Conwy County Borough Council

Conwy County Borough was created in 1996 under the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, which replaced the previous two tier system of counties and districts with principal areas (each designated either a "county" or a "county borough"), whose councils perform the functions previously divided between the county and district councils. The county borough of Conwy was created to cover the area of the district of Aberconwy from the county of Gwynedd and the district of Colwyn from the county of Clwyd, except for the parishes of Cefnmeiriadog and Trefnant, which went to the Denbighshire. The government originally named the new area "Aberconwy and Colwyn" ({{langx|cy|Aberconwy a Cholwyn}}).{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government (Wales) Act 1994|year=1994|chapter=19|accessdate=8 November 2022}} During the transition to the new system, the shadow authority requested a change of name from "Aberconwy and Colwyn" to "Conwy", taking the name from both the River Conwy which runs through the area and the town of Conwy, where the new council established its headquarters. The government confirmed the change with effect from 2 April 1996, one day after the new council came into being.{{cite web |title=Hansard: Written Answers |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199596/cmhansrd/vo960402/text/60402w33.htm#60402w33.html_spnew3 |website=UK Parliament |access-date=3 October 2022 |date=2 April 1996}}

The first election to the new council was held in 1995, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1996. Political control of the council since 1996 has been as follows:{{cite web |title=Compositions calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/?page_id=3825 |website=The Elections Centre |access-date=6 November 2022}}

The leaders of the council since 2005 have been:{{cite web |title=Council minutes |url=https://modgoveng.conwy.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1 |website=Conwy County Borough Council |access-date=10 November 2022}}

Following the 2022 election and subsequent changes of allegiance up to July 2024, the composition of the council was:{{cite web |title=Conwy |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=conwy |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=27 July 2024}}

Of the independent councillors, 19 sit together as the "Conwy First Independent Group", two sit as the "Allied Independents" and two are not aligned to any group. The Green councillor sits with Plaid Cymru as the "Plaid Cymru a'r Blaid Werdd" ({{langx|en|Plaid Cymru and the Green Party}}) group. Cabinet positions are held by members of the Conwy First Independent, Labour and Plaid Cymru a'r Blaid Werdd groups.{{cite news |last1=Chandler |first1=Matthew |title=Abergele councillor re-elected as leader of Conwy council and announced cabinet |url=https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/20150735.abergele-councillor-celebrates-re-election-leader-conwy-council/ |access-date=27 July 2024 |work=North Wales Pioneer |date=19 May 2022}}{{cite web |title=Your councillors by party |url=https://modgovpub-eng.secure.conwy.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=PARTY&VW=LIST&PIC=0 |website=Conwy County Borough Council |access-date=8 July 2023}} The next election is due in 2027.

Since 2012, elections have been held every five years.

Party with the most elected councillors in bold. Coalition agreements in notes column.

The council is based at Bodlondeb, which was built as a house in 1877 on Bangor Road in Conwy, just outside the town walls and set in substantial grounds stretching down to the River Conwy.{{cite web |title=Bodlondeb, Mansion and Grounds |url=https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/26056/ |website=Coflein |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |access-date=10 November 2022}} The house had been bought in 1937 by the former Conwy Municipal Borough Council and converted into a civic centre.{{cite news |title=Mr Lloyd George Opens Conway's New Civic Centre |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ |access-date=11 November 2022 |work=Liverpool Echo |date=16 July 1937 |page=16}} The building passed to Aberconwy District Council under the 1974 reforms and then to Conwy County Borough Council on its creation in 1996. In 2018 the council also opened a new building called Coed Pella on Conway Road in Colwyn Bay to house many of the council's departments, replacing several other office buildings.{{cite news |last1=Glover |first1=Patrick |title=New Conwy council offices in Colwyn Bay open to the public |url=https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/17233363.new-conwy-council-offices-colwyn-bay-open-public/ |access-date=11 November 2022 |work=North Wales Pioneer |date=19 November 2018}}{{cite web |title=Council buildings |url=https://www.conwy.gov.uk/en/Council/Council-Buildings.aspx |website=Conwy County Borough Council |access-date=11 November 2022}}

File:Conwy UK ward map (blank).svg

The county borough is divided into 38 electoral wards returning 59 councillors. Few communities in Conwy are coterminous with electoral wards. The following table lists council wards, communities and associated geographical areas. Communities with a community council are indicated with a '*':

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.conwy.gov.uk Conwy Council] (official site)

{{Local authorities of Wales}}

{{Clwyd elections}}

{{Authority control}}

Conwy county borough