St Helens Council
St Helens Borough Council | |
---|---|
Type | |
Type | |
Leadership | |
Kath O'Dwyer since March 2020[3] | |
Structure | |
Seats | 48 councillors |
Political groups |
|
Joint committees | Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority Merseyside Police and Crime Panel |
Elections | |
Multiple member first-past-the-post | |
Last election | 5 May 2022 |
Next election | 7 May 2026 |
Meeting place | |
Town Hall, Corporation Street, St Helens, WA10 1HF | |
Website | |
www |
St Helens Borough Council, also known as St Helens Council and St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council, is the local authority of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens in Merseyside, England. It is a metropolitan borough council and provides 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 Labour majority control since 2010. It is based at St Helens Town Hall.
History[edit]
From 1889 to 1974 the town of St Helens was a county borough, independent of any county council.[4] Under the Local Government Act 1972 it had its territory enlarged and became a metropolitan borough, with Merseyside County Council providing county-level services. Following the abolition of the county council in 1986 St Helens Council became responsible for all local government-services.
Political control[edit]
The first election to the reconstituted borough council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its revised powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[5][6]
Party in control | Years | |
---|---|---|
Labour | 1974–2004 | |
No overall control | 2004–2010 | |
Labour | 2010–present |
Leadership[edit]
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in St Helens, usually being held by a different councillor each year. Political leadership is provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1974 have been:[7]
Councillor | Party | From | To | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Len Williams | Labour | 1974 | May 1978 | |
Gerald Baxter[8] | Labour | May 1978 | 1983 | |
Brian Green[9][10] | Labour | May 1983 | 1985 | |
Marie Rimmer[11][12] | Labour | 1985 | 21 Apr 1993 | |
Dave Watts[13][14] | Labour | May 1993 | May 1997 | |
Mike Doyle[15][16] | Labour | 1997 | 1999 | |
Marie Rimmer | Labour | 1999 | 2006 | |
Brian Spencer | Liberal Democrats | 2006 | 19 May 2010 | |
Marie Rimmer | Labour | 19 May 2010 | 15 May 2013 | |
Barrie Grunewald | Labour | 15 May 2013 | 18 Apr 2018 | |
Derek Long | Labour | 18 Apr 2018 | 22 May 2019 | |
David Baines | Labour | 22 May 2019 | 15 May 2024 | |
Anthony Burns | Labour | 15 May 2024 |
Composition[edit]
Following the 2022 election, the composition of the council was as follows:[17]
Party | Councillors | |
---|---|---|
Labour | 29 | |
Independent | 7 | |
Green | 6 | |
Liberal Democrats | 4 | |
Conservative | 2 | |
Total | 48 |
Of the independent councillors, three sit together as "The Independents" group, two form the "Newton-le-Willows Independents" group and the other two do not belong to any group. The next election is due in 2026.
Elections[edit]
Since the last boundary changes in 2022, 48 councillors have been elected from 18 wards, with elections held every four years.[18]
Premises[edit]
The council is based at St Helens Town Hall on Corporation Street, overlooking Victoria Square in the town centre. The building was built in 1876 for the old borough council.[19]
References[edit]
- ^ Dhillon, Aran (16 May 2024). "New mayor of St Helens speaks of her pride". St Helens Star. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ Dhillon, Aran (15 May 2024). "New St Helens council leader braced for tough job as cabinet unveiled". St Helens Star. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Kath O'Dwyer". The MJ. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ "St Helens Municipal Borough / County Borough". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ "St Helens". BBC News Online. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
- ^ "Council minutes". St Helens Borough Council. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ "Surprise new team". Liverpool Echo. 10 May 1978. p. 7. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ "Council chief calls in minders". Liverpool Echo. 26 May 1983. p. 1. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ "Labour probe to end feud". Liverpool Echo. 13 June 1985. p. 18. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ "Chief denies Labour rift". Liverpool Echo. 5 July 1985. p. 2. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ "'Why I had to quit as leader'". Liverpool Echo. 22 April 1993. p. 8. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ "St Helens bids to lure investors". Liverpool Echo. 17 May 1993. p. 12. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ "A sober supremo". Liverpool Echo. 2 May 1997. p. 7. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ "Home help". Liverpool Echo. 17 May 1997. p. 11. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ "Hundreds mourn Mike Doyle". St Helens Star. 19 January 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ "Your Councillors". St Helens Borough Council. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
- ^ "The St Helens (Electoral Changes) Order 2021", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2021/1424, retrieved 28 August 2022
- ^ "Council committee information". St Helens Borough Council. Retrieved 14 June 2023.