Blackpool Council
Local government in Lancashire, England
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blackpool Council is the local authority of the Borough of Blackpool, in the ceremonial county of Lancashire, England. Since 1998 it has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council; it is independent from Lancashire County Council. The borough council has been a member of the Lancashire Combined County Authority since its formation in 2025.
since 21 July 2011[2]
Blackpool Council | |
|---|---|
| |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Neil Jack since 21 July 2011[2] | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 42 councillors[3] |
 | |
Political groups |
|
Length of term | 4 years |
| Elections | |
| Plurality-at-large[a] | |
Last election | 4 May 2023 |
Next election | to be Abolished |
| Motto | |
| Progress | |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Town Hall, Talbot Square, Blackpool, FY1 1GB | |
| Website | |
| blackpool | |
The council has been under Labour majority control since 1991. It meets at Blackpool Town Hall and has its offices in the adjoining Municipal Buildings and at Bickerstaffe Square.
History
Blackpool's first elected local authority was the Layton with Warbreck Local Board, established in 1851 and named after the historic township that included the nascent town of Blackpool.[4] The board was renamed the Blackpool Local Board in 1868.[5] In 1876 the district was elevated to become a municipal borough, governed by a body formally called the "mayor, aldermen and burgesses of the borough of Blackpool", but generally known as the corporation, town council or borough council.[6]
From 1904 to 1974, Blackpool was a county borough, independent from Lancashire County Council, whilst remaining part of the geographical county of Lancashire.[7] In 1974 Blackpool was reconstituted as a non-metropolitan district under the Local Government Act 1972. It kept the same boundaries, but became a lower tier district authority with the county council providing county-level services to the town again.[8]
The council became a unitary authority on 1 April 1998. The way the change was implemented was to create a new non-metropolitan county of Blackpool covering the same area as the borough, but with no separate county council; instead, the existing borough council took on county council functions.[9] Blackpool remains part of the ceremonial county of Lancashire for the purposes of lieutenancy.[10]
In 2025, the council became a member of the new Lancashire Combined County Authority.[11]
In July 2026, the UK Government announced that Blackpool Council will be abolished as part of a local government reorganisation in Lancashire. Subject to Parliamentary approval, the council will cease to exist on 1 April 2028, when it will be replaced by the new West Lancashire unitary authority (covering Fylde, Wyre, and Blackpool). Shadow elections for the new unitary councils are scheduled for May 2027.[12]
Governance
As a unitary authority, Blackpool Council provides both district-level and county-level functions. There are no civil parishes in the borough.[13]
Political control
The council as a Unitary Authority has been under Labour majority control since its creation as such.
Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms took effect has been as follows:[14][15]
Lower tier non-metropolitan district
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 1974–1987 | |
| No overall control | 1987–1991 | |
| Labour | 1991–1998 | |
Unitary authority
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 1998–present | |
Leadership
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Blackpool. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1991 have been:
Current Composition
Following the 2023 election,[24] and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to July 2026, the composition of the council was as follows:[25][26]
| Party | Seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 26 | |
| Conservative | 11 | |
| Reform | 4 | |
| Vacant | 1 | |
| Total | 42 | |
Elections
Since the last boundary changes in 2023 the council has comprised 42 councillors representing 21 wards, with each ward electing two councillors. The whole council is elected together every four years.[27]
Premises
The council meets at Blackpool Town Hall on Talbot Square.[28] The building was completed in 1900.[29]
The council's offices are split between the Municipal Buildings on Corporation Street, immediately adjoining the rear of the Town Hall, and One Bickerstaffe Square, a modern building near Blackpool North railway station, completed in 2014.[30][31]
Notes
- First-past-the-post used in by-elections.