Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council
{{Short description|Local government body in England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox legislature
| name = Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council
| coa_pic = Coat of arms of Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council.png
| coa_caption = Coat of arms
| coa_res = 200
| coa_alt = Arms of Calderdale Council
| logo_pic = Calderdale Council.svg
| logo_caption = Council Logo
| logo_res =
| logo_alt =
| house_type = Metropolitan borough
| body =
| foundation = 1 April 1974
| preceded_by =
| leader1_type = Mayor
| leader1 = Steven Leigh
| party1 =
Conservative
| election1 = 14 May 2025{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 14 May 2025 |url=https://calderdale.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=172&MId=3416 |website=Calderdale Council |access-date=26 June 2025}}
| leader2_type = Leader
| leader2 = Jane Scullion
| party2 =
Labour
| election2 = 17 May 2023
| leader3_type = Chief Executive
| leader3 = Robin Tuddenham
| party3 =
| seats = 51 councillors
| structure1 =United Kingdom Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council 2025.svg
| structure1_res = 250
| structure1_alt = Calderdale Council composition
| political_groups1 =
;Administration (27)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} Labour (27)
;Other parties (24)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} Conservative (11)
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} Liberal Democrats (6)}}
: {{Color box|{{party color|Green Party of England and Wales}}|border=darkgray}} Green (3)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Reform UK}}|border=darkgray}} Reform UK (2)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Workers Party of Britain}}|border=darkgray}} Workers Party (1)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}|border=darkgray}} Independent (1)
| committees1 =
| joint_committees = West Yorkshire Combined Authority
| voting_system1 = First-past-the-post
| term_length = 4 years
| last_election1 = 2 May 2024
| next_election1 = 7 May 2026
| session_room = File:RIMG10233.JPG
| session_res =
| session_alt = Halifax Town Hall
| meeting_place = Town Hall, Crossley Street, Halifax, HX1{{nbsp}}1UJ
| website = {{URL|www.calderdale.gov.uk}}
}}
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council, also known as Calderdale Council, is the local authority for the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It is a metropolitan borough council and provides the majority of local government services in the borough. Since 2014 the council has been a constituent member of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
The council has been under Labour majority control since 2019. It is based at Halifax Town Hall.
History
The metropolitan district of Calderdale was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. It covered the area of eight former districts and part of a ninth, which were all abolished at the same time:{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|access-date=18 June 2023}}{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|number=137|access-date=18 June 2023}}
- Brighouse Municipal Borough
- Elland Urban District
- Halifax County Borough
- Hebden Royd Urban District
- Hepton Rural District
- Queensbury and Shelf Urban District (Shelf part only, Queensbury went to Bradford)
- Ripponden Urban District
- Sowerby Bridge Urban District
- Todmorden Municipal Borough
The county borough of Halifax had provided all local government services in its area. The other eight districts had been lower-tier authorities with West Riding County Council providing county-level services. The new Calderdale district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.{{cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1974/mar/28/district-councils-and-boroughs#S5CV0871P0_19740328_CWA_145|title=District Councils and Boroughs|date=28 March 1974|work=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)|access-date=16 January 2012}}
Calderdale was initially a district-level authority, with West Yorkshire County Council providing county-level services. However, the metropolitan county councils, including West Yorkshire County Council, were abolished in 1986 under the Local Government Act 1985. Since 1986 Calderdale Council has therefore been responsible for most local government functions.{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1985|year=1985|chapter=51|access-date=18 June 2023}}
The council has been a constituent member of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority since 2014, which has been led by the directly elected Mayor of West Yorkshire since 2021.{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2014/9780111109489/contents|title=The West Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2014|website=www.legislation.gov.uk}}
Governance
=Political control=
The council has been under Labour majority control since 2019.
The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:{{cite web |title=Compositions Calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/composition_calc.html |access-date=21 May 2025 |website=The Elections Centre |publisher=University of Exeter}} (Put "Calderdale" in search box to see specific results.)
| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2|Party in control | Years |
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} | 1974–1975 |
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | 1975–1980 |
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} | 1980–1990 |
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} | 1990–1992 |
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} | 1992–1995 |
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} | 1995–1999 |
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} | 1999–2000 |
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | 2000–2002 |
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} | 2002–2019 |
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} | 2019–present |
=Leadership=
The role of Mayor of Calderdale is largely ceremonial. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1988 have been:
=Composition=
Following the 2024 election,{{cite web|title=Election of Local Councillors 2024 - 02/05/2024|url=https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/council/democracy/electionresults/results.jsp?election=677|work=Election results|publisher=Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale|access-date=4 May 2024}} and subsuequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to May 2025 the composition of the council was:{{cite web |title=Calderdale |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=calderdale |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=26 June 2025}}
| class="wikitable" | |
| colspan="2"|Party | Councillors |
|---|---|
| {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} | align=center|27 |
| {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | align=center|11 |
| {{party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} | align=center|6 |
| {{party name with colour|Green Party of England and Wales}} | align=center|3 |
| {{party name with colour|Reform UK}} | align=center|2 |
| {{party name with colour|Workers Party of Britain}} | align=center|1 |
| {{party name with colour|Independent politician}} | align=center|1 |
| colspan=2|Total
! align=center|51 |
Premises
The council is based at Halifax Town Hall, which had been built for one of the council's predecessors, the Halifax Borough Council, in 1863.{{cite web |title=Contacts |url=https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/siteinfo/contacts/post.html |website=Calderdale Council |access-date=12 August 2022}}{{NHLE|num=1314024|desc=Town Hall, Crossley Street|grade=2|access-date=12 August 2022|fewer-links=yes}}
Elections
{{also|Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council elections}}
Since the last boundary changes in 2004 the council has comprised 51 councillors representing 17 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with a third of the council (one councillor for each ward) elected each time for a four-year term of office.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Borough of Calderdale (Electoral Changes) Order 2003|year=2003|number=3088|access-date=19 June 2023}}
=Wards=
File:Calderdale Council Wards Numbered.png
| class="wikitable" | |
| Calder Valley | Halifax |
|---|---|
| 1. Todmorden 2. Calder 3. Luddendenfoot 4. Ryburn 8. Greetland and Stainland 14. Elland 15. Hipperholme and Lightcliffe 16. Brighouse 17. Rastrick | 5. Illingworth and Mixenden 6. Warley 7. Sowerby Bridge 9. Ovenden 10. Park 11. Skircoat 12. Northowram and Shelf 13. Town |
{{Clear}}
Mayor
The mayors since 1974 have been:
| class="wikitable"
! Years |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Ann Kingstone | 2024– |
|---|
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
| Ashley Evans | 2023–2024 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Angie Gallagher | 2022–2023 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| Chris Pillai | 2021–2022 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Dot Foster | 2019–2021 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| Marcus Thompson | 2018–2019 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Ferman Ali | 2017–2018 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| Howard Blagbrough | 2016–2017 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Lisa Lambert | 2015–2016 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
| Pat Allen | 2014–2015 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Ann Martin | 2013–2014 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| John Hardy | 2012–2013 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
| Nader Fekri | 2011–2012 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| Keith Watson | 2010–2011 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| Ann McAllister | 2010 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Arshad Mahmood | 2009–2010 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
| Conrad Winterburn | 2008–2009 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| Martin Peel | 2007–2008 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}}" |
| Colin Stout | 2006–2007 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| John Williamson | 2005–2006 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
| Olwen Jennings | 2004–2005 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| Geraldine Carter | 2003–2004 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
| Patrick Phillips | 2002–2003 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| Chris O'Connor | 2001–2002 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
| Peter Coles | 2000–2001 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| Graham Hall | 1999–2000 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Alan Worth | 1998–1999 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Alan Worth | 1997–1998 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Susan Tucker | 1997 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Dawn Neal | 1996–1997 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| Graham Reason | 1995–1996 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
| Stephen Pearson | 1994–1995 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| Tony Mazey | 1993–1994 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| Bill Carpenter | 1992–1993 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Tom McElroy | 1991–1992 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Joe Tolan | 1990–1991 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Joe Kneafsey | 1989–1990 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Albert Berry | 1988–1989 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| Wilfred Sharp | 1987–1988 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|SDP–Liberal Alliance}}" |
| David Fox | 1986–1987 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Tom Lawler | 1985–1986 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| John Bradley | 1984–1985 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Kevin Lord | 1983–1984 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|SDP–Liberal Alliance}}" |
| 1982–1983 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| Eric Whitehead | 1981–1982 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Harry Wilson | 1980–1981 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| Betty Wildsmith | 1979–1980 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Richard Deadman | 1978–1979 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| Eric Dennett | 1977–1978 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Mona Mitchell | 1976–1977 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| Kathleen Cawdry | 1975–1976 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Joe Tolan | 1974–1975 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline}}
{{Local authorities in West Yorkshire}}
{{Metropolitan districts of England}}
Category:Metropolitan district councils of England
Category:Local authorities in West Yorkshire
Category:Leader and cabinet executives
Category:Local education authorities in England
Category:Billing authorities in England