Bangor City Council#Mayor
{{Short description|Community council in Gwynedd, Wales}}
{{about|the city council in Wales|the council of the town to be awarded city status in Northern Ireland|Ards and North Down Borough Council}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox legislature
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| name = Bangor City Council
| native_name = Cyngor Dinas Bangor
| native_name_lang = Welsh
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| foundation =
| house_type = Community council
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| leader1_type = Mayor
| leader1 = Richard Medwyn Hughes
| party1 = Plaid Cymru
| election1 =
| leader2_type = Deputy Mayor
| leader2 = Delyth Russell
| party2 = Independent
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| members = 20
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| meeting_place = Penrhyn Hall, Ffordd Gwynedd, Bangor
| website = {{URL|bangorcitycouncil.com/}}
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File:2022 electoral wards in the city of Bangor, Gwynedd.png
Bangor City Council or officially the City of Bangor Council is an elected community council serving Bangor in Gwynedd, Wales.
Background
Bangor's council was created in 1883 by royal charter. In 1974 it became City of Bangor Council, after Bangor had been granted city status, though many of its previous powers were passed to Arfon Borough Council (1974–1996){{cite web|url=http://bangorcitycouncil.com/History|title=History Of The Council|publisher=Bangor City Council |accessdate=28 November 2017}} and the new Gwynedd Council, based in Caernarfon.{{cite news|author=Tomos Hughes |url=http://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/news/2012/05/18/gallery/the-mayor-and-mayoress-year-57489/|title=The Mayor and Mayoress' year|work=North Wales Chronicle |date=18 May 2012|accessdate=29 November 2017}}
The city council's roles include consultation on all planning applications within the city boundaries, as well as applications for alcohol licenses.{{cite web|url=http://bangorcitycouncil.com/Roles-and-Responsibilities|title=Roles and Responsibilities Of The Council|publisher=Bangor City Council |accessdate=28 November 2017}} Its current responsibilities extend to maintaining footpaths and bus shelters, as well as managing a number of woodland areas and open public spaces.
The city council is most notably responsible for the maintenance of Wales' second longest pier, the Garth Pier. After Arfon Borough Council had decided to demolish it in 1974, Bangor City Council bought the {{convert|1550|ft}} pier for a nominal one pence.{{cite web|url=https://www.piers.org.uk/pier/bangor-garth/|title=Bangor Garth - History|publisher=National Piers Society |accessdate=28 November 2017}} However, in 2012 the council only had £1 million of the estimated £2 million needed to repair it.{{cite news|author=George Herd |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-16985287|title=Bangor pier: potential £1m shortfall for maintenance work|work=BBC News |date=20 February 2012|accessdate=28 November 2017}} The council-financed £1 million restoration began in 2017, phased over three to four years.{{cite news|author=Dale Spridgeon |url=http://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/home/2017/08/26/gallery/bangor-pier-s-1m-restoration-project-gets-underway-93602/|title=Bangor pier's £1m restoration project gets underway|work=North Wales Chronicle |date=26 August 2017|accessdate=29 November 2017}}
In addition the city council owns a number of important buildings, including the Town Clock, the City Council Offices and Penhryn Hall (containing the Council Chamber) in Ffordd Gwynedd. It owns Nantporth Football Stadium, which it leases to Nantporth CIC. It also owns the HwB centre at Tan y Fynwent , a multi purpose community space located in the city centre.
In June 2012 a curfew keeping young people out of Bangor city centre made the UK national news.{{cite news|author=John Bingham|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9334757/North-Korea-or-Bangor-City-centre-curfew-on-all-under-16s.html|title=North Korea or Bangor? City centre curfew on all under-16s|work=The Telegraph |place=London |date=16 June 2012|accessdate=28 November 2017}} Bangor City Council had to call an emergency meeting to raise their concerns, because Gwynedd Council and the local police had imposed the curfew without consulting city councillors.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-18590770|title=Bangor dispersal order prompts city council meeting|work=BBC News |date=26 June 2012|accessdate=28 November 2017}}
In May 2021 Bangor became the first Welsh city council and the sixteenth in the UK to pass a resolution supporting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.{{Cite web|date=May 4, 2021|title=Bangor becomes first Welsh Council to support Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons|url=https://www.thebangoraye.com/bangor-becomes-first-welsh-council-to-support-treaty-on-prohibition-of-nuclear-weapons/}}
Representation
Twenty councillors were elected from the eight electoral wards in the city, namely: Deiniol (2), Dewi (3), Garth (2), Glyder (3), Hendre (2), Hirael (2), Marchog (3) and Menai (3). In 2017 half of the seats were won by Plaid Cymru.{{cite web|url=http://bangorcitycouncil.com/The-City-Council |title=The City of Bangor Council|publisher=Bangor City Council|accessdate=28 November 2017 }} The eight wards also elected ten county councillors to Gwynedd Council.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}
As a result of The County of Gwynedd (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021 the Deiniol ward was split and merged with its neighbouring wards of Hendre and Hirael, effective from the 2022 elections.{{cite web|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2021/1223/article/4 |title=The County of Gwynedd (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021 - Article 4|website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |date=1 November 2021 |accessdate=10 December 2024 }} Representation on the city council was adjusted to Dewi (3), Garth (1), Glyder (3), Hendre (3), Hirael (3), Marchog (4) and Menai (3), remaining at a total of twenty councillors.{{cite web|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2021/1223/article/5 |title=The County of Gwynedd (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021 - Article 5|website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |date=1 November 2021 |accessdate=10 December 2024 }}
Mayor
The council elects a city mayor and deputy mayor annually.{{cite news |author=Geraint Jones |url=http://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/news/2014/05/09/gallery/new-mayor-of-bangor-installed-31020/ |title=New mayor of Bangor installed |work=North Wales Chronicle |date=9 May 2014 |accessdate=28 November 2017 }} The Mayor making for 2020 was delayed by a year due to COVID-19 and both the Deputy Mayor and Mayor were to remain in their posts for another year until 2021.
In May 2021 22-year old Owen Hurcum was elected mayor, the youngest ever mayor in Wales and also possibly the first non-binary person in the world to hold such a position.{{cite news |author=Sian Elvin |url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/05/12/graduate-22-is-elected-worlds-first-openly-non-binary-city-mayor-14565159/?ito=cbshare |title=Welsh city votes in ‘world’s first non-binary mayor’ |work=Metro |date=12 May 2021 |accessdate=12 May 2021 }}
List of City Mayors since 1974:{{cn|date=December 2024}}
2025- Richard Medwyn Hughes
2024 - Gareth M.Parry
2023 - Dr.Elin Walker Jones
2022 - Gwynant Roberts
2021 - Owen J. Hurcum
2020 - John Wynn Williams
2019 - John Wynn Williams
2018 - John Wynn Jones
2017 - Derek C. Hainge
2016 - Dewi Wynn Williams
2015 - Evelyn M. Butler
2014 - Jean Elizabeth Forsyth
2013 - Douglas Madge
2012 - Bryn Hughes
2011 - Edward Huw Williams
2010 - Dorothy M. Bulled, MBE
2009 - Jean Elizabeth Forsyth
2008 - John Wynn Jones
2007 - Derek C. Hainge
2006 - Douglas Madge
2005 - Geraint H. Roberts
2004 - Bryn Hughes
2003 - June E. Marshall
2002 - Dorothy M. Bulled
2001 - John Martin
2000 - Tony W.Eccles
1999 - John Wynn Jones
1998 - Derek C. Hainge
1997 - Lesley Hales
1996 - Gill Luther-Jones
1995 - Evelyn M. Butler
1994 - T. Arwyn Evans
1993 - Gareth Buckley-Jones
1992 - John Llewelyn-Jones
1991 - Keith Greenly-Jones
1990 - Doreen N. Murray
1989 - Tony W. Eccles
1988 - John Martin
1987 - Edward T. Dogan
1986 - R. Keith Marshall
1985 - Christine C. Norris
1984 - Iris M.Parry, MBE, JP
1983 - Frank Woodcock
1982 - John Haydn Jones
1981 - Edward T. Dogan
1980 - Glenda W.Jones
1979 - Gareth Buckley-Jones
1978 - Jean D. Christie
1977 - Charles A. Hainge
1976 - Iris M. Parry
1975 - Frank Woodcock
1974 - Jean D. Christie
Council composition
| class="wikitable" |
| colspan="3" align="center" valign="top" | As of 20 June 2022{{cite news |url=https://bangorcitycouncil.com/Councillors |title=COUNCILLORS |work=bangorcitycouncil.com |date=20 June 2022 |accessdate=24 November 2022 }} |
|---|
| colspan="2" align="center" valign="top" | Affiliation
! valign="top" | Members |
| {{party color cell|Plaid Cymru}}
| 12 |
| {{party color cell|Independent}}
| 7 |
| {{party color cell|vacant}}
| Vacant | 1 |