City and County of Swansea Council

Swansea Council Cyngor Abertawe
Type
Type	Unitary authority
History
Founded	1 April 1996
Preceded by	West Glamorgan County Council
Leadership
Presiding Member	Cllr Des Thomas since 25 May 2017
Lord Mayor	Cllr Mark Child since 2020/21
Leader of the Council	Cllr Rob Stewart, Labour since 9 September 2014
Deputy Leaders	Cllr David Hopkins Cllr Andrea Lewis, Labour
Leader of the Opposition	Cllr Chris Holley, Liberal Democrats
Chief Executive	Phil Roberts
Structure
Seats	72 councillors[1][2]
Political groups	Administration (47)   Labour (47) Other parties (25)   Conservative (9)   Liberal Democrats (7)   Independent (3)   Independents @ Swansea (2)   Uplands (2)   Non-aligned (1)   Vacant (1)
Length of term	5 years
Elections
Voting system	First past the post
First election	4 May 1995
Last election	4 May 2017
Next election
Meeting place
Guildhall, Swansea
Website
www.swansea.gov.uk

The City and County of Swansea Council (Welsh: Cyngor Dinas a Sir Abertawe) is the governing body for one of the Principal Areas of Wales covering Swansea, Gower and the surrounding area. The council consists of 72 councillors representing 36 electoral wards.^[3]

Since 2012 the council has been controlled by the Labour Party.

Municipal history[]

Swansea's first charter was granted sometime between 1158-1184 by William de Newburgh, 3rd Earl of Warwick. The charter gave Swansea the status of a borough, granting the townsmen, called burgesses certain rights to develop the area. A second charter was granted in 1215 by King John. By 1888, the borough acquired the status of county borough, separating it from the administrative county of Glamorgan.

Swansea County Borough Council was created in 1889 and the first elections held in November of that year.

In 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, Swansea (which had previously been a county borough) was merged with Gower Rural District, to become a district of West Glamorgan called the District and City of Swansea. In 1996, another local government reform saw the district of Swansea merged with parts of the Lliw Valley district to form a unitary authority under the name of the 'City and County of Swansea' (Welsh: Dinas a Sir Abertawe.)

Political makeup[]

Elections have recently taken place every five years. The last election was 4 May 2017.

Current composition[]

The council is currently controlled by the Labour Party.^[4]

Group affiliation		Members
	Labour	48
	Conservative	8
	Independent	7
	Liberal Democrats	7
		2
Total		72

Historic results[]

Year	Total		Labour		Conservative		Liberal Democrats		Plaid Cymru		Other	Turnout	Notes
2017[5]	72	48		8		7		0		9			Labour controlled
2012[6][7]	72	49		4		12		0		7		33.97%	Labour controlled
2008[8]	72	30		4		23		1		14		38.19%	NOC, Swansea Administration controlled
2004[9][10]	72	32		4		19		5		12		38.32%	NOC, Swansea Administration controlled
1999	72	45		4		11		3		9			Labour controlled
1995	72	56		1		5		0		7			Labour controlled

Between 1996 and 2004, and since 2012 the council is under Labour control. Between 2004 and 2012 there was no overall control and the council was led by a Liberal Democrat coalition in alliance with the Independents and the Conservatives, termed the Swansea Administration. However these figures changed during the 2004-2008 period with the defection of Cllr. Keith Morgan from Plaid Cymru to the Welsh Liberal Democrats in 2005 and Cllr. Rene Kinzett from the Welsh Liberal Democrats to the Conservatives in 2006.

In September 2014, Cllr Rob Stewart took over leadership of the council, from Cllr David Phillips. Phillips resigned at the end of August, after 2 years leading the council.^[11]

Labour retained control at the 2017 elections despite predictions that the party would lose its majority.

Mayoralty[]

The Lord Mayor of Swansea (Welsh: Arglwydd Faer Abertawe) is a senior member of the elected Council. Swansea has had a Mayor since it became a borough in 1835. The dignity of Lord Mayor was conferred on the city by Queen Elizabeth II on 22 March 1982 to celebrate the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales. The status was confirmed on 1 April 1996 when the Unitary Authority of the City and County of Swansea came into being.

The style of the Lord Mayor is "The Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Swansea". The official residence is the Mansion House in Ffynone, which was originally built as the home of a previous mayor, Evan Matthew Richards. It was purchased by the then County Borough of Swansea in 1922 and renamed the Mansion House.

Lord Mayors of Swansea[]

Municipal Year	Mayor	Notes
2021–22	Mary Jones
2020–21	Mark Child
2019–20	Peter Black
2018–19	David Phillips
2017–18	Philip Downing
2016–17	David Hopkins [12]
2015–16	John Newbury [13]
2014–15	Ceinwen Thomas [14]
2013–14	June Stanton [15]
2012–13	Dennis James	died 20 April 2013
2011–12	Ioan Richard
2010–11	Richard Lewis
2009–10	Alan Lloyd
2008–09	Gareth Sullivan
2007–08	Susan Waller (Thomas)
2006–07	Christopher Holley
2005–06	Mair Gibbs
2004–05	Margaret Smith
2003–04	Lawrence Bailey
2002–03	June Burtonshaw
2001–02	Robert Francis-Davies
2000–01	John Davies
1999–2000	Robert J. Lloyd [16]
1998–99	David I. E. Jones [16]
1997–98	Gareth Williams[16]
1996–97	Desmond Thomas/Len Howell
1995–96	Grenville Phillips
1994–95	Walter Dyer
1993–94	Robert Davies
1992–93	Charles Birss
1991–92	Byron Owen
1990–91	Colin Hammacott
1989–90	Lorna Aldron
1988–89	Howard John Morgan
1987–88	Holland William Ayres
1986–87	Lilian Maud Hopkin	First female Lord Mayor
1985–86	Trevor Gordon Burtonshaw
1984–85	Michael Murphy
1983–84	Charles Thomas
1982–83	Tyssul Lewis
1982	Paul Valerio	First Lord Mayor of Swansea

• Undated : Cornelius Collins ;

Electoral divisions[]

The city is divided into 36 electoral wards. Most of these wards are coterminous with communities (parishes) of the same name. Each community can have an elected council. The following table lists council wards, communities and associated geographical areas. Communities with a community council are indicated with a '*':

Map #	Ward	Communities (Parishes)	Places covered	# Councillors	Population (*1)	Land Area (km²)	Population density (ppl/km²)
1	Bishopston	Bishopston*	Barland Common, Caswell, Bishopston, Clyne Common, Manselfield, Murton, Oldway	1	3,341	5.89	567
2	Bon-y-maen	Bon-y-maen	Pentrechwyth, Pentre Dwr,	2	6,342	8.47	749
3	Castle	Castle	Swansea city centre, Brynmelin, Dyfatty, Maritime Quarter, parts of Mount Pleasant and Sandfields	4	11,933	3.03	3,938
4	Clydach	Clydach*	Clydach, Faerdre, Glais (East) and Penydre	2	7,320	8.46	865
5	Cockett	Cockett	Cadle, Cwmdu, Coedweig, Gendros, Gors, Fforestfach, Waunarlwydd	4	12,586	8.6	1,464
6	Cwmbwrla	Cwmbwrla	Brondeg, Brynhyfryd, Cwmdu, Gendros, Manselton	3	8,217	1.5	5,478
7	Dunvant	Dunvant	Dunvant, Killay	2	4,679	2.41	1,941
8	Fairwood	Upper Killay*, Three Crosses ward of the community of Llanrhidian Higher*	Upper Killay, Three Crosses	1	2,774	13.44	206
9	Gorseinon	Gorseinon Central and Gorseinon East wards of the community of Gorseinon*	Gorseinon town	1	3,275	2.23	1,469
10	Gower	The Communities of: Ilston*, The community of Llangennith, Llanmadoc and Cheriton *, Llanrhidian Lower*, Penrice*, Port Eynon*, Reynoldston,* Rhossili*	Cheriton, Fairyhill, Horton, Knelston, Landimore, Llanddewi, Llangennith, Llanmadoc, Llanrhidian, Middleton, Nicholaston, Oldwalls, Overton, Oxwich Green, Oxwich, Parkmill, Penmaen, Penrice, Port Eynon, Reynoldston, Rhossili, Grovesend, Llanmorlais, Pentrebach, Pont-Lliw, Poundffald, Slade	1	3,654	113.2	32
11	Gowerton	Gowerton*	Gowerton village, Penclawdd, Waunarlwydd	1	4,928	7.55	653
12	Killay North	Killay* (North ward)	Carnglas, Olchfa and Waunarlwydd	1	3,436	1.99	1,727
13	Killay South	Killay* (South ward)	Dunvant, Ilston, Sketty	1	2,297	1.24	1,852
14	Kingsbridge	Llwchwr* (Garden Village and Kingsbridge wards)	Garden Village, Stafford Common	1	4,089	4.82	848
15	Landore	Landore	Hafod, Landore, Morfa, Plasmarl	2	6,121	2.23	2,745
16	Llangyfelach	Llangyfelach* Pontlliw*	Pantlasau, Tircoed	1	4,426	17.12	259
17	Llansamlet	Llansamlet, Birchgrove	Birchgrove, Glais, Heol Las, Llansamlet, Morriston, Talycoppa, Summerhill and	4	12,003	15.54	772
18	Lower Loughor	Llwchwr* (Lower Loughor ward)	Loughor	1	2,146	1.61	1,767
19	Mawr	Mawr*	Felindre, Craigcefnparc, Garnswllt, Ryhdypandy	1	1,800	57.81	31
20	Mayals	Mumbles* (Mayals ward)	Blackpill, Mayals, West Cross	1	2,834	4.52	627
21	Morriston	Morriston	Caemawr, Cwmrhydyceirw, Morriston town, Parc Gwernfadog, Pant-lasau, Ynysforgan and Ynystawe	5	16,781	7.32	2,292
22	Mynydd-Bach	Mynydd-Bach	Clase, Clasemont, Park View Estate, Penfillia Estate, Treboeth, Tirdeunaw, Pinewood, Mynydd Garnlywd and Bryn Rock	3	8,756	3.57	2,453
23	Newton	Mumbles* (Newton ward)	Caswell, Langland Bay	1	3,150	2.36	1,335
24	Oystermouth	Mumbles* (Oystermouth ward)	Norton, Mumbles, Thistleboon	1	4,315	2.01	2,147
25	Penclawdd	Llanrhidian Higher* (Llanmorlais and Penclawdd wards)	Blue Anchor, Llanmorlais, Penclawdd, Crofty and Wernffrwd	1	3,672	14.3	257
26	Penderry	Penderry	Penlan, Portmead, Blaen-y-Maes, Fforesthall and Caereithin	3	10,981	4.04	2,718
27	Penllergaer	Penllergaer*	Penllergaer and part of Gorseinon	1	2,434	6.01	405
28	Pennard	Pennard*	Bishopston, Fairwood Common, Kittle, Parkmill, Southgate	1	2,648	11.64	227
29	Penyrheol	Grovesend* Gorseinon* (Gorseinon West and Penyrheol wards)	Grovesend and Waun Gron	2	5,780	8.61	671
30	Pontarddulais	Pontarddulais*	Pontarddulais town	2	5,293	15.61	339
31	St. Thomas	St. Thomas	Bon-y-maen, Dan-y-graig, Landore, Port Tennant, SA1 Waterfront, Swansea Docks, Kilvey Hill and the Grenfell Park Area, St. Thomas	2	6,373	5.91	1,078
32	Sketty	Sketty	Carnglas, Clyne Valley (Gwerneinon), Derwen Fawr, Hendrefoilan, Killay, Singleton Park, Sketty village, Tycoch, Cwmgwyn	5	13,799	6.87	2,009
33	Townhill	Townhill	Cwm-Gwyn, Mayhill, Mount Pleasant, Townhill	3	8,443	1.8	4,691
34	Uplands	Uplands	Brynmill, St. Helens, Cwmgwyn, Ffynone and The Lons, Uplands	4	13,355	2.31	5,781
35	Upper Loughor	Llwchwr* (Upper Loughor ward)	Loughor	1	2,845	1.61	1,767
36	West Cross	Mumbles* (West Cross ward)	Manselfield, Norton, Mumbles and Newton, West Cross Remove Manselfield from the West Cross Ward. It is within the Bishopston Ward. As shown.	2	6,475	2.48	2,611

*1 - 2001 Census

Corporate identity[]

Logo[]

The logo of the City and County of Swansea depicts a stylised Osprey. It is shown with the name of the council written beneath it or beside it, both in Welsh (Cyngor Abertawe) and English (Swansea Council). An older version of the logo displayed the text written in a ring around the Osprey pictogram.

Coat of arms[]

The official coat of arms used by the council today were granted by the College of Arms in 1922. The motto is 'Floreat Swansea'.

The Arms are blazoned as follows:

Per Fess wavy Azure and barry wavy of six Argent, of the first a double-towered Castle or, in Chief on an Inescutcheon of the third a Lion passant guardant Gules; And for the Crest, On a Wreath of the Colours an Osprey rising holding in the Beak a Fish proper; Supporters: on the dexter side a Lion Gules gorged with a Mural Crown or, and on the sinister side a Dragon Gules gorged with a Mural Crown or'.

The Arms are symbolic to an extent: the blue and white wavy bars represent the sea, since Swansea is a port town; the Castle represents the Medieval fortifications of the Town; the lion as dexter supporter and on the Inescutcheon commemorates the link with the de Breos family; and the dragon as sinister supporter is the National Emblem of Wales and is a supporter in the Achievement of Arms of the present Lord Swansea.

In April 1974, the City of Swansea was merged with the Gower Rural District to form the new District and City of Swansea. The Arms granted to the Corporation of the County Borough of Swansea in 1922 were transferred unchanged to the new City Council in May 1975. The Certificate of Transfer of the College of Arms dated 11 March 1976 confirmed the re-granting of the Arms. With the 1996 reorganisation of local government, the arms were transferred a second time to the present City Council.^[17]

Local education authority[]

The council serves as the local education authority for schools based within the unitary authority area.

Council premises[]

• Civic Centre née County Hall
• Guildhall
• Mansion House
• Palace Theatre, Swansea

See also[]

• List of Parliamentary constituencies in West Glamorgan
• 1995 City and County of Swansea Council election
• 1999 City and County of Swansea Council election
• 2004 City and County of Swansea Council election
• 2008 City and County of Swansea Council election

References[]

External links[]

• Official website
• City and County of Swansea: Council Constitution