History of Bristol City Council

This article is about the recent political history of Bristol City Council. For the history of local government in the city, see History of local government in Bristol.

Bristol City Council is a unitary authority and ceremonial county in England. Originally formed on 1 April 1974 as a non-metropolitan district as a result of the Local Government Act 1972 (with initial elections taking place in 1973). It was envisaged that Bristol would share power with Avon County Council, an arrangement that lasted until 1996 when it was made into a unitary authority by the Local Government Commission for England, which abolished the county of Avon and gave Bristol City Council control of Avon Council's responsibilities.

Since 2012 Bristol has had a directly elected mayor, who acts as an executive branch separate from elected councillors.

Elected mayors

The position of mayor of Bristol was created following the English mayoral referendum on 4 May 2012, in which Bristol was the only city to vote in favour of introducing an elected mayor. The first mayoral election was held in November, being won by George Ferguson.

Year Party Mayor
May 2016–present Labour Marvin Rees
November 2012–May 2016 Independent (as Bristol 1st) George Ferguson

Council control

A single party must occupy more than half of the councillor seats in order to have control. It is possible for a party to control the council without a majority, such as when Labour councillors dissolved their coalition with the Liberal Democrats in February 2009, leaving the Liberal Democrats to form a minority leadership.[1]

Year Controlling party Notes
2016–present Labour
2011–2016 No Overall Control
2009–2011 Liberal Democrats
2003-2009 No Overall Control
1986-2003 Labour Council changed to a unitary authority in 1995.
1983-1986 No Overall Control
1973-1983 Labour

Council composition

Year Labour Conservative Lib Dems Green UKIP Independent Notes
May 2016 37 14 8 11 Ward boundaries changed.[2][3]
21 May 2015 30 16 9 14 1 Fi Hance (Redland) defected from the Liberal Democrats to the Green Party.[4]
7 May 2015 30 16 10 13 1
March 2015 31 16 16 6 1 Jason Budd (Kingsweston), formerly independent, joined the Conservative Party.[5]
May 2014 31 15 16 6 1 1
May 2013 28 14 23 4 1
September 2011 22 14 32 2 Southmead by-election.
May 2011 21 14 33 2
May 2010 17 14 38 1
May 2009 16 17 36 1
October 2008 24 13 32 1 St George West by-election triggered due to the death of one of the sitting councillors.
May 2007 25 13 31 1
May 2006 23 13 33 1
May 2005 27 11 32
May 2004 31 11 28 Lawrence Hill by-election.
May 2003 31 11 28
May 2002 36 10 24
June 2001 40 9 21
October 2000 36 10 24 Southville by-election.
February 2000 36 10 24 Lockleaze by-election.
May 1999 37 10 23 Ward boundaries changed. Number of seats available increased from 68 to 70.[6]
June 1998 45 6 17 Ashley by-election.
May 1998 46 6 16
March 1998 50 5 13 Cabot by-election.
June 1997 50 5 13 Brislington West by-election.
May 1997 51 5 12
May 1995 53 6 9 Council changed from a non-metropolitan district to a unitary authority.
May 1994 41 19 8
May 1992 40 22 6
May 1991 45 18 5
May 1990 43 21 4
May 1988 39 24 5
May 1987 37 25 6
May 1986 35 26 7
May 1984 33 29 6 City boundaries were changed but the number of seats stayed the same.[7]
May 1983 30 32 6 Ward boundaries changed. Number of seats available decreased from 84 to 68.[8]
May 1979 53 28 3
May 1976 47 34 3
June 1973 56 25 3 Formation of the Bristol non-metropolitan district, with 84 available seats.

Council election result maps

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Lib Dems take over Bristol City Council". Bristol Evening Post. 24 February 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  2. ↑ legislation.gov.uk - The Bristol (Electoral Changes) Order 2015. Retrieved on 20 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "Bristol all-out council elections approved by councillors".
  4. ↑ Emanuel, Louis (22 May 2015). "Greens gain a councillor as Lib Dem defects". Bristol 24/7. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  5. ↑ Onions, Ian (12 March 2015). "Bristol's only Independent councillor joins Tories". Bristol Post. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  6. ↑ legislation.gov.uk - The City of Bristol (Electoral Changes) Order 1998. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
  7. ↑ The Bristol, Wansdyke and Woodspring (Areas) Order 1984
  8. ↑ The City of Bristol (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1980
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