Wirral Council

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council, or simply Wirral 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]

Wirral Council
Type
Type
Metropolitan district
Leadership
Civic Mayor of Wirral
Cllr Tony Smith, Labour
since 13 May 2019
Leader of the Council
Cllr Pat Hackett, Labour
since 14 May 2019
Chief executive
Eric Robinson
since 6 February 2015
Structure
Seats66 councillors
Political groups
Administration
     Labour (32)
Other parties
     Conservative (21)
     Liberal Democrat (6)
     Green (3)
     Independent (3)
     Vacant (1)
Joint committees
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Length of term
4 years
Elections
First-past-the-post
First election
10 May 1973
Last election
2 May 2019
Next election
7 May 2020
Meeting place
Wallasey Town Hall, Wallasey
Website
www.wirral.gov.uk

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 until 2019.
  • 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.
  • 2019 Council falls under No Overall Control, first net gain for the Liberal Democrats since 2008.

Council leadership

Leader of the Council and Cabinet
Office(s)PartyCouncillorCurrent PortfolioEntered cabinetWardRef
Leader of the Council;
Overall strategic direction of Council		 Labour Pat Hackett 14 May 2019 14 May 2019 New Brighton [2]
Deputy Leader of the Council; The Local Plan Labour Anita Leech 14 May 2019 15 August 2018 Leasowe and Moreton East [3]
Adult care, health and wellbeing Labour Chris Jones 14 May 2019 ? Seacombe [4]
Children, families and education Labour Tom Usher 14 May 2019 14 May 2019 Liscard [5]
Community Services Labour Julie McManus 14 May 2019 14 May 2019 Bidston and St James [6]
Environment and climate change Labour Elizabeth Grey 14 May 2019 14 May 2019 Bidston and St James [7]
Finance and Resources Labour Janette Williamson 15 May 2018 ? Liscard [8]
Housing and Planning Labour Stuart Whittingham 14 May 2019 ? Upton [9]
Regeneration and Growth Labour Tony Jones 14 May 2019 14 May 2019 New Brighton [10]
Culture and Tourism Labour Christine Spriggs 14 May 2019 14 May 2019 New Brighton [11]
Source: Wirral Council[12]

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 [13]
Deputy Leader of Conservative Group Conservative Lesley Rennie ? Wallasey [14]
Environment Conservative Adam Sykes ? Clatterbridge [15]

Mayor of Wirral
Main article: Mayor of Wirral

The Mayor of Wirral (or Civic Mayor of Wirral) is a ceremonial post elected annually, along with a deputy, by Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.[16] 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 Tony Smith and George Davies.[17]

Wards and councillors

Each ward is represented by three councillors.[18]

Parliamentary constituencyWardCouncillorPartyTerm of office
Birkenhead Bidston and St James Liz Grey Labour 2018–22
Brian Kenny Labour 2019–23
Julie McManus Labour 2016–20
Birkenhead and Tranmere Pat Cleary Green 2018–22
Steve Hayes Green 2019–23
Jean Stapleton Labour 2016–20
Claughton Gillian Wood Labour 2018–22
Steve Foulkes Labour 2019–23
George Davies Labour 2016–20
Oxton Allan Brame Liberal Democrats 2018–22
Andy Corkhill Liberal Democrats 2019–23
Stuart Kelly Liberal Democrats 2016–20
Prenton Samantha Frost Labour 2018–22
Chris Cooke Green 2019–23
Tony Norbury Labour 2016–20
Rock Ferry Moira McLaughlin Independent [n 1] 2018–22
Yvonne Nolan Labour 2019–23
Bill Davies Independent [n 2] 2016–20
Wallasey Leasowe and Moreton East Sharon Jones Labour 2018–22
Karl Greaney Labour 2019–23
Anita Leech Labour 2016–20
Liscard Janette Williamson Labour 2018–22
Sarah Spoor Labour 2019–23
Thomas Usher Labour 2016–20
Moreton West and Saughall Massie Bruce Berry Conservative 2018–22
Steve Williams Conservative 2019–23
Vacant – [n 3] –
New Brighton Christine Spriggs Labour 2018–22
Pat Hackett Labour 2019–23
Tony Jones Labour 2016–20
Seacombe Adrian Jones Labour 2018–22
Chris Jones Labour 2019–23
Paul Stuart Labour 2016–20
Wallasey Lesley Rennie Conservative 2018–22
Paul Hayes Conservative 2019–23
Ian Lewis Conservative 2016–20
Wirral South Bebington Tony Cottier Labour 2018–22
Jerry Williams Labour 2019–23
Christina Muspratt Labour 2016–20
Bromborough Irene Williams Labour 2018–22
Joe Walsh Labour 2019–23
Jo Bird Labour Co-op 2018–20
Clatterbridge Mary Jordon Conservative 2018–22
Helen Cameron Conservative 2019–23
Cherry Povall JP Conservative 2016–20
Eastham Chris Carubia Liberal Democrats 2018–22
Dave Mitchell Liberal Democrats 2019–23
Phil Gilchrist Liberal Democrats 2016–20
Heswall Les Rowlands Conservative 2018–22
Andrew Hodson Conservative 2019–23
Kathy Hodson Conservative 2016–20
Wirral West Greasby, Frankby and Irby Wendy Clements Conservative 2018–22
David Burgess-Joyce Conservative 2019–23
Tom Anderson Conservative 2016–20
Hoylake and Meols Tony Cox Conservative 2018–22
Alison Wright Conservative 2019–23
Andrew Gardner Conservative 2018–20
Pensby and Thingwall Kate Cannon Labour 2018–22
Mike Collins Conservative 2019–23
Michael Sullivan Independent [n 4] 2016–20
Upton Stuart Whittingham Labour 2018–22
Tony Smith Labour 2019–23
Jean Robinson Labour 2018–20
West Kirby and Thurstaston Jeff Green Conservative 2018–22
Jenny Johnson Conservative 2019–23
Geoffrey Watt Conservative 2016–20

Political makeup

Only four parties have won seats to Council: Conservative, Green, Labour and Liberal Democrat (and its predecessors). All other political representation has come via changes in affiliation.

Year Con Green Lab Lib Dem Other Ref
1973 29 0 24 13 0 [23]
1974 29 0 24 13 0
1975 36 0 21 9 0
37 0 21 8 0
1976 42 0 18 6 0
1977 42 0 18 6 0
1978 45 0 16 5 0
1979 40 0 20 6 0
1980 37 0 23 6 0
1981 37 0 23 6 0
1982 35 0 25 6 0
1983 34 0 24 8 0
1984 34 0 24 8 0
1985 34 0 24 8 0
1986 30 0 26 10 0
1987 29 0 27 10 0
1988 24 0 32 10 0
24 0 29 10 3
1989 24 0 29 10 3
1990 23 0 33 7 3
23 0 33 8 2
1991 24 0 34 7 1
1992 29 0 31 6 0
1993 29 0 31 6 0
1994 30 0 30 6 0
28 0 30 8 0
1995 22 0 36 8 0
1996 16 0 41 9 0
1997 16 0 41 9 0
1998 16 0 41 8 1
16 0 42 8 0 [24]
1999 17 0 39 10 0 [23]
2000 20 0 34 12 0
2001 20 0 34 12 0
20 0 33 12 1 [25]
2002 20 0 32 12 2
20 0 31 14 1 [26]
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]
21 0 25 19 1 [33]
20 0 25 19 2 [34]
2008 24 0 21 20 1 [35]
2009 25 0 20 20 1 [36]
2010 27 0 24 15 0 [37]
2011 27 0 29 10 0 [38]
27 0 30 9 0 [39]
2012 22 0 37 7 0 [40]
2013 23 0 36 7 0 [41]
22 0 37 7 0 [42]
22 0 37 6 1 [43]
2014 21 1 38 6 0 [44]
2015 21 1 39 5 0 [45]
2016 21 1 38 5 1 [46]
21 1 39 5 0 [47]
2017 21 1 39 5 0
2018 21 1 39 5 0 [48]
21 1 38 5 1 [22]
21 1 37 5 2 [49]
2019 21 1 36 5 3 [50]
21 1 35 5 4 [20]
21 1 34 5 5 [51]
22 3 32 6 3 [52]

Leaders
Further information: Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council elections

Leaders and control

Since the first election to the council in 1973 political control of the council has been held by the following parties:[53]

Portrait 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 (May – Oct) No Overall Control
Hung 1986–1990
 Yvonne Nolan 1990–1991
 George Clark 1991–1992 Labour
Hung 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 2012–2019 Labour
 Pat Hackett 2019–present No Overall Control

Party leaders
By size of group, current Party leaders Hackett, Lewis, Gilchrist and Cleary
Year Con Green Lab Lib Dem
1973 Bill Whitehurst Not Represented Bill Wells Gruff Evans
1974
Malcolm Thornton
1977
Harry Deverill Gordon Lindsay
1978
Richard Kimberley
1979
Roy Perkins
1980
David Fletcher Andrew Smith
1983
George Clark
1985
John Hale
1986
Peter Corcoran
1988
Ed Cunniffe
1990
Gordon Lindsay
Yvonne Nolan
1991
George Clark
1992
Dave Jackson
1993
Phil Gilchrist
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
2019
Pat Hackett

Notes
  1. Resigned the Labour whip in October 2018.[19]
  2. Resigned the Labour whip in March 2019.[20]
  3. Conservative councillor Chris Blakeley died on 15 January 2020.[21] His seat will be filled at the next local election.
  4. Resigned the Labour whip in August 2018.[22]

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 Pat Hackett". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  3. "Councillor Anita Leech". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  4. "Councillor Chris Jones". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  5. "Councillor Thomas Usher". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  6. "Councillor Julie McManus". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  7. "Councillor Liz Grey". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  8. "Councillor Janette Williamson". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  9. "Councillor Stuart Whittingham". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  10. "Councillor Tony Jones". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  11. "Councillor Christine Spriggs". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  12. "Cabinet members 2019-20". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  13. "Councillor Ian Lewis". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  14. "Councillor Lesley Rennie". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  15. "Councillor Adam Sykes". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  16. "Mayor of Wirral". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  17. Brace, John. "Cllr Geoffrey Watt elected Mayor of Wirral for 2018-19". Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  18. "Your Councillors by Ward". www.wirral.gov.uk. Wirral Council. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  19. "Senior Labour politician quits party after 40 years citing 'absolute aggression' from a 'hard-left clique'". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  20. Houghton, Tom (18 March 2019). "Labour Councillor of more than 30 years latest to quit party and slam 'hard-left' takeover". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  21. Morgan, George (16 January 2020). "Heartfelt tributes follow the death of Wirral councillor Chris Blakeley". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  22. "Wirral councillor quits party blaming hard left 'parasites'". Labour Uncut. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  23. "Council compositions". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  24. "Lib Dem councillor switches sides". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  25. "Second councillor quits". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 26 December 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. "Councillors also have a 'third duty'".
  34. "Another one bites the dust". Wirral Globe.
  35. "Election Result for 1 May 2008 2002". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  36. "BREAKING NEWS: Labour councillor Denis Knowles quits and joins Tories at Wallasey Town Hall". Wirral Globe.
  37. "Election Result for 6 May 2010". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  38. "Election Result for 5 May 2011". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  39. "Wirral Lib Dem Steve Niblock defects to Labour Party". BBC News.
  40. "Election Result for 3 May 2012". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  41. "Conservative victory in Wirral by-elections". Wirral Globe.
  42. "UPDATED: Labour victory in Wirral Council by-election". Wirral Globe.
  43. "Wirral councillor Mark Johnson quits Liberal Democrat Party". Liverpool Echo.
  44. "Election Result for 22 May 2014". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  45. "Election Result for 7 May 2015". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  46. "Seven things to talk about after the Wirral local elections". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  47. "Election results by party, Local election - Thursday, 5th May 2016". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  48. "Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Election 2018 Results". BBC News.
  49. "Senior Labour politician quits party after 40 years citing 'absolute aggression' of 'hard-left clique'". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  50. Houghton, Tom (12 February 2019). "Yet ANOTHER top Labour politician quits party - blaming 'hard-left' takeover". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  51. Houghton, Tom (10 April 2019). "Wirral politician booted out of Labour after campaigning for rival party". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  52. "Composition of Wirral Council following the local elections on Thursday 2 May 2019". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 3 May 2019. Archived from the original on 23 June 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  53. "Wirral". BBC News Online. 19 April 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
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