Vale Royal

{{Infobox historic subdivision|

|Name= Borough of Vale Royal

|HQ= Winsford

|Status= Non-metropolitan district

|Origin= Northwich Urban District
Winsford Urban District
Northwich Rural District
Runcorn Rural District (part of)

|Start= 1 April 1974

|End= 31 March 2009

|Replace= Cheshire West and Chester

|Map= File:Vale Royal UK locator map.svg
Shown within Cheshire

|Image=

|Arms=

|Civic=

|Motto=

|Government=

|Divisions=

|DivisionsNames=

|DivisionsMap=

|CodeName= ONS code

|Code= 13UH

}}

Vale Royal was, from 1974 to 2009, a local government district with borough status in Cheshire, England. It contained the towns of Northwich, Winsford and Frodsham.

History

The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 covering the area of three former districts and part of a fourth, which were abolished at the same time:{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|accessdate=6 September 2022}}

The district took its name from Vale Royal Abbey, formerly one of the largest in England, which was situated near the village of Whitegate near the centre of the district. The name was suggested in 1972 by a joint committee of the previous district councils, on the basis of the historic use of the name for the general area of the new district.{{cite news |title=Vale Royal as new name for District 4? |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ |access-date=6 September 2022 |work=Crewe Chronicle |date=7 December 1972 |page=25 |archive-date=22 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922212722/https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|number=551|accessdate=6 September 2022}} The district was granted borough status on 5 May 1988, allowing the chairman of the council to take the title of mayor.{{cite web |title=Bulletins of Change 1987–1988 |url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20221201175815mp_/https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/lgbce/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/17528/change-bulletin-1987-1988.pdf |website=Local Government Boundary Commission for England |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=28 February 2025 |page=2}}

In 2006 the Department for Communities and Local Government considered reorganising Cheshire's administrative structure as part of the 2009 structural changes to local government in England. The decision to merge Vale Royal with the districts of Chester and Ellesmere Port and Neston to create a single unitary authority was announced on 25 July 2007, following a consultation period in which a proposal to create a single Cheshire unitary authority was rejected.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/6916055.stm BBC News, 25 July 2007 – County split into two authorities.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107084113/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/6916055.stm |date=7 January 2009 }} Retrieval Date: 25 July 2007.

Vale Royal was abolished on 31 March 2009, with the area becoming part of the new unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester from 1 April 2009.{{Cite web |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080634_en_2#pt2-l1g4 |title=Cheshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008 |access-date=4 April 2009 |archive-date=17 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090517000027/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080634_en_2#pt2-l1g4 |url-status=live }}

Civil parishes

File:vale royal parishes.png

The district comprised the following civil parishes:

Political control

The first elections to the council were held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council from 1974 until its abolition in 2009 was held by the following parties:{{cite web |title=Compositions calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/?page_id=3825 |website=The Elections Centre |access-date=10 August 2022 |archive-date=10 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810180233/https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/?page_id=3825 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Teale |first1=Andrew |title=Local Election Results 2007: Vale Royal |url=https://www.andrewteale.me.uk/leap/results/2007/150/ |website=Local Elections Archive Project |access-date=6 September 2022 |archive-date=7 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220507165031/https://andrewteale.me.uk/leap/results/2007/150/ |url-status=live }}

colspan="2"\|Party in control	Years
class="wikitable"
{{Party name with colour\|No overall control}}	1974–1991
{{Party name with colour\|Labour Party (UK)}}	1991–2003
{{Party name with colour\|No overall control}}	2003–2007
{{Party name with colour\|Conservative Party (UK)}}	2007–2008
{{Party name with colour\|No overall control}}	2008–2009

=Leadership=

The leaders of the council from 1988 were:

class=wikitable ! Councillor !! colspan=2\|Party !! From !! To
Marie Birkenhead	{{party name with colour\|Conservative Party (UK)}}	align=right\|	align=right\|5 May 1988
Arthur Neil{{cite news \|date=12 May 1988 \|title=Vale Royal's first Labour leader \|page=11 \|newspaper=Runcorn Weekly News \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/799155877/ \|url-access=subscription \|access-date=8 August 2023 \|via=Newspaper.com}}	{{party name with colour\|Labour Party (UK)}}	align=right\|5 May 1988	align=right\|11 May 1989
David Broster{{cite news \|date=17 May 1989 \|title=Labour loses its grasp after mayor change \|page=27 \|newspaper=Northwich Chronicle \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-northwich-chronicle-labour-loses-its/129633641/ \|access-date=8 August 2023 \|via=Newspapers.com}}	{{party name with colour\|Conservative Party (UK)}}	align=right\|11 May 1989	align=right\|10 May 1990
Bernard Burton{{cite news \|date=17 May 1990 \|title=Vale Royal elects its officers \|page=12 \|newspaper=Runcorn Weekly News \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/runcorn-weekly-news-vale-royal-elects-it/129676949/ \|access-date=8 August 2023 \|via=Newspapers.com \|archive-date=11 August 2023 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811050751/https://www.newspapers.com/article/runcorn-weekly-news-vale-royal-elects-it/129676949/ \|url-status=live }}	{{party name with colour\|Conservative Party (UK)}}	align=right\|10 May 1990	align=right\|1991
Arthur Neil{{cite news \|title=It's a tough job - but worth it to help people \|url=https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/5295838.its-a-tough-job-but-worth-it-to-help-people/ \|access-date=6 September 2022 \|newspaper=Warrington Guardian \|date=28 April 2000}}	{{party name with colour\|Labour Party (UK)}}	align=right\|1991	align=right\|Apr 2000
Bob Mather{{cite web \|title=Executive Group \|url=http://www.valeroyal.gov.uk/democracy/modernvr/exec/exec.html \|website=Vale Royal Borough Council \|access-date=6 September 2022 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000602120200/http://www.valeroyal.gov.uk/democracy/modernvr/exec/exec.html \|archive-date=2 June 2000}}	{{party name with colour\|Labour Party (UK)}}	align=right\|Apr 2000	align=right\|May 2003
Keith Musgrave{{cite news \|last1=Wilson \|first1=James \|title=Party ditches council leader \|url=https://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/1417235.party-ditches-council-leader/ \|access-date=6 September 2022 \|newspaper=Northwich Guardian \|date=26 May 2007}}	{{party name with colour\|Conservative Party (UK)}}	align=right\|May 2003	align=right\|May 2007
Les Ford	{{party name with colour\|Conservative Party (UK)}}	align=right\|May 2007	align=right\|31 Mar 2009

=Composition=

The political composition of the council at its abolition in 2009 was:

class="wikitable"

|width="150" colspan=2|Party

|width="150"|Councillors

style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}"|

|Conservative

|26

style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}"|

|Labour

|17

style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}"|

|Liberal Democrat

|11

style="color:inherit;background:#C0C0C0"|

|Weaverham Independents

Premises

File:Wyvern House - geograph.org.uk - 1800344.jpg

Until 1990 the council operated from the various offices it had inherited from its predecessors, being Whitehall in Hartford (from Northwich Rural District Council), the Council House in Northwich (from Northwich Urban District Council), Castle Park House in Frodsham (from Runcorn Rural District Council), and Over Hall in Winsford (from Winsford Urban District Council).{{cite news |title=Council bid for HQ |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ |access-date=6 September 2022 |work=Winsford Chronicle |date=3 December 1987 |page=6 |archive-date=22 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922212722/https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}{{cite journal |title=Cheshire County Council |journal=London Gazette |date=26 May 1989 |issue=51747 |page=6318 |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/51747/page/6318 |access-date=6 September 2022}} In 1990 the council consolidated its offices into a new purpose-built headquarters called Wyvern House on The Drumber in Winsford.{{cite web |title=The Council |url=http://www.valeroyal.gov.uk/council/council.html |website=Vale Royal Borough Council |access-date=6 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990423032654/http://www.valeroyal.gov.uk/council/council.html |archive-date=23 April 1999}} Wyvern House was formally opened by Princess Margaret on 19 July 1991.{{cite news |title=Vale Royal office opening |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ |access-date=6 September 2022 |work=Runcorn Weekly News |date=11 July 1991 |page=12 |archive-date=22 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922212722/https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Princess of smiles on tour |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ |access-date=6 September 2022 |work=Crewe Chronicle |date=24 July 1991 |page=1 |archive-date=22 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922212722/https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ |url-status=live }} Since the council's abolition in 2009, Wyvern House has been used as one of the offices of its successor, Cheshire West and Chester Council.{{cite web |title=Customer service centres |url=https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/contact-us/customer-service-centres/wyvern-house |website=Cheshire West and Chester Council |access-date=6 September 2022 |archive-date=6 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906012755/https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/contact-us/customer-service-centres/wyvern-house |url-status=live }}

Council elections

1973 Vale Royal District Council election
1976 Vale Royal District Council election (New ward boundaries)legislation.gov.uk - [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1976/286/made The District of Vale Royal (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1976] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907033723/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1976/286/made |date=7 September 2022 }}. Retrieved on 19 November 2015.
1979 Vale Royal District Council election
1983 Vale Royal District Council election (District boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same)The Macclesfield and Vale Royal (Areas) Order 1982
1987 Vale Royal District Council election
1991 Vale Royal Borough Council election (Borough boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same)legislation.gov.uk - [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1988/70 The Cheshire (District Boundaries) Order 1988]. Retrieved on 6 November 2015.
1995 Vale Royal Borough Council election
1999 Vale Royal Borough Council election (New ward boundaries)legislation.gov.uk - [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2846/made The Borough of Vale Royal (Electoral Changes) Order 1998] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907042845/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2846/made |date=7 September 2022 }}. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
2003 Vale Royal Borough Council election
2007 Vale Royal Borough Council election

=Results maps=

File:Vale Royal UK ward map 2003.svg|2003 results map

File:Vale Royal UK ward map 2007.svg|2007 results map

=By-election results=

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 535

|percentage = 61.9

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 201

|percentage = 23.3

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 128

|percentage = 14.8

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 334

|percentage = 38.6

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 864

|percentage = 18.0

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box begin | title=Vale Royal By-Election 24 October 1996}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 637

|percentage = 61.9

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 218

|percentage = 21.2

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 174

|percentage = 16.9

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 419

|percentage = 40.7

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 1,029

|percentage = 21.0

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box begin | title=Davenham and Moulton By-Election 10 April 1997}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 695

|percentage = 42.3

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 486

|percentage = 29.6

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 461

|percentage = 28.1

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 209

|percentage = 12.7

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 1,642

|percentage = 33.6

|change =

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|loser = Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box begin | title=Tarporley By-Election 10 April 1997}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 372

|percentage = 58.3

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 138

|percentage = 21.6

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 128

|percentage = 20.1

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 234

|percentage = 36.7

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 638

|percentage = 30.7

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box begin | title=Northwich Witton By-Election 7 June 2001}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 1,413

|percentage = 60.5

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 456

|percentage = 19.5

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 320

|percentage = 13.7

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate =

|votes = 146

|percentage = 6.3

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 957

|percentage = 41.0

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 2,335

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box begin | title=Kingsley By-Election 25 September 2003}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 364

|percentage = 53.2

|change = +14.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 187

|percentage = 27.3

|change = -29.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 133

|percentage = 19.4

|change = +14.9

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 177

|percentage = 25.9

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 684

|percentage = 40.7

|change =

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|loser = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box begin | title=Frodsham South By-Election 4 March 2004}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 263

|percentage = 47.9

|change = -0.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 166

|percentage = 30.2

|change = -1.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 120

|percentage = 21.9

|change = +2.1

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 97

|percentage = 17.7

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 549

|percentage = 31.3

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box begin | title=Lostock and Wincham By-Election 26 August 2004}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 414

|percentage = 46.1

|change = +21.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 274

|percentage = 30.5

|change = -17.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 185

|percentage = 20.6

|change = -6.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate =

|votes = 26

|percentage = 2.9

|change = +2.9

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 140

|percentage = 15.6

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 899

|percentage = 26.9

|change =

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|loser = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box begin | title=Winsford Swanlow By-Election 20 January 2005}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate = Brandon Parkey

|votes = 326

|percentage = 48.9

|change = -20.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 183

|percentage = 27.5

|change = +13.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 157

|percentage = 23.6

|change = +6.9

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 143

|percentage = 21.4

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 666

|percentage = 19.5

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box begin | title=Winsford Verdin By-Election 20 January 2005}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate = Peter Gannon

|votes = 336

|percentage = 56.4

|change = +18.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 188

|percentage = 31.5

|change = -8.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =

|votes = 72

|percentage = 12.1

|change = -12.1

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 148

|percentage = 24.9

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 596

|percentage = 12.0

|change =

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|loser = Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box begin | title=Leftwich and Kingsmead By-Election 9 February 2006}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Helen Burder

|votes = 334

|percentage = 36.2

|change = +3.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate = Glyn Roberts

|votes = 296

|percentage = 32.1

|change = +2.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Kathryn Birtwistle

|votes = 293

|percentage = 31.7

|change = -5.9

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 38

|percentage = 4.1

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 923

|percentage = 16.0

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box begin | title=Leftwich and Kingsmead By-Election 1 May 2008}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Helen Weltman

|votes = 855

|percentage = 54.8

|change = +24.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Paul Dolan

|votes = 383

|percentage = 24.5

|change = -3.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate = Glyn Roberts

|votes = 323

|percentage = 20.7

|change = +3.4

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 472

|percentage = 30.2

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 1,561

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20060110192546/http://www.valeroyal.gov.uk/ Vale Royal Council]

References

{{Coord |53|15|N|2|36|W|type:adm3rd_region:GB-CHS|display=title}}

Category:Council elections in Cheshire

Category:District council elections in England

Category:Districts of England established in 1974

Category:English districts abolished in 2009

Category:Former non-metropolitan districts of Cheshire

Category:Former boroughs in England

class=wikitable ! Councillor !! colspan=2\|Party !! From !! To
Marie Birkenhead	{{party name with colour\|Conservative Party (UK)}}	align=right\|	align=right\|5 May 1988
Arthur Neil{{cite news \|date=12 May 1988 \|title=Vale Royal's first Labour leader \|page=11 \|newspaper=Runcorn Weekly News \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/799155877/ \|url-access=subscription \|access-date=8 August 2023 \|via=Newspaper.com}}	{{party name with colour\|Labour Party (UK)}}	align=right\|5 May 1988	align=right\|11 May 1989
David Broster{{cite news \|date=17 May 1989 \|title=Labour loses its grasp after mayor change \|page=27 \|newspaper=Northwich Chronicle \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-northwich-chronicle-labour-loses-its/129633641/ \|access-date=8 August 2023 \|via=Newspapers.com}}	{{party name with colour\|Conservative Party (UK)}}	align=right\|11 May 1989	align=right\|10 May 1990
Bernard Burton{{cite news \|date=17 May 1990 \|title=Vale Royal elects its officers \|page=12 \|newspaper=Runcorn Weekly News \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/runcorn-weekly-news-vale-royal-elects-it/129676949/ \|access-date=8 August 2023 \|via=Newspapers.com \|archive-date=11 August 2023 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811050751/https://www.newspapers.com/article/runcorn-weekly-news-vale-royal-elects-it/129676949/ \|url-status=live }}	{{party name with colour\|Conservative Party (UK)}}	align=right\|10 May 1990	align=right\|1991
Arthur Neil{{cite news \|title=It's a tough job - but worth it to help people \|url=https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/5295838.its-a-tough-job-but-worth-it-to-help-people/ \|access-date=6 September 2022 \|newspaper=Warrington Guardian \|date=28 April 2000}}	{{party name with colour\|Labour Party (UK)}}	align=right\|1991	align=right\|Apr 2000
Bob Mather{{cite web \|title=Executive Group \|url=http://www.valeroyal.gov.uk/democracy/modernvr/exec/exec.html \|website=Vale Royal Borough Council \|access-date=6 September 2022 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000602120200/http://www.valeroyal.gov.uk/democracy/modernvr/exec/exec.html \|archive-date=2 June 2000}}	{{party name with colour\|Labour Party (UK)}}	align=right\|Apr 2000	align=right\|May 2003
Keith Musgrave{{cite news \|last1=Wilson \|first1=James \|title=Party ditches council leader \|url=https://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/1417235.party-ditches-council-leader/ \|access-date=6 September 2022 \|newspaper=Northwich Guardian \|date=26 May 2007}}	{{party name with colour\|Conservative Party (UK)}}	align=right\|May 2003	align=right\|May 2007
Les Ford	{{party name with colour\|Conservative Party (UK)}}	align=right\|May 2007	align=right\|31 Mar 2009