Walsall Council

Walsall Council, formerly Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council was created in 1974 to administer the newly formed Metropolitan Borough of Walsall.

Walsall Council
Type
Type	Metropolitan district
Leadership
Mayor of Walsall	Cllr Paul Bott, Labour since 22 May 2019
Leader of the Council	Cllr Mike Bird FICM, Conservative since 11 August 2014
Chief Executive	Dr Helen Paterson since 1 November 2017
Structure
Seats	60 councillors
Political groups	Administration (32) [1]      Conservative (32) Opposition (28)      Labour (26)      Liberal Democrat (2)
Length of term	4 years
Elections
Voting system	First past the post
Last election	2 May 2019
Next election	7 May 2020
Meeting place
Walsall Council House
Website
walsall.gov.uk

The Metropolitan Borough of Walsall is based on an amalgamation of two former local government districts, Walsall County Borough and Aldridge-Brownhills Urban District. Both areas had previously seen major changes in 1966, with Walsall County Borough being expanded to cover areas formerly administered by the Municipal Boroughs of Bilston and Wednesbury, as well as the Urban Districts of Coseley, Darlaston, Willenhall and Wednesfield. However, in all cases only parts of those areas were transferred into the County Borough, with other areas being moved into different authorities.[2] Aldridge-Brownhills Urban District was created from the majority of the former Urban Districts of Aldridge and Brownhills, along with some smaller areas from other local authorities.

Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council was assessed by the Audit Commission in 2008 and judged to be "improving well" in providing services for local people. Overall the council was awarded "three star" status meaning it was "performing well" and "consistently above minimum requirements", similar to 46% of all local authorities.[3]

The council offices are located at the Civic Centre in the heart of Walsall. Elections to the council take place in three out of every four years, with one-third of the seats being contested at each election. Between its formation in 1974 and the 2003 election, the council varied between control by the Labour Party, and where no one party had an overall majority. From 2003 to the 2011 election the Conservative Party then held a majority of councillors.[4] However, in 2011 Labour made eight gains, including 5 from the Conservatives and as a result the council came under no overall control,[5] with the Conservatives continuing as a minority administration.[6]

During 2018, the number of councillors held by the Conservative group (30) exactly matches the number held by Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Independents combined (30). Therefore the re-appointed mayor used his deciding vote in favour of the Conservatives.[7] As of January 2020 the Conservatives have an overall majority of councillors (32 of the 60 seats) and therefore run a majority administration.