Wirral Council

Wirral Council
Arms of Wirral Council
Wirral Council logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Cllr Geoffrey Watt, Conservative
Since 14 May 2018
Cllr Tony Smith, Labour
Since 14 May 2018
Leader of the Council
Cllr Phil Davies, Labour
Since 21 May 2012
Leader of the Opposition
Cllr Ian Lewis, Conservative
Since 8 May 2017
Structure
Seats 66 councillors
Wirral Council composition
Political groups
Administration
     Labour (37)
Other parties
     Conservative (21)
     Liberal Democrat (5)
     Green (1)
     Independent (1)
     Vacant (1)
Joint committees
 Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Length of term
 4 years
Elections
First-past-the-post
Last election
 3 May 2018
Next election
 2 May 2019
Meeting place
Wallasey Town Hall, Wallasey
Website
www.wirral.gov.uk

Wirral Council, formerly Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council is the local authority of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is a metropolitan district council, one of five in Merseyside and one of 36 in the metropolitan counties of England, and provides the majority of local government services in Wirral. It is a constituent council of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.[1]

History

The current local authority was first elected in 1973, a year before formally coming into its powers and prior to the creation of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral on 1 April 1974. The council gained borough status, entitling it to be known as Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.

Timeline

  • 1973 First election.
  • 1974 Metropolitan borough of Wirral established.
  • 1975 Conservatives take control of council.
  • 1986 Council falls under No Overall Control.
  • 1991 Labour take control of the council for the first time.
  • 1992 Council falls under No Overall Control.
  • 1995 Labour take control of the council.
  • 2002 Council falls under No Overall Control.
  • 2005/06 Cllr Hilary Jones (Hoylake and Meols) becomes UKIP's first (and last) representation on the council. Elected as a Conservative (later resigning the whip in 2004).
  • 2008 Last Liberal Democrat gain.
  • 2011 Liberal Democrat leader, and then Deputy Leader of the council, Simon Holbrook loses his Prenton seat to Labour's Paul Doughty after 12 years as a councillor.
  • 2012 Labour take control of the council.
  • 2013 Last Conservative Gain in Leasowe and Moreton East by-election (lost in the following years election).
  • 2014 Greens make first gain in Wirral with Pat Cleary ousting Labour's, then cabinet member for the environment, Brian Kenny in their traditionally safe seat of Birkenhead and Tranmere.
  • 2015 Last Labour gain.

Council leadership

Civic leadership

Office(s)PartyCouncillorTerm startWardRef
Civic Mayor Conservative Geoffrey Watt 14 May 2018 West Kirby and Thurstaston [2]
Deputy Civic Mayor Labour Tony Smith 14 May 2018 Upton [3]

Leader of the Council and Cabinet

Office(s)PartyCouncillorTerm startWardRef
Leader of the Council,
Strategic Direction		 Labour Phil Davies 21 May 2012 Birkenhead and Tranmere [4]
Deputy Leader of the Council,
Housing and Planning		 Labour George Davies ? Claughton [5]
Jobs and Growth Labour Angela Davies 15 May 2018 Prenton [6]
Law and Order Labour Paul Stuart 15 May 2018 Seacombe [7]
Highways and Transport Labour Stuart Whittingham ? Upton [8]
Leisure and Recreation Labour Phillip Brightmore 15 May 2018 Pensby and Thingwall [9]
Environment Labour Matthew Patrick 15 May 2018 Upton [10]
Financial Resources Labour Janette Williamson 15 May 2018 Liscard [11]
Children and Families Labour Bernie Mooney ? Liscard [12]
Social Care and Health Labour Chris Jones ? Seacombe [13]

[14] [15] [16]

Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Cabinet

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Role(s)PartyCouncillorTerm startWardRef
Leader of the Opposition,
Leader of Conservative Group		 Conservative Ian Lewis 8 May 2017 Wallasey [17]
Deputy Leader of Conservative Group Conservative Lesley Rennie ? Wallasey [18]
Environment Conservative Adam Sykes ? Clatterbridge [19]

Wards and councillors

Each ward is represented by three councillors.[20]

Parliamentary constituencyWardCouncillorPartyTerm of office
Birkenhead Bidston and St James Liz Grey Labour 2018–22
Brian Kenny Labour 2015–19
Julie McManus Labour 2016–20
Birkenhead and Tranmere Pat Cleary Green 2018–22
Phil Davies Labour 2015–19
Jean Stapleton Labour 2016–20
Claughton Gillian Wood Labour 2018–22
Steve Foulkes Labour 2015–19
George Davies Labour 2016–20
Oxton Allan Brame Liberal Democrat 2018–22
Paul Doughty Labour 2015–19
Stuart Kelly Liberal Democrat 2016–20
Prenton Samantha Frost Labour 2018–22
Angela Davies Labour 2015–19
Tony Norbury Labour Co-op 2016–20
Rock Ferry Moira McLaughlin Labour 2018–22
Chris Meaden Labour 2015–19
Bill Davies Labour 2016–20
Wallasey Leasowe and Moreton East Sharon Jones Labour 2018–22
Ron Abbey Labour 2015–19
Anita Leech Labour 2016–20
Liscard Janette Williamson Labour 2018–22
Bernie Mooney Labour 2015–19
Thomas Usher Labour 2016–20
Moreton West and Saughall Massie Bruce Berry Conservative 2018–22
Steve Williams Conservative 2015–19
Chris Blakeley Conservative 2016–20
New Brighton Christine Spriggs Labour 2018–22
Pat Hackett Labour 2015–19
Tony Jones Labour 2016–20
Seacombe Adrian Jones Labour 2018–22
Chris Jones Labour 2015–19
Paul Stuart Labour 2016–20
Wallasey Lesley Rennie Conservative 2018–22
Paul Hayes Conservative 2015–19
Ian Lewis Conservative 2016–20
Wirral South Bebington Tony Cottier Labour 2018–22
Jerry Williams Labour 2015–19
Christina Muspratt Labour 2016–20
Bromborough Irene Williams Labour 2018–22
Joe Walsh Labour 2015–19
Jo Bird Labour Co-op 2018–20
Clatterbridge Mary Jordon Conservative 2018–22
Adam Sykes Conservative 2015–19
Cherry Povall JP Conservative 2016–20
Eastham Chris Carubia Liberal Democrat 2018–22
Dave Mitchell Liberal Democrat 2015–19
Phil Gilchrist Liberal Democrat 2016–20
Heswall Les Rowlands Conservative 2018–22
Andrew Hodson Conservative 2015–19
Kathy Hodson Conservative 2016–20
Wirral West Greasby, Frankby and Irby Wendy Clements Conservative 2018–22
David Burgess-Joyce Conservative 2015–19
Tom Anderson Conservative 2016–20
Hoylake and Meols Tony Cox Conservative 2018–22
Gerry Ellis Conservative 2015–19
Andrew Gardner Conservative 2018–20
Pensby and Thingwall Kate Cannon Labour 2018–22
Phillip Brightmore Labour 2015–19
Michael Sullivan Independent[n 1] 2016–20
Upton Stuart Whittingham Labour 2018–22
Tony Smith Labour 2015–19
Matthew Patrick Labour 2016–20
West Kirby and Thurstaston Jeff Green Conservative 2018–22
David M Elderton Conservative 2015–19
Geoffrey Watt Conservative 2016–20

Mayor of Wirral

The Mayor of Wirral (or Civic Lord Mayor of Wirral) is a ceremonial post elected annually, along with a deputy, by Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.[22] The role of the mayor includes chairing council meetings, representing the Borough at civic functions, supporting local charities and conferring Honorary Freemen and Aldermen.

The incumbent mayor and deputy mayor are Geoffrey Watt and Tony Smith.[23]

Political control

Since the first election to the council in 1973 political control of the council has been held by the following parties:[24]

Leaders and Control

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Name Years Control
Bill Whitehurst 1973–1974 No Overall Control
Malcolm Thornton 1974–1975
1975–1977 Conservative
Harry Deverill 1977–1980
David Fletcher 1980–1985
John Hale 1985–1986
? 1986–1988 No Overall Control
1988–1990 Labour
1990–1991 No Overall Control
1991–1992 Labour
1992–1995 No Overall Control
Dave Jackson 1995–2000 Labour
Steve Foulkes 2000–2002
2002–2010 No Overall Control
Jeff Green 2010–2011
Steve Foulkes 2011–2012
Jeff Green 2012 (Feb – May)
Phil Davies 2012–present Labour

Party Leaders

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Year Party
Conservative Green Labour SDP–Liberal
Lib Dem
1973 ? Not Represented ? Gruff Evans
1977
?
1980
John Hale
1993
Phil Gilchrist
1995
Dave Jackson
2000
Steve Foulkes
2001
Stuart Kelly
2002
Jeff Green
2007
Simon Holbrook
2011
Tom Harney
2012
Phil Davies
2013
Phil Gilchrist
2014
Pat Cleary
2017
Ian Lewis

Wirral Borough Council composition

Year Party Ref
Conservative Green Labour SDP–Liberal Other
Lib Dem
1973 29 0 24 13 0 [25]
1974
1975 35 0 21 9 0
1976 42 0 18 6 0
1977
1978 45 0 16 5 0
1978 40 0 20 6 0
1980 37 0 23 6 0
1981
1982 35 0 25 6 0
1983 34 0 24 8 0
1984
1985
1986 30 0 26 10 0
1987 29 0 27 10 0
1988 22 0 34 10 0
1989
1990 23 0 33 7 3
1991 24 0 34 7 1
1992 29 0 31 6 0
1993
1994 28 0 30 8 0
1995 22 0 36 8 0
1996 16 0 41 9 0
1997
1998 16 0 41 8 1
1999 17 0 39 10 0
2000 20 0 34 12 0
2001
2002 20 0 32 12 2 [26]
20 0 31 14 1
2003 23 0 26 16 1 [27]
2004 21 0 26 19 0 [28]
20 0 26 19 1 [29]
2005 21 0 26 18 1 [30]
2006 21 0 26 19 0 [31]
2007 21 0 25 20 0 [32]
20 0 25 20 1 [33]
2008 20 0 25 19 2 [34]
24 0 21 20 1
2009 25 0 20 20 1 [35]
2010 27 0 24 15 0 [36]
2011 27 0 29 10 0 [37]
27 0 30 9 0 [38]
2012 22 0 37 7 0 [39]
2013 23 0 36 7 0 [40]
22 0 37 7 0 [41]
22 0 37 6 1 [42]
2014 21 1 38 6 0 [43]
2015 21 1 39 5 0 [44]
2016 21 1 38 5 1 [45]
21 1 39 5 0 [46]
2017 [47]
2018 [48]
[49]
21 1 38 5 1 [50]

Notes

  1. ↑ Mike Suillvan resigned the Labour whip in August 2018 citing extremist parasites who had infiltrated the party.[21]

References

  1. ↑ "Proposal to establish a combined authority for Greater Merseyside" (PDF). Department for Communities and Local Government. November 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  2. ↑ "Councillor Geoffrey Watt". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  3. ↑ "Councillor Tony Smith". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  4. ↑ "Councillor Phil Davies". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  5. ↑ "Councillor George Davies". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  6. ↑ "Councillor Angela Davies". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  7. ↑ "Councillor Paul Stuart". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  8. ↑ "Councillor Stuart Whittingham". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  9. ↑ "Councillor Phillip Brightmore". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  10. ↑ "Councillor Matthew Patrick". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  11. ↑ "Councillor Janette Williamson". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  12. ↑ "Councillor Bernie Mooney". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  13. ↑ "Councillor Chris Jones". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  14. ↑ "Cabinet". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  15. ↑ "All change in Wirral Council's top team as roles are axed and member dropped". Liverpool Echo.
  16. ↑ "Committee details, Cabinet". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  17. ↑ "Councillor Ian Lewis". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  18. ↑ "Councillor Lesley Rennie". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  19. ↑ "Councillor Adam Sykes". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  20. ↑ "Your Councillors by Ward". www.wirral.gov.uk. Wirral Council. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  21. ↑ "Wirral councillor quits party blaming hard left 'parasites'". Labour Uncut. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  22. ↑ "Mayor of Wirral". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  23. ↑ Brace, John. "Cllr Geoffrey Watt elected Mayor of Wirral for 2018-19". Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  24. ↑ "Wirral". BBC News Online. 2008-04-19. Retrieved 2009-11-27.
  25. ↑ "Council compositions". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  26. ↑ "Local Election - 02 May 2002". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  27. ↑ "Local Election - 01 May 2003". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  28. ↑ "Local Election - 10 June 2004". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  29. ↑ "'No respect for mayor'". Wirral Globe.
  30. ↑ "Why I jumped ship to join the Tories". Wirral Globe.
  31. ↑ "Local Election - 4 May 2006". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  32. ↑ "Local Election - 03 May 2007". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  33. ↑ "Another one bites the dust". Wirral Globe.
  34. ↑ "Election Result for 1 May 2008 2002". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  35. ↑ "BREAKING NEWS: Labour councillor Denis Knowles quits and joins Tories at Wallasey Town Hall". Wirral Globe.
  36. ↑ "Election Result for 6 May 2010". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  37. ↑ "Election Result for 5 May 2011". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  38. ↑ "Wirral Lib Dem Steve Niblock defects to Labour Party". BBC News.
  39. ↑ "Election Result for 3 May 2012". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  40. ↑ "Conservative victory in Wirral by-elections". Wirral Globe.
  41. ↑ "UPDATED: Labour victory in Wirral Council by-election". Wirral Globe.
  42. ↑ "Wirral councillor Mark Johnson quits Liberal Democrat Party". Liverpool Echo.
  43. ↑ "Election Result for 22 May 2014". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  44. ↑ "Election Result for 7 May 2015". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  45. ↑ "Seven things to talk about after the Wirral local elections 2015". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  46. ↑ "Councillors". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  47. ↑ "Labour keeps control of Claughton in by-election". Wirral Globe.
  48. ↑ "Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Election 2018 Results". BBC News.
  49. ↑ "Election results for Bromborough Local by-election - Thursday, 23rd August 2018". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  50. ↑ "Wirral councillor quits party blaming hard left 'parasites'". Labour Uncut. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
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