Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council

Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council

Bwrdeistref Sirol Castell-nedd Port Talbot
Logo
History
Founded1 April 1996
Preceded byWest Glamorgan County Council
Port Talbot
Neath
Lliw Valley (part)
Leadership
Wayne Carpenter,
Independent
since 8 May 2025[1][2]
Steve Hunt,
Independent
since 7 June 2022
Frances O’Brien
since November 2024[3]
Structure
Seats60 councillors[4]
Political groups
Administration (28)
  Independent (17)
  Plaid Cymru (11)
Other parties (32)
  Labour (26)
  Liberal Democrats (3)
  Green (1)
  Independent (2)
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
Meeting place
Civic Centre, Port Talbot, SA13 1PJ
Website
www.npt.gov.uk

Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council (or simply Neath Port Talbot Council) is the local authority for the county borough of Neath Port Talbot, one of the 22 principal areas of Wales. The council is based at the Civic Centre in Port Talbot. The council was controlled by the Labour Party from its creation in 1996 until 2022, when Plaid Cymru and a group of independent councillors agreed to share power.

History

The county borough and its council were created on 1 April 1996 under the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994. The borough covered the combined area of the two former districts of Port Talbot and Neath, as well as a smaller area from Lliw Valley (the majority of which went to Swansea). The new council also took over county-level responsibilities in the area from the abolished West Glamorgan County Council. The 1994 Act originally specified that the borough should be called "Neath and Port Talbot".[5] The new authority was elected in 1995, but acted as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing county and district councils until the new arrangements took effect the following year. During that time, the shadow authority requested a change of name from "Neath and Port Talbot" to "Neath Port Talbot". The government confirmed the change with effect from 2 April 1996, one day after the new council came into being.[6]

Political control

Since the 2022 election, the council has been under no overall control. On 23 May 2022, it was announced that a coalition between the Plaid Cymru and Independent groups would lead the council.[7] The Liberal Democrats and Green Party members would support the coalition via a confidence and supply agreement. Independent councillor Steve Hunt became the new leader of council, with Plaid Cymru councillor Alun Llewelyn as the new deputy leader.[8]

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 as follows:[9]

Party in control Years
Labour 1996–2022
No overall control 2022–present

Leadership

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Neath Port Talbot. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The first leader, Noel Crowley, had been the last leader of the old Port Talbot Borough Council.[10] The leaders since 1996 have been:

Councillor Party From To
Noel Crowley[11][12] Labour 1 Apr 1996 Jun 2004
Derek Vaughan[13][14] Labour 25 Jun 2004 May 2009
Ali Thomas[15][16] Labour 15 May 2009 May 2017
Rob Jones[17][18][19] Labour 26 May 2017 6 Mar 2021
Ted Latham[20][21] Labour 17 Mar 2021 May 2022
Steve Hunt[22] Independent 7 Jun 2022

Composition

Following the 2022 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to July 2025, the composition of the council was:[23]

Party Councillors
Labour 26
Independent 19
Plaid Cymru 11
Liberal Democrats 3
Green 1
Total 60

As of July 2025, seventeen of the independent councillors sit together as the "Independent Group", which forms the council's administration with Plaid Cymru. One independent sits with the Liberal Democrats as the "Coedffranc Liberal & Independent" group, and the other independent does not belong to a group.[24] The next election is due in 2027.[23]

Elections

Elections take place every five years, electing sixty councillors. The last election was 5 May 2022.[25]

Year Seats Labour Plaid Cymru Independent Liberal Democrats Green Others Notes
1995[26] 65 52 3 8 2 0 0 Labour majority control
1999 64 40 10 7 2 0 5 Labour majority control
2004 64 36 10 7 2 0 9 Labour majority control
2008 64 37 11 9 4 0 3 Labour majority control
2012 64 52 8 4 0 0 0 Labour majority control
2017 64 43 15 5 1 0 0 Labour majority control
2022 60 27 12 18 2 1 0 No overall control; Independent / Plaid Cymru coalition[8]

Party with the most elected councillors in bold. Coalition agreements in notes column.

Premises

The council's main offices are at the Civic Centre in Port Talbot, which had been built in 1987 for the former Port Talbot Borough Council.[27][28] Other offices are located at the New Neath Civic Centre, and The Quays in Baglan Bay.

When created in 1996, the council also inherited the former Neath Civic Centre, which was subsequently demolished in 2008 to make way for a retail development.[29]

Electoral wards

Pre-2022 electoral wards in Neath Port Talbot

Following a 2021 local government boundary review, the number of electoral wards dropped from 42 to 34, with the number of elected councillors reducing from 64 to 60, effective from the 2022 local elections.[30]

Prior to this, the county borough was divided into 42 wards, listed below, returning a total of 64 councillors. Some of these wards are coterminous with communities (parishes) of the same name. There are 19 community councils in the county borough area. The following table lists council wards, communities and associated geographical areas. Communities with a community council are indicated with a '*':

Ward Communities (Parishes) Places covered
Aberavon Aberavon
Aberdulais Blaenhonddan* (Aberdulais and Cilfrew wards) Cilfrew
Allt-Wen Cilybebyll* (Allt-Wen ward) Cilhendre, Trebanos
Baglan Baglan and Baglan Bay Baglan Moor
Blaengwrach Blaengwrach* and Glynneath Town* (West Central ward) Cwmgwrach
Briton Ferry East Briton Ferry Town* (Craig-y-darren and Cwrt Sart wards) Goytre
Briton Ferry West Briton Ferry Town* (Brynhyfryd and Shelone Wood wards) Giant's Grave
Bryn and Cwmavon Bryn and Cwmafan Brynbryddan, Pontrhydyfen
Bryncoch North Blaenhonddan* (Bryn-côch North ward)
Bryncoch South Blaenhonddan* (Bryn-côch South ward)
Cadoxton Blaenhonddan* (Cadoxton ward) Cilfrew
Cimla Neath* Town (Cefn Saeson and Crynallt wards) Cefn Saeson, Cimla
Coedffranc Central Coedffranc* (East Central and Central wards) Skewen, Caewathen
Coedffranc North Coedffranc* (North ward) Birchgrove, Moore Town, Longford, Skewen
Coedffranc West Coedffranc* (West and West Central wards) Coed Darcy, Crymlyn Bog, Crymlyn Burrows, Pant y Sais, Jersey Marine, Llandarcy, Skewen
Crynant Crynant* Tre-Forgan
Cwmllynfell Cwmllynfell* Bryn-Melyn, Pen Rhiw-fawr,
Cymmer Glyncorrwg (Cymmer ward)
Dyffryn Dyffryn Clydach* Bryncoch, Dyffryn, Longford, Neath Abbey, White Gates
Glyncorrwg Glyncorrwg (Glyncorrwg ward)
Glynneath Glynneath Town* (East, Central and West wards) Blaengwrach, Cwmgwrach, Morfa Glas, Rheola
Godre'r Graig Ystalyfera* (Godre’r graig ward) Cilmaengwyn
Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen* (Cwmgors and Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen wards) Cwmgors, Gwaun Laision.
Gwynfi Glyncorrwg (Gwynfi ward) Abergwynfi, Blaengwynfi
Lower Brynamman Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen* (Lower Brynamman and Tai’r Gwaith wards) Tairgwaith
Margam Margam and Margam Moors
Neath East Neath Town* (Melyncrythan and Penrhiwtyn wards) Melincryddan, Pencaerau, Penrhiwtyn
Neath North Neath Town* (Castle and Llantwit wards) Llantwit
Neath South Neath Town* (Gnoll and Mount Pleasant wards) Cimla, Mount Pleasant
Onllwyn Onllwyn* Banwen, Dynffyn Cellwen
Pelenna Pelenna* Pontrhydyfen, Tonmawr
Pontardawe Pontardawe Town* (Pontardawe and Rhyd-y-fro wards) Rhyd-y-fro, Ynysmeudwy
Port Talbot Port Talbot Cirrinau, Cwm Dyffryn, Mynydd Emroch, Pen y Cae, Velindre
Resolven Clyne and Resolven*
Rhos Cilybebyll* (Gellinudd and Rhos wards) Cilmaengwyn, Gellinudd
Sandfields East Sandfields East
Sandfields West Sandfields West
Seven Sisters Seven Sisters* Bryndulais, Tynewydd
Taibach Taibach Goytre
Tonna Tonna*
Trebanos Pontardawe Town* (Trebanos ward) Craig Trebanos, Pontardawe
Ystalyfera Ystalyfera* (Ystalyfera ward) Gurnos

Council Interests

The Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council administrates or jointly controls a number of business interests, which include:

Arms

Coat of arms of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council
Notes
Granted 10 May 1997 by the College of Arms.
Crest
Issuant from a mural crown Sable a demi Cistercian monk habited Proper holding aloft in the dexter hand a clarion Vert.
Escutcheon
Per chevron Vert and Argent per chevron removed to the dexter and per chevron removed to the sinister all counterchanged in dexter chief a plate charged with an annulet embattled on the outer edge Sable.
Supporters
On either side a dragon Gules mutually gorged Argent and holding in the exterior claws by a cord with twists alternately Argent and Vert a pine cone also Vert dimidiating a goutte Sable.
Motto
Llwyddo Drwy Ymdrech[31]
Badge
Within a mascle gobonny Argent and Gules suspended from a cord with a loop passing over and behind the apex twisted alternately Argent and Vert a pine cone also Vert dimidiating a goutte Sable.

References

  1. ^ "Cllr Wayne Carpenter named new Mayor of Neath Port Talbot". Business News Wales. 12 May 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  2. ^ "Council meeting, 8 May 2025". Neath Port Talbot Council. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  3. ^ "Council's new Chief Executive begins role calling it 'the greatest opportunity of my working life'". NPT Council. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  4. ^ >"Your Councillors by Political Grouping". Neath Port Talbot Council. 23 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Local Government (Wales) Act 1994", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1994 c. 19, retrieved 27 October 2022
  6. ^ "Hansard: Written Answers". UK Parliament. 2 April 1996. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Plaid Cymru and independents agree to share power on Neath Port Talbot Council". Nation.cymru. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Independent and Plaid coalition takes control of Neath Port Talbot Council". Swansea Bay News. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  9. ^ "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 21 May 2025. (Put "Neath Port Talbot" in search box to see specific results.)
  10. ^ "Noel to head new authority". Port Talbot Guardian. 17 August 2025. p. 1. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  11. ^ "Council minutes, 1 April 1996" (PDF). Neath Port Talbot Council. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  12. ^ "Senior leaders stand down". Local Government Chronicle. 14 May 2004. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  13. ^ "Council minutes, 25 June 2004" (PDF). Neath Port Talbot Council. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  14. ^ "Welsh Labour MEP stands down as Neath Port Talbot councillor". Derek Vaughan MEP. 15 March 2010. Archived from the original on 14 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  15. ^ "Council minutes, 15 May 2009" (PDF). Neath Port Talbot Council. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  16. ^ Parry, Gemma (20 April 2017). "These are the key battlegrounds in Neath Port Talbot in the local elections". Wales Online. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  17. ^ "Council minutes, 26 May 2017". Neath Port Talbot Council. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  18. ^ Parry, Gemma (12 May 2017). "The new leader of Neath Port Talbot Council wants to make it the best authority in Wales". Wales Online. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  19. ^ "Neath Port Talbot Council Leader steps down in 'cow' row". Herald Wales. 6 March 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  20. ^ "Council minutes, 17 March 2021". Neath Port Talbot Council. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  21. ^ Smith, Lewis (20 May 2022). "Labour elects new leader in Neath Port Talbot". Wales Online. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  22. ^ "Council minutes, 7 June 2022". Neath Port Talbot Council. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  23. ^ a b "Neath Port Talbot". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  24. ^ "Your councillors by political grouping". Neath Port Talbot Council. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  25. ^ "Trailer - Local Elections May 2017". www.gwydir.demon.co.uk.
  26. ^ "Welsh unitary councils". 2 June 2015.
  27. ^ "Borough of Port Talbot: Transfer to new Civic Offices". Neath Guardian. 6 March 1987. p. 28. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  28. ^ "Contact us". Neath Port Talbot Council. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  29. ^ "Demolition starts for town revamp". BBC News. 4 June 2008. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  30. ^ Hannah Neary (16 July 2021). "Number of electoral wards in Neath Port Talbot to fall resulting in four fewer councillors". Wales Online. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  31. ^ "Armorial Bearings". WhatDoTheyKnow. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
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