Wirral Council

Wirral Council
Arms of Wirral Council
Coat of arms
Wirral Council logo
Corporate logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Brian Kenny,
Labour
since 14 May 2025[1]
Paula Basnett,
Labour
since 21 May 2025
Paul Satoor
since 2019[2]
Structure
Seats66 councillors[3]
Wirral Council composition
Political groups
  Labour (29)
  Conservative (14)
  Green (14)
  Liberal Democrat (6)
  Independent (3)
Joint committees
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Length of term
4 years
Elections
First-past-the-post
Last election
4 May 2023
Next election
6 May 2027
Motto
By Faith and Foresight
Meeting place
Wallasey Town Hall, Brighton Street, Wallasey, CH44 8ED
Website
wirral.gov.uk

Wirral Council, or Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council, is the local authority of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is a metropolitan district council with borough status, thus providing the majority of local government services in the borough. The council has been a member of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority since 2014.

The council has been under no overall control since 2019, with the leader of the council belonging to the Labour Party. Council meetings are held at Wallasey Town Hall and the main administrative offices are at Alice Ker Square in Birkenhead.

History

The metropolitan district of Wirral and its council were created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. It covered the area of five former districts, which were all abolished at the same time:[4][5]

The two county boroughs, Birkenhead and Wallasey, had provided all local government services in their areas. The other three districts had been lower-tier authorities with Cheshire County Council providing county-level services. The area was transferred from Cheshire to become of the five districts in the new metropolitan county of Merseyside. The first election to the new council was held in 1973. For its first year the council acted as a shadow authority alongside the area's outgoing authorities. The new metropolitan district and its council formally came into being on 1 April 1974, at which point the old districts and their councils were abolished.[6]

The new Wirral district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.[7] The council styles itself Wirral Council rather than its full formal name of Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.[8]

From 1974 until 1986 the council was a lower-tier authority, with upper-tier functions provided by Merseyside County Council. The county council was abolished in 1986 and its functions passed to Merseyside's five borough councils, including Wirral, with some services provided through joint committees.[9]

Since 2014 the council has been a member of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, which has been led by the directly elected Mayor of the Liverpool City Region (sometimes termed the "Metro Mayor") since 2017. The combined authority provides strategic leadership and co-ordination for certain functions across the region, but Wirral Council continues to be responsible for most local government functions.[10][11]

Political control

The council has been under no overall control since 2019, being led by a Labour minority administration.

Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[12][13]

Party in Control Years
No overall control 1974–1975
Conservative 1975–1986
No overall control 1986–1991
Labour 1991–1992
No overall control 1992–1995
Labour 1995–2002
No overall control 2002–2012
Labour 2012–2019
No overall control 2019–present

Leadership

The role of Mayor of Wirral (also termed the "Civic Mayor" to distinguish it from the Metro Mayor) is largely ceremonial. They represent the borough at civic functions, support local charities and chair full council meetings. They are expected to be politically impartial whilst they hold the post, although they do get an additional casting vote in the event of a tie.[14]

Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1974 have been:

Councillor Image Party From To
Malcolm Thornton[15][16] Conservative 1974 May 1977
Harry Deverill[17][18] Conservative May 1977 May 1980
David Fletcher[18][19] Conservative May 1980 May 1985
John Hale[19][20] Conservative May 1985 Oct 1986
No overall control 1986 1990
Yvonne Nolan[21][22] Labour 1990 May 1991
George Clark[23][24] Labour 1991 1992
No overall control 1992 1995
Dave Jackson[25][26] Labour May 1995 23 Apr 2000
Steve Foulkes[27][28] Labour May 2000 24 May 2010
Jeff Green[28][29] Conservative 24 May 2010 23 May 2011
Steve Foulkes[29][30][31] Labour 23 May 2011 13 Feb 2012
Jeff Green[31][32] Conservative 13 Feb 2012 21 May 2012
Phil Davies[32][33] Labour 21 May 2012 May 2019
Pat Hackett[34][35] Labour 14 May 2019 Sep 2020
Janette Williamson[36][37][38] Labour 28 Sep 2020 May 2023
Paul Stuart[39][40][41] Labour 24 May 2023 May 2025
Paula Basnett[42] Labour 21 May 2025

Composition

Following the 2023 election,[43] and subsequent changes of allegiance up to May 2025, the composition of the council was:[44][45]

Party Councillors
Labour 28
Conservative 14
Green 14
Liberal Democrats 6
Independent 4
Total 66

Three out of the four independent councillors (who previously sat as Conservatives) sit together as the "Independent Conservative" group. Cllr Richie Pitt sits as an independent after he left the Labour Party in August 2025. The next election is due in 2027.[45]

Premises

Birkenhead Town Hall, one of the council's buildings

Council meetings are held at Wallasey Town Hall, which was completed in 1916 for the former Wallasey Borough Council.[46][47][48] The council's main offices are at Alice Ker Square in the centre of Birkenhead, being a modern office development completed in 2023.[49] The council also owns Birkenhead Town Hall and has additional offices including the Cheshire Lines Committee building on Canning Street in Birkenhead.[50]

Elections

See also: Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2004, the council has comprised 66 councillors representing 22 wards, with each ward electing three councillors.[51] The whole council is elected together every four years from 2023 onwards, having previously been elected a third of the council at a time.[52]

Wards and councillors

Each ward is represented by three councillors.[53]

Parliamentary constituency Ward Councillor Party Term of office First elected (re-entered)
Birkenhead Bidston and St James Liz Grey Labour 2023–27 2018
Brian Kenny Labour 2023–27 2006 (2015)
Julie McManus Labour 2023-27 2016
Birkenhead and Tranmere Pat Cleary Green 2023–27 2014
Amanda Onwuemene Green 2023-27 2022
Ewan Tomeny Green 2023-27 2023
Claughton Gillian Wood Labour 2023–27 2017
Steve Foulkes Labour 2023–27 1990
George Davies Labour 2023-27 1988
Oxton Allan Brame Liberal Democrats 2023–27 2018
Mike Redfern Liberal Democrats 2023-27 2006 (2023)
Stuart Kelly Liberal Democrats 2023-27 1991 (1998, 2016)
Prenton Naomi Graham Green 2023–27 2022
Chris Cooke Green 2023–27 2019
Harry Gorman Green 2023-27 2021
Rock Ferry Craig McDonald Green 2023-27 2023
Paula Basnett Labour 2023-27 2023
Tony Murphy Labour 2023-27 2023
Wallasey Leasowe and Moreton East Angela Davies Labour 2023-27 2015 (2022)
Paul Jobson Labour 2023-27 2023
Louise Luxon-Kewley Labour 2023-27 2023
Liscard Janette Williamson Labour 2023-27 2012
Graeme Cooper Labour 2024-27 2024
James Laing Labour 2023-27 2022
Moreton West and Saughall Massie Vida Wilson Conservative 2023-27 2022
Gary Bennett Conservative 2023-27 2023
Colin Baldwin Conservative 2023-27 2023
New Brighton Sue Powell-Wilde Labour 2023-27 2022
Paul Martin Labour 2023-27 2021
Tony Jones Labour 2023-27 2016
Seacombe Tom Laing Labour 2023-27 2023
Kaitlin Stuart Labour 2023-27 2023
Paul Stuart Labour 2023-27 2016
Wallasey Lesley Rennie Conservative 2023-27 1991 (1997)
Brenda Hall Labour 2023-27 2023
Ian Lewis Conservative 2023-27 1999 (2008, 2013, 2016)
Wirral South Bebington Judith Grier Green 2023-27 2022
Ed Lamb Green 2023-27 2023
Jason Walsh Green 2023-27 2021
Bromborough Ruth Molyneux Green 2023-27 2023
Kieran Murphy Green 2023-27 2023
Jo Bird Green [n 1] 2023-27 2018
Clatterbridge Mary Jordon Conservative 2023-27 2018
Helen Cameron Conservative 2023-27 2019
Cherry Povall JP Conservative 2023-27 2008
Eastham Chris Carubia Liberal Democrats 2023-27 2014
Helen Raymond Liberal Democrats 2023-27 2023
Phil Gilchrist Liberal Democrats 2023-27 1977 (1992)
Heswall Graham Davies Ind. Conservative 2023-27 2023
Andrew Hodson Ind. Conservative 2023-27 1994
Kathy Hodson Ind. Conservative 2023-27 2013
Wirral West Greasby, Frankby and Irby Gail Jenkinson Green 2023-27 2023
Grahame McManus Labour 2023-27 2023
Mark Skillicorn Labour 2023-27 2023
Hoylake and Meols Tony Cox Conservative 2023-27 2011 (2018)
Max Booth Conservative 2023-27 2021
Andrew Gardner Conservative 2023-27 2018
Pensby and Thingwall Ann Ainsworth Labour 2023-27 2023
Richie Pitt Labour 2023-27 2023
Mike Sullivan Labour 2023-27 2012 (2023)
Upton Stephen Bennett Labour 2023-27 2022
Jerry Williams Labour 2023-27 1996 (2002, 2023)
Jean Robinson Labour 2023-27 2018
West Kirby and Thurstaston Jeff Green Conservative 2023-27 1986
Jenny Johnson Conservative 2023-27 2019
Simon Mountney Conservative 2023-27 2004 (2021)

Notes

  1. ^ Expelled from the Labour Party in November 2021.[54] Joined Green Party in March 2022.[55]

References

  1. ^ McGrath, Rebecca (15 May 2025). "New Wirral mayor announced as Councillor Brian Kenny". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Council minutes, 23 October 2019". Wirral Council. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Councillors". www.wirral.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 18 June 2023
  5. ^ "The Metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/137, retrieved 18 June 2023
  6. ^ "Local Government Act 1972: Schedule 1", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70 (sch. 1), retrieved 30 May 2024
  7. ^ "District Councils and Boroughs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 28 March 1974. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  8. ^ "Find your local council". gov.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Local Government Act 1985", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1985 c. 51, retrieved 5 April 2024
  10. ^ "The Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral Combined Authority Order 2014", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2014/865, retrieved 5 June 2024
  11. ^ "Understand how your council works". gov.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  12. ^ "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 21 May 2025. (Put "Wirral" in search box to see specific results.)
  13. ^ "Wirral". BBC News Online. 19 April 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
  14. ^ "Mayor of Wirral". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  15. ^ "Pilot will take helm of Wirral Council". Liverpool Echo. 16 March 1974. p. 7. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  16. ^ "Two fight for Tory leadership". Liverpool Echo. 9 May 1977. p. 3. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  17. ^ "Now Harry's smiling for second time". Liverpool Echo. 10 May 1977. p. 7. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  18. ^ a b Barnes, Geoff (17 June 1980). "Labour boss who crossed a 'picket line' quits post". Liverpool Echo. p. 9. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  19. ^ a b "Queen's birthday honours". Liverpool Daily Post. 15 June 1985. p. 5. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  20. ^ "'Hung' council swings into action". Liverpool Echo. 17 October 1986. p. 22. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  21. ^ "Pools firm's lifeline to H'boro team". Liverpool Echo. 30 May 1990. p. 43. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  22. ^ Harrison, Anne (3 May 1991). "Leader is ousted by mum of 6". Liverpool Echo. p. 19. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  23. ^ Marles, Leigh (13 May 1992). "'No pacts' say Lib Dem council power brokers". Hoylake and West Kirby News. p. 9. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  24. ^ "Tributes pour in for local politician". Liverpool Echo. 5 January 1994. p. 14. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  25. ^ Barnett, Kimberley (10 May 1995). "Labour's red letter day". Birkenhead News. p. 15. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  26. ^ "A man of the people - tributes flow for leader Dave". Wirral Globe. 28 April 2000. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  27. ^ "Seacombe holds key to power". Wirral Globe. 15 May 2000. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  28. ^ a b Manning, Craig (24 May 2010). "Conservative and Lib-Dem coalition is elected to run Wirral Council". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  29. ^ a b Marles, Leigh (19 May 2011). "Ousted Wirral Council leader predicts 'Liverpool-style' fight with Government". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  30. ^ Marles, Leigh (26 May 2011). "New council leader sets the agenda for Wirral's future". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  31. ^ a b "New Wirral council leader Jeff Green wants all-party cabinet". BBC News. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  32. ^ a b Cureton, Stephanie (4 May 2012). "Wirral voters sent out 'clear message' says new council leader". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  33. ^ "Election results: Labour loses overall control of Wirral Council". BBC News. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  34. ^ "Council minutes, 14 May 2019". Wirral Council. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  35. ^ Morgan, George (23 March 2022). "Former council leader given special title to mark 26 years service". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  36. ^ "Council minutes, 28 September 2020". Wirral Council. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  37. ^ Manning, Craig (29 September 2020). "Wirral Council appoints first female leader in 30 years". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  38. ^ "Wirral Council leader deposed by her deputy in dramatic coup". 10 May 2023.
  39. ^ "Council minutes, 24 May 2023". Wirral Council. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  40. ^ Barnes, Edward (24 May 2023). "Tensions erupt as Wirral Council elects new leader". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  41. ^ Barnes, Ed (5 February 2025). "Wirral Council leader Cllr Paul Stuart to stand down in May". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  42. ^ Barnes, Edward (22 May 2025). "Wirral Council has a new leader after tense and fiery meeting". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  43. ^ "Local elections 2023: full council results for England". The Guardian. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  44. ^ Manning, Craig (3 January 2024). "Councillor Gail Jenkinson leaves Labour for Wirral Green Party". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  45. ^ a b "Wirral". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  46. ^ "Calendar". Wirral Council. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  47. ^ Historic England. "Wallasey Town Hall (Grade II*) (1258467)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  48. ^ Barnes, Ed (30 May 2025). "Date when Birkenhead Town Hall will close announced". Birkenhead News. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  49. ^ Nightingale, Chloe (20 October 2023). "New Birkenhead office buildings handed over to Wirral Council". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  50. ^ "Council offices". Wirral Council. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  51. ^ "The Borough of Wirral (Electoral Changes) Order 2003", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2003/1980, retrieved 18 June 2023
  52. ^ Morgan, George (21 March 2022). "Five things we learnt from crucial Wirral Council meeting". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  53. ^ "Your Councillors by Ward". www.wirral.gov.uk. Wirral Council. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  54. ^ BBC News (22 November 2021). "Wirral councillor Jo Bird expelled by Labour party over banned group". BBC News. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  55. ^ "Former Labour Councillor Jo Bird Joins Green Party". Wirral Green Party. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.