Wirral Council

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council, or simply Wirral Council, is the local authority of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is a metropolitan district council, one of five in Merseyside and one of 36 in the metropolitan counties of England, and provides the majority of local government services in Wirral. It is a constituent council of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.[5]

Wirral Council
Arms of Wirral Council
Wirral Council logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Civic Mayor of Wirral
George Davies, Labour
since 19 May 2021
Leader of the Council
Janette Williamson, Labour
since 28 September 2020
Deputy Leader
Yvonne Nolan, Labour
since 26 May 2021[1]
Leader of the Opposition
Tom Anderson, Conservative
since 14 May 2021[2]
Chief executive
Paul Satoor
Structure
Seats66 councillors[3]
Wirral Council composition
Political groups
  Labour (30)
  Conservative (17)
  Green (13)
  Liberal Democrat (6)
Joint committees
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Length of term
4 years
Elections
First-past-the-post
First election
10 May 1973
Last election
5 May 2022
Next election
4 May 2023
Meeting place
Wallasey Town Hall, Wallasey
Floral Pavilion Theatre, New Brighton[n 1]
Website
wirral.gov.uk

History

The current local authority was first elected in 1973, a year before formally coming into its powers and prior to the creation of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral on 1 April 1974. The council gained borough status, entitling it to be known as Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.

Timeline
  • 1973 First election.
  • 1974 Metropolitan borough of Wirral established.
  • 1975 Conservatives take control of council.
  • 1986 Council falls under No Overall Control.
  • 1991 Labour take control of the council for the first time.
  • 1992 Council falls under No Overall Control.
  • 1995 Labour take control of the council.
  • 2002 Council falls under No Overall Control.
  • 2005–06 Hilary Jones (Hoylake and Meols) becomes UKIP's first (and last) representation on the council. Elected as a Conservative (later resigning the whip in 2004).
  • 2008 Last Liberal Democrat gain until 2019.
  • 2011 Liberal Democrat leader, and then Deputy Leader of the council, Simon Holbrook loses his Prenton seat to Labour's Paul Doughty after 12 years as a councillor.
  • 2012 Labour take control of the council.
  • 2013 Last Conservative Gain in Leasowe and Moreton East by-election (lost in the following years election).
  • 2014 Greens make first gain in Wirral with Pat Cleary ousting Labour's, then cabinet member for the environment, Brian Kenny in their traditionally safe seat of Birkenhead and Tranmere.
  • 2015 Last Labour gain.
  • 2019 Council falls under No Overall Control, first net gain for the Liberal Democrats since 2008.

Council leadership

Leader of the Council and Cabinet
Office(s)PartyCouncillorCurrent PortfolioEntered cabinetWardRef
Leader of the council;
Overall strategic direction of Council		 Labour Pat Hackett 14 May 2019 14 May 2019 New Brighton [6]
Deputy Leader of the council; The Local Plan Labour Anita Leech 14 May 2019 15 August 2018 Leasowe and Moreton East [7]
Adult care, health and wellbeing Labour Chris Jones 14 May 2019 ? Seacombe [8]
Children, families and education Labour Tom Usher 14 May 2019 14 May 2019 Liscard [9]
Community Services Labour Julie McManus 14 May 2019 14 May 2019 Bidston and St James [10]
Environment and climate change Labour Elizabeth Grey 14 May 2019 14 May 2019 Bidston and St James [11]
Finance and Resources Labour Janette Williamson 15 May 2018 ? Liscard [12]
Housing and Planning Labour Stuart Whittingham 14 May 2019 ? Upton [13]
Regeneration and Growth Labour Tony Jones 14 May 2019 14 May 2019 New Brighton [14]
Culture and Tourism Labour Christine Spriggs 14 May 2019 14 May 2019 New Brighton [15]
Source: Wirral Council[16]

Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Cabinet
Role(s)PartyCouncillorTerm startWardRef
Leader of the Opposition,
Leader of Conservative Group		 Conservative Ian Lewis 8 May 2017 Wallasey [17]
Deputy Leader of Conservative Group Conservative Lesley Rennie ? Wallasey [18]
Environment Conservative Adam Sykes ? Clatterbridge [19]

Mayor of Wirral
Main article: Mayor of Wirral

The Mayor of Wirral (or Civic Mayor of Wirral) is a ceremonial post elected annually, along with a deputy, by Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.[20] The role of the mayor includes chairing council meetings, representing the Borough at civic functions, supporting local charities and conferring Honorary Freemen and Aldermen.

The incumbent mayor and deputy mayor are Cllr George Davies and Cllr Jeff Green.[21]

Wards and councillors

Each ward is represented by three councillors.[22]

Parliamentary constituencyWardCouncillorPartyTerm of officeFirst elected (re-entered)
Birkenhead Bidston and St James Liz Grey Labour 2018–22 2018
Brian Kenny Labour 2019–23 2006 (2015)
Julie McManus Labour 2021-24 2016
Birkenhead and Tranmere Pat Cleary Green 2018–22 2014
Amanda Onwuemene Green 2022-25 2022
Emily Gleaves Green 2021-24 2021
Claughton Gillian Wood Labour 2018–22 2017
Steve Foulkes Labour 2019–23 1990
George Davies Labour 2021-24 1988
Oxton Allan Brame Liberal Democrats 2018–22 2018
Orod Osanlou Liberal Democrats 2021–23 2021
Stuart Kelly Liberal Democrats 2021-24 1991 (1998, 2016)
Prenton Naomi Graham Green 2022–25 2022
Chris Cooke Green 2019–23 2019
Harry Gorman Green 2021-24 2021
Rock Ferry Yvonne Nolan Labour
Christopher Davies Labour 2022-25 2022
Clare O'Hagan Labour 2021–24 2021
Wallasey Leasowe and Moreton East Angela Davies Labour 2022–25 2015
Karl Greaney Independent [n 2] 2019–23 2019
Helen Collinson Labour 2021-24 2021
Liscard Janette Williamson Labour 2018–22 2012
Daisy Kenny Labour 2021-23 2021
James Laing Labour 2022-25 2021
Moreton West and Saughall Massie Vida Wilson Conservative 2022-25 2022
Steve Williams Conservative 2019–23 2009
Max Booth Conservative 2021–24 2021
New Brighton Sue Powell-Wilde Labour 2022-25 2022
Paul Martin Labour 2021–23 2021
Tony Jones Labour 2021-24 2016
Seacombe John Hoey Labour 2022-25 2022
Chris Jones Labour 2019–23 2004 (2011)
Paul Stuart Labour 2021–24 2016
Wallasey Lesley Rennie Conservative 2018–22 1991 (1997)
Paul Hayes Conservative 2019–23 2007
Ian Lewis Conservative 2021–24 1999 (2008, 2013, 2016)
Wirral South Bebington Judith Grier Green 2022-25 2022
Jerry Williams Labour 2019–23 1996 (2002)
Jason Walsh Green 2021-24 2021
Bromborough Sue Percy Labour 2022-25 2022
Joe Walsh Labour 2019–23 2011
Jo Bird Green [n 3] 2021–24 2018
Clatterbridge Mary Jordon Conservative 2018–22 2018
Helen Cameron Conservative 2019–23 2019
Cherry Povall JP Conservative 2021-24 2008
Eastham Chris Carubia Liberal Democrats 2018–22 2014
Dave Mitchell Liberal Democrats 2019–23 1983
Phil Gilchrist Liberal Democrats 2021-24 1977 (1992)
Heswall Paul Connolly Conservative 2022-25 2022
Andrew Hodson Conservative 2019–23 1994
Kathy Hodson Conservative 2021-24 2013
Wirral West Greasby, Frankby and Irby Tracy Elzeiny Conservative 2022-25 2022
David Burgess-Joyce Conservative 2019–23 2015
Tom Anderson Conservative 2021-24 2008 (2014)
Hoylake and Meols Tony Cox Conservative 2018–22 2011 (2018)
Alison Wright Conservative 2019–23 2019
Andrew Gardner Conservative 2021-24 2018
Pensby and Thingwall Leah Fraser Conservative 2022-25 2003
Mike Collins Conservative 2019–23 2019
Ivan Camphor Conservative 2021-24 2021
Upton Stephen Bennett Labour 2022-25 2022
Tony Smith Labour 2019–23 1995 (2004)
Jean Robinson Labour 2021-24 2018
West Kirby and Thurstaston Jeff Green Conservative 2018–22 1986
Jenny Johnson Conservative 2019–23 2019
Simon Mountney Conservative 2021–24 2004 (2021)

Political makeup

Only four parties have won seats to Council: Conservative, Green, Labour and Liberal Democrat (and its predecessors). All other political representation has come via changes in affiliation.

Year Con Green Lab Lib Dem Other Ref
1973 29 0 24 13 0 [26]
1974 29 0 24 13 0
1975 36 0 21 9 0
37 0 21 8 0
1976 42 0 18 6 0
1977 42 0 18 6 0
1978 45 0 16 5 0
1979 40 0 20 6 0
1980 37 0 23 6 0
1981 37 0 23 6 0
1982 35 0 25 6 0
1983 34 0 24 8 0
1984 34 0 24 8 0
1985 34 0 24 8 0
1986 30 0 26 10 0
1987 29 0 27 10 0
1988 24 0 32 10 0
24 0 29 10 3
1989 24 0 29 10 3
1990 23 0 33 7 3
23 0 33 8 2
1991 24 0 34 7 1
1992 29 0 31 6 0
1993 29 0 31 6 0
1994 30 0 30 6 0
28 0 30 8 0
1995 22 0 36 8 0
1996 16 0 41 9 0
1997 16 0 41 9 0
1998 16 0 41 8 1
16 0 42 8 0 [27]
1999 17 0 39 10 0 [26]
2000 20 0 34 12 0
2001 20 0 34 12 0
20 0 33 12 1 [28]
2002 20 0 32 12 2
20 0 31 14 1 [29]
2003 23 0 26 16 1 [30]
2004 21 0 26 19 0 [31]
20 0 26 19 1 [32]
2005 21 0 26 18 1 [33]
2006 21 0 26 19 0 [34]
2007 21 0 25 20 0 [35]
21 0 25 19 1 [36]
20 0 25 19 2 [37]
2008 24 0 21 20 1 [38]
2009 25 0 20 20 1 [39]
2010 27 0 24 15 0 [40]
2011 27 0 29 10 0 [41]
27 0 30 9 0 [42]
2012 22 0 37 7 0 [43]
2013 23 0 36 7 0 [44]
22 0 37 7 0 [45]
22 0 37 6 1 [46]
2014 21 1 38 6 0 [47]
2015 21 1 39 5 0 [48]
2016 21 1 38 5 1 [49]
21 1 39 5 0 [50]
2017 21 1 39 5 0
2018 21 1 39 5 0 [51]
21 1 38 5 1 [52]
21 1 37 5 2 [53]
2019 21 1 36 5 3 [54]
21 1 35 5 4 [55]
21 1 34 5 5 [56]
22 3 32 6 3 [57]
2020 22 2 32 6 4 [58]
2021 23 5 30 6 2 [59]
23 5 29 6 3 [60]
2022 23 5 28 6 4 [61]
23 6 28 6 3 [25]
24 9 26 6 1 [62]
2023 23 9 26 6 2 [63]
23 9 25 6 3 [64]
23 9 24 6 4 [65]
23 9 23 6 5 [66]
17 13 30 6 0 [67]

Leaders
Further information: Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council elections

Leaders and control

Since the first election to the council in 1973 political control of the council has been held by the following parties:[68]

Portrait Name Years Control
No image wide.svg
 Bill Whitehurst 1973–1974 No Overall Control
No image wide.svg
 Malcolm Thornton 1974–1975
1975–1977 Conservative
No image wide.svg
 Harry Deverill 1977–1980
Blank
 David Fletcher 1980–1985
Blank
 John Hale 1985–1986
1986 (May – Oct) No Overall Control
Hung 1986–1990
Cllr Yvonne Nolan.jpg
 Yvonne Nolan 1990–1991
No image wide.svg
 George Clark 1991–1992 Labour
Hung 1992–1995 No Overall Control
No image wide.svg
 Dave Jackson 1995–2000 Labour
Blank
 Steve Foulkes 2000–2002
2002–2010 No Overall Control
Blank
 Jeff Green 2010–2011
Blank
 Steve Foulkes 2011–2012
Blank
 Jeff Green 2012 (Feb – May)
Blank
 Phil Davies 2012–2019 Labour
Cllr Pat Hackett.jpg
 Pat Hackett 2019–2020 No Overall Control
Cllr Janette Williamson.jpg
 Janette Williamson 2020 to present

Party leaders
By size of group, current Party leaders Williamson, Anderson, Gilchrist and Cleary
Year Con Green Lab Lib Dem
1973 Bill Whitehurst Not Represented Bill Wells Gruff Evans
1974
Malcolm Thornton
1977
Harry Deverill Gordon Lindsay
1978
Richard Kimberley
1979
Roy Perkins
1980
David Fletcher Andrew Smith
1983
George Clark
1985
John Hale
1986
Peter Corcoran
1988
Ed Cunniffe
1990
Gordon Lindsay
Yvonne Nolan
1991
George Clark
1992
Dave Jackson
1993
Phil Gilchrist
2000
Steve Foulkes
2001
Stuart Kelly
2002
Jeff Green
2007
Simon Holbrook
2011
Tom Harney
2012
Phil Davies
2013
Phil Gilchrist
2014
Pat Cleary Position
not
established
2017
Ian Lewis
2019
Pat Hackett
2020
Janette Williamson
Jeff Green
2021
Tom Anderson
2023
Jeff Green Jo Bird Paul Stuart

Notes
  1. From 2021, following resumption of in person meetings due to the Covid-19 pandemic.[4]
  2. Resigned from Labour in February 2022 over a disagreement with his party's internal procedure.[23]
  3. Expelled from the Labour Party in November 2021.[24] Joined Green Party in March 2022.[25]

References
  1. "Agenda Annual Meeting (Part 2), Council Wednesday, 26th May 2021 6.00 p.m." Wirral Council. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  2. Morgan, George (14 May 2021). "New Wirral Conservative leader elected with pledge to protect greenbelt". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  3. "Councillors". www.wirral.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  4. Morgan, George (12 May 2021). "Wirral councillors' fury as online meetings to end". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  5. "Proposal to establish a combined authority for Greater Merseyside" (PDF). Department for Communities and Local Government. November 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  6. "Councillor Pat Hackett". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  7. "Councillor Anita Leech". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  8. "Councillor Chris Jones". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  9. "Councillor Thomas Usher". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  10. "Councillor Julie McManus". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  11. "Councillor Liz Grey". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  12. "Councillor Janette Williamson". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  13. "Councillor Stuart Whittingham". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  14. "Councillor Tony Jones". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  15. "Councillor Christine Spriggs". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  16. "Cabinet members 2019-20". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  17. "Councillor Ian Lewis". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 17 May 2021.
  18. "Councillor Lesley Rennie". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 17 May 2021.
  19. "Councillor Adam Sykes". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 17 May 2021.
  20. "Mayor of Wirral". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  21. Brace, John (15 May 2018). "Cllr Geoffrey Watt elected Mayor of Wirral for 2018-19". Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  22. "Your Councillors by Ward". www.wirral.gov.uk. Wirral Council. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  23. Morgan, George (1 April 2022). "Wirral Labour's chief whip resigns after being 'disciplined' by party". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
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  41. "Election Result for 5 May 2011". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
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  43. "Election Result for 3 May 2012". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  44. "Conservative victory in Wirral by-elections". Wirral Globe.
  45. "UPDATED: Labour victory in Wirral Council by-election". Wirral Globe.
  46. "Wirral councillor Mark Johnson quits Liberal Democrat Party". Liverpool Echo.
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  64. Barnes, Edward (5 April 2023). "Local elections 2023: All the candidates you can vote for in Wirral". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
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