Blackpool Council | |
---|---|
Type | |
Type | |
Leadership | |
Neil Jack since 21 July 2011[3] | |
Structure | |
Seats | 42 councillors[4] |
Political groups |
|
Length of term | 4 years |
Elections | |
Plurality-at-large[a] | |
Last election | 4 May 2023 |
Next election | 2027 |
Meeting place | |
Town Hall, Talbot Square, Blackpool, FY1 1GB | |
Website | |
www |
Blackpool Council is the local authority of the Borough of Blackpool, Lancashire, England. It is a unitary authority, having the powers of a county council and district council combined.
From 1889 to 1974, Blackpool was a county borough, independent from any county council.[5] Under the Local Government Act 1972 Blackpool was reconstituted as a non-metropolitan district, with Lancashire County Council providing county-level services.[6] Blackpool became a unitary authority on 1 April 1998, regaining its independence from Lancashire County Council.[7]
The first election to the reformed borough council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority until the new arrangements took effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[8][9]
Non-metropolitan district
Party in control | Years | |
---|---|---|
Conservative | 1974–1987 | |
No overall control | 1987–1991 | |
Labour | 1991–1998 |
Unitary authority
Party in control | Years | |
---|---|---|
Labour | 1998–2007 | |
Conservative | 2007–2011 | |
Labour | 2011–2021 | |
No overall control | 2021–2023 | |
Labour | 2023–present |
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Blackpool. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1991 have been:[10]
Councillor | Party | From | To | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ivan Taylor[11] | Labour | 1991 | 5 Jun 2000 | |
George Bancroft[12] | Labour | 12 Jul 2000 | 11 Jul 2001 | |
Roy Fisher[13] | Labour | Aug 2001 | 6 May 2007 | |
Peter Callow | Conservative | 21 May 2007 | 23 May 2011 | |
Simon Blackburn | Labour | 23 May 2011 | Jun 2020 | |
Lynn Williams | Labour | 20 Jul 2020 |
Following the 2023 election, the composition of the council is:[14]
Party | Councillors | |
---|---|---|
Labour | 28 | |
Conservative | 14 | |
Total | 42 |
The next election is due in 2027.
See also: Blackpool Borough Council elections |
Since the last boundary changes in 2023 the council has comprised 42 councillors representing 21 wards, with each ward electing two councillors. The whole council is elected together every four years.[15]
The council is based at Blackpool Town Hall on Talbot Square. The building was built in 1900.[16]