and later building itself headquarters at Shire Hall in 1902.[6][7] From 1891 Newport was a county borough and therefore outside the dominion of the county council, although the council continued to be based there. The first Monmouthshire County Council was abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, when the area was absorbed into the new county of Gwent.[8] Gwent County Council moved its headquarters to a new County Hall at Croesyceiliog on the outskirts of Cwmbran, which was already under construction at the time of the 1974 reforms.[9]
The current Monmouthshire County Council was created in 1996 under the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, which abolished Gwent County Council and the area's five district councils, creating new unitary authorities. The new authorities in Gwent were based on the previous districts, with the new Monmouthshire authority covering the pre-1996 Monmouth Borough plus the community of Llanelly from Blaenau Gwent district.[10]
Political control edit
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:[11]
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 1996–1999 | |
| No overall control | 1999–2004 | |
| Conservative | 2004–2012 | |
| No overall control | 2012–2017 | |
| Conservative | 2017–2022 | |
| No overall control | 2022–present | |
Leadership edit
The leaders of the council since 2002 have been:[12]
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Crump | Conservative | Jul 2002 | ||
| David Waring[13][14] | Labour | Jul 2002 | Jun 2004 | |
| Andrew Crump[15] | Conservative | Jun 2004 | May 2008 | |
| Peter Fox[16] | Conservative | May 2008 | 13 May 2021 | |
| Richard John[17] | Conservative | 13 May 2021 | 19 May 2022 | |
| Mary Ann Brocklesby[18] | Labour | 19 May 2022 | ||
Composition edit
Following the 2022 election, the composition of the council was:
| Party | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 22 | |
| Conservative | 18 | |
| Independent | 5 | |
| Green | 1 | |
| Total | 46 | |
Four of the independent councillors sit together as the "Independent Group", the other sat with the Green councillor as the "Green Independent Group".[19] In May 2023, Green Party Councillor Ian Chandler joined the administration.[20] The next election is due in 2027.
Elections edit
Elections take place every five years. In the 2022 elections, Welsh Labour became the largest party, with 22 seats, and the Conservatives lost their overall majority, winning 18 of the 46 seats. The final result was decided by the toss of a coin after a tie between Conservative and Labour candidates in the ward of Llanfoist Fawr and Govilon; the seat was taken by the Conservatives.[21] After the election, Labour formed a minority administration, with Mary Ann Brocklesby appointed as the first female leader of the council.[18]
| Year | Seats | Labour | Conservative | Others | Green | Liberal Democrats | Plaid Cymru | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 42 | 26 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Labour majority control[22] |
| 1999 | 42 | 18 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | No overall control; minority Labour administration |
| 2004 | 43 | 9 | 23 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 2 | Conservative majority control. New ward boundaries.[23] |
| 2008 | 43 | 7 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | Conservative majority control |
| 2012 | 43 | 11 | 19 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | No overall control; Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition[24] |
| 2017 | 43 | 10 | 25 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | Conservative majority control |
| 2022 | 46 | 22 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | No overall control; minority Labour administration. New ward boundaries.[25] |
Party with the most elected councillors in bold. Coalition agreements in notes column.
Premises edit
From 1996 until April 2012, the council's administrative headquarters were at the six-storey former Gwent County Hall at Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran – outside its own dominion in the neighbouring borough of Torfaen and shared with Torfaen County Borough Council. It was closed because of "concrete cancer" and later demolished.[26] In 2010 the authority had decided to relocate its headquarters functions to new offices at The Rhadyr in the community of Llanbadoc, just outside the town of Usk.[27] Planning permission for the new building was granted in September 2011.[28] The council moved to temporary offices in Magor whilst the new building was under construction.[29]
A BBC television documentary "Carrying On at the Council" was broadcast in February 2012, after being filmed with Monmouthshire County Council over a period of seven months, in the lead up to their office move.[30] The new county hall cost £6 million and was opened in 2013.[31]
Electoral districts, areas and communities edit
For the purposes of electing councillors, the principal area is divided into forty-two electoral divisions, each returning one councillor, except Llanelly, known as Llanelly Hill, which has two councillors. These divisions date from 2004.[32]
The council operates a decentralised system of administration, with four area committees:
- Bryn y Cwm, covering the Abergavenny area
- Central Monmouthshire, centred on Monmouth
- Lower Wye, for the Chepstow area
- Severnside, the area around Caldicot[33]
Although the council is described as a "unitary authority", there is in fact a second tier of government, with the entire area being divided into communities, all of which has either a town or community council.
Bryn y Cwm area edit
| Electoral Division | Community | Other Places |
|---|---|---|
| Cantref | Abergavenny (Town) (part) | Knoll Estate |
| Castle | Abergavenny (Town) (part) | |
| Croesonen | Llantilio Pertholey (part) | Llwynu (part) |
| Crucorney | Crucorney and Grosmont | Campstone, Cupid's Hill, Cwmyoy, Forest Coal Pit, Grosmont, Henllan, Llangattock-Lingoed, Llangua, Llanthony, Llanvetherine, Llanfihangel Crucorney, Monmouth Cap, Pandy, Pedbidwal, Stanton, Wern Gifford |
| Goetre Fawr | Goetre Fawr | Little Mill, Mamhilad, Nant-y-derry, Pencroesoped, Penperlleni, |
| Grofield | Abergavenny (Town) (part) | |
| Lansdown | Abergavenny (Town) (part) | Llwynu (part), Major's Barn |
| Llanelly Hill | Llanelly | Blackrock, Clydach, Gellifelin, Gilwern, Maesygwartha, Waun Wen |
| Llanfoist Fawr | Llanfoist Fawr (part) | Belli-glas, Llanellen, Llanfoist |
| Llanover | Llanarth and Llanover | Aberffrwd, Betws newydd, Bryngwyn, Clytha, Croes Hywel, Llanarth, Llanddewi Rhydderch, Llanfair Kilgeddin, Llanvapley, Llanvihangel Gobion, Penpergwm, Pit Clytha, The Bryn, Upper Llanover, Wern-y-Cwrt, |
| Llanwenarth Ultra | Llanfoist Fawr (part) | Govilon, Llanwenarth |
| Mardy | Llantilio Pertholey (part) | Bryngwenin, Llanddewi Skirrid, |
| Priory | Abergavenny (Town) (part) |
Central Monmouthshire area edit
| Electoral Division | Community | Other Places | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dixton with Osbaston | Monmouth (Town) (part) | Buckholt, Osbaston, Dixton, Dixton Road, Town Centre (part), Manson, Manson Cross, Leasbrook Lane, Newton Court | |
| Drybridge | Monmouth (Town) (part) | Ancrehill, Brook Estate | |
| Llanbadoc | Gwehelog Fawr and Llanbadoc | Glascoed, Gwehelog, Kemeys Commander, Llancayo, Monkswood, Rhadyr, Trostrey | |
| Llangybi Fawr | Llangybi, Llanhennock and Llantrisant Fawr | Coed y paen, Gwernesney, Newbridge-on-Usk, Llandegveth, Llanllowell, Llangybi, Llantrisant, Tredunnock | |
| Llantilio Crossenny | Llangattock-Vibon-Avel and Llantilio Crossenny | Bont, Caggle Street, Cross Ash, Llanvihangel-Ystern-Llewern, Norton, Rockfield, St. Maughans, Skenfrith, Tal-y-coed, Treadam, Walson | |
| Mitchel Troy | Mitchel Troy | Cwmcarvan, Dingestow, Jingle Street, Wonastow, Tregare, Lydart (part) | |
| Overmonnow | Monmouth (Town) (part) | Wonastow Road | |
| Raglan | Raglan | Coed-y-fedw, Kingcoed, Llandenny, Llangovan, Pen-y-clawdd, Twyn y Sheriff | |
| Trellech United | Trellech United | Catbrook, Hoop, Llandogo, Llanishen, Maryland, Penallt, The Narth, Treleck, Whitebrook | |
| Usk | Usk (Town) | ||
| Wyesham | Monmouth (Town) (part) | Wyesham, Hadnock, The Kymin |
Lower Wye area edit
| Electoral Division | Community | Other areas |
|---|---|---|
| Caerwent | Caerwent | Carrow Hill, Crick, Five Lanes, Llanvair Discoed, Trewen, St. Brides Netherwent, Carrow Hill, Highmoor Hill |
| Devauden | Devauden and Llangwm | Cobbler's Plain, Gaer Fawr, Howick, Itton, Llanfihangel Tor-y-Mynydd, Llangwm, Llansoy, Star Hill, Wolvesnewton |
| Larkfield | Chepstow (part) | Bulwark (part), High Beech, Hardwick Hill, Hardwick Court, Garden City (part) |
| St Arvans | St Arvans and Tintern | Barbadoes Green, Botany Bay, Chapel Hill, Porthcasseg, Parkhouse, The Cot |
| St Christopher's | Chepstow (part) | Bulwark (part), The Triangle |
| St Kingsmark | Chepstow (part) | St. Lawrence Park, The Danes, Bayfield Hamlet, The Bayfields, Crossway Green |
| St Mary's | Chepstow (part) | Chepstow Town Centre,Lower Chepstow, Garden City |
| Shirenewton | Mathern and Shirenewton | Bullyhole Bottom, Earlswood, Gaerllwyd, Mathern, Mounton, Mynydd-bach, Newton Green, Pwllmeyric, Pen-y-Cae Mawr, Haysgate |
| Thornwell | Chepstow (part) | Bulwark (part), Thornwell |
Severnside edit
| Electoral Division | Community | Other areas |
|---|---|---|
| Caldicot Castle | Caldicot (Town) (part) | |
| Dewstow | Caldicot (Town) (part) | |
| Green Lane | Caldicot (Town) (part) | |
| Mill | Magor with Undy (part) | Knollbury, Llandevenny, Magor |
| Portskewett | Portskewett | Ifton, Leechpool, Mount Ballan, Sudbrook |
| Rogiet | Rogiet | Llanfihangel Rogiet |
| Severn | Caldicot (Town) (part) | Deepweir |
| The Elms | Magor with Undy (part) | St. Bride's Netherwent, Undy, Vinegar Hill |
| West End | Caldicot (Town) (part) |
References edit
- ^ "Council minutes, 18 May 2023". Monmouthshire County Council. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
- ^ "Council minutes, 19 May 2022" (PDF). Monmouthshire County Council. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
- ^ "Top Torfaen officer to get Monmouthshire chief's job". South Wales Argus. 28 May 2009.
- ^ Civic Heraldry of Wales. Retrieved 8 January 2012
- ^ "Local Government Act 1888", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1888 c. 41, retrieved 8 October 2022
- ^ "Monmouthshire". Western Mail. Cardiff. 2 April 1889. p. 3. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
- ^ Cadw. "Shire Hall (including Queen's Chambers) (Grade II) (20528)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
- ^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 8 October 2022
- ^ "County Hall, Cwmbran". Coflein. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
- ^ "Local Government (Wales) Act 1994", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1994 c. 19, retrieved 8 October 2022
- ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- ^ "Council minutes". Monmouthshire County Council. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
- ^ "How your council operates". Monmouthshire County Council. Archived from the original on 20 August 2002. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
- ^ "Will power shift in council?". Free Press. 8 June 2004. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
- ^ Flynn, Lesley (21 May 2008). "'Stabbed in the back'". Free Press. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
- ^ Gill, Emily (14 May 2021). "Monmouthshire: Emotional Peter Fox closes "huge chapter" in his life as he stands down as council leader". Free Press. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
- ^ "Councillor Richard John announced as new Leader of Monmouthshire County Council", Monmouthshire County Council, 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021
- ^ a b Davies, Jon (19 May 2022). "Labour councillor elected first female Leader of Monmouthshire Council". Monmouthshire Beacon. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
- ^ "Your councillors by political grouping". Monmouthshire County Council. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
- ^ "Coalition with Greens strengthens Labour control in Monmouthshire", NationCymru, 19 May 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023
- ^ Barnes, Dan (6 May 2022). "Labour miss out on stealing Tory majority in Monmouthshire in coin toss". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ^ "Monmouthshire County Council Election Results 1995-2012" (PDF). electionscentre.co.uk.
- ^ "The County of Monmouthshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2002", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2002/3275, retrieved 8 October 2022
- ^ Monmouthshire County Council, "Election results at a glance". Retrieved 19 May 2012
- ^ "The County of Monmouthshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2021/1232, retrieved 8 October 2022
- ^ "Cwmbran County Hall demolition may need hole filling". BBC News. 27 October 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ Monmouthshire County Council press release, "This council is coming home", 12 January 2010 Archived 29 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Free Press, Plans for new Monmouthshire council HQ in Usk are approved, 29 September 2011
- ^ "Council buys new base in Magor". South Wales Argus. 9 May 2010.
- ^ "Council happy with 'Carry On' BBC documentary". Abergavenny Chronicle. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
- ^ Clare Gabriel (18 April 2013). "Monmouthshire Council: 'Agile' working means too few desks". BBC News. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ The County of Monmouthshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2002 (2002 No. 3275 (W.313))
- ^ Monmouthshire Council – Area Committees Archived 3 November 2005 at the Wayback Machine