Caerphilly County Borough Council
Local government of Caerphilly County Borough, Wales
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Caerphilly County Borough Council (Welsh: Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili) is the local authority for the county borough of Caerphilly, one of the principal areas of Wales. The last full council elections took place 5 May 2022.
Caerphilly County Borough Council | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 1 April 1996 |
| Preceded by | Islwyn Borough Council Rhymney Valley District Council Mid Glamorgan County Council Gwent County Council |
| Leadership | |
Ed Edmunds since 30 January 2025[2] | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 69 councillors |
 | |
Political groups |
|
Length of term | 5 years |
| Elections | |
| First-past-the-post | |
Last election | 5 May 2022 |
Next election | 6 May 2027 |
| Meeting place | |
.jpg) | |
| Penallta House, Tredomen Park, Ystrad Mynach, Hengoed, CF82 7PG | |
| Website | |
| www | |
History
The council was former in April 1996 following the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994[3] by merging Islwyn Borough Council and the Rhymney Valley District Council.[4][AI-retrieved source]
In September 2025, Sean Morgan resigned from Welsh Labour and hence leader of the council in order to back Plaid Cymru in the 2025 Caerphilly by-election, although he later joined the Green Party, became its first ever member on the council.[5][6]
Political control
The council has been under Labour majority control since 2012.
The first election to the new council was held in 1995. It initially operated as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities before coming into its powers on 1 April 1996. Political control of the council since 1996 has been as follows:[7]
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 1996–1999 | |
| Plaid Cymru | 1999–2004 | |
| Labour | 2004–2008 | |
| No overall control | 2008–2012 | |
| Labour | 2012–present | |
Leadership
The role of Mayor of Caerphilly is largely ceremonial. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The first leader, Graham Court, was the last leader of the old Rhymney Valley District Council.[8] The leaders of Caerphilly County Borough Council since 1996 have been:
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graham Court[9][10] | Labour | 1 Apr 1996 | May 1999 | |
| Lindsay Whittle[11][12] | Plaid Cymru | 20 May 1999 | Jun 2004 | |
| Harry Andrews[13][14] | Labour | 24 Jun 2004 | 15 May 2008 | |
| Lindsay Whittle[14][15][16] | Plaid Cymru | 15 May 2008 | 24 May 2011 | |
| Allan Pritchard[16][17][18] | Plaid Cymru | 24 May 2011 | May 2012 | |
| Harry Andrews[19] | Labour | 24 May 2012 | 8 May 2014 | |
| Keith Reynolds[20][21] | Labour | 8 May 2014 | 10 Apr 2017 | |
| David Poole[22][23][24] | Labour | 18 May 2017 | 20 Sep 2019 | |
| Philippa Marsden[25][26] | Labour | 19 Nov 2019 | May 2022 | |
| Sean Morgan[27][28] | Labour | 19 May 2022 | 11 September 2025 | |
| Jamie Pritchard[29] | Labour | 11 November 2025 | Present | |
Composition
Following the 2022 election, and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to February 2026, the composition of the council was:[30]
| Party | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 43 | |
| Plaid Cymru | 19 | |
| Green | 1 | |
| Independent | 6 | |
| Total | 69 | |
The next election is due in 2027.[31]
Elections
| Year | Seats | Labour | Plaid Cymru | Independent | Liberal Democrats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 67[32] | 55 | 9 | 3 | 0 | Labour majority controlled |
| 1999 | 73 | 28 | 38 | 6 | 1 | Plaid Cymru majority control |
| 2004 | 73 | 41 | 26 | 6 | 0 | Labour majority control |
| 2008 | 73 | 32 | 32 | 9 | 0 | No overall control; Plaid Cymru led administration. |
| 2012 | 73 | 50 | 20 | 3 | 0 | Labour majority control |
| 2017[33] | 73 | 50 | 18 | 5 | 0 | Labour majority control |
| 2022[34] | 69 | 45 | 18 | 6 | 0 | Labour majority control |
Party with the most elected councillors in bold. Coalition agreements in notes column
Premises
The council inherited two main offices from its predecessor authorities: Ystrad Fawr House at Ystrad Mynach from Rhymney Valley District Council, and Pontllanfraith House in Pontllanfraith from Islwyn Borough Council. Ystrad Fawr House was demolished in 2008 to make way for the Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr hospital. A new headquarters was built at Penallta House in the Tredomen area of Ystrad Mynach (in the community of Gelligaer), opening in April 2008.[35] The other office at Pontllanfraith House subsequently closed in 2015 and has since been demolished.[36][37]
Electoral divisions
The county borough is divided into 30 electoral wards returning 69 councillors. Many of these wards are coterminous with communities (parishes) of the same name. The following table lists council wards, communities and community ward areas.
| Ward[38] | Communities | Community ward | Councillors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aber Valley | Aber Valley | Abertridwr, Senghenydd | 3 |
| Aberbargoed and Bargoed | Bargoed | Aberbargoed, Bargoed | 3 |
| Aber-carn | Aber-carn | Aber-carn | 2 |
| Argoed | Argoed | Argoed, Hollybush, Markham | 1 |
| Bedwas and Trethomas | Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen | Bedwas, Trethomas | 3 |
| Blackwood | Blackwood | Blackwood Central, Blackwood North, Blackwood South, Cefn Fforest East | 3 |
| Cefn Fforest and Pengam | Cefn Fforest, Pengam | Cefn Fforest, Pengam | 3 |
| Crumlin | Crumlin | Crumlin | 2 |
| Darran Valley | Darran Valley | Deri, Fochriw | 1 |
| Gilfach | Bargoed | Gilfach | 1 |
| Hengoed | Gelligaer | Cefn Hengoed, Hengoed | 2 |
| Llanbradach | Llanbradach and Pwllypant | Llanbradach, Pwllypant, Wingfield | 2 |
| Machen and Rudry | Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen, Rudry | Llanfedw, Machen, Rhydygwern, Rudry | 2 |
| Maesycwmmer | Maesycwmmer | Maesycwmmer | 1 |
| Morgan Jones | Caerphilly | Bryncenydd, Parcyfelin, Tonyfelin | 3 |
| Moriah and Pontlottyn | Rhymney | Abertysswg, Moriah, Pontlottyn, St David's | 2 |
| Nelson | Nelson | Llanfabon, Llwyncelyn | 2 |
| New Tredegar | New Tredegar | Brithdir, Cwmsyfiog, New Tredegar, Phillipstown, Tir-phil | 2 |
| Newbridge | Newbridge | Newbridge | 3 |
| Penmaen | Penmaen | Penmaen | 2 |
| Penyrheol | Penyrheol, Trecenydd and Energlyn | Energlyn, Penyrheol, Trecenydd | 4 |
| Pontllanfraith | Pontllanfraith | Pontllanfraith, Springfield | 3 |
| Risca East | Risca East | Pontymister and Ty-Sign, Pontymister Upper, Trenewydd | 3 |
| Risca West | Risca West | Pontymister Lower, Risca Danygraig, Risca Fernlea and Town, Ty-Isaf Fields Road | 2 |
| St Cattwg | Gelligaer | Cascade, Greenhill, Tir-y-berth | 3 |
| St Martins | Caerphilly | Castle, Cwrt Rawlins, Twyn, Watford | 3 |
| Twyn Carno | Rhymney | Twyn Carno | 1 |
| Van | Van | Brynau, Lansbury, Porset | 2 |
| Ystrad Mynach | Gelligaer | Ystrad Mynach | 3 |
Former wards
Until 2022, the county borough was divided into 33 electoral wards returning 73 councillors. Communities with a community council are indicated with a '*':
| Ward | Communities (Parishes) | Other geographic areas |
|---|---|---|
| Aberbargoed | Bargoed Town* (Aberbargoed ward) | Bedwellty |
| Abercarn | Abercarn | Chapel of Ease, Cwmcarn, Llanfach, West End |
| Aber Valley | Aber Valley* | Senghenydd, Abertridwr |
| Argoed | Argoed* | Cwm Corrwg, Hollybush, Manmoel, Markham |
| Bargoed | Bargoed Town* (Bargoed and Park wards) | Gilfach Estate |
| Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen | Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen* | Bedwas, Trethomas, Machen, Graig-y-Rhacca |
| Blackwood | Blackwood Town* | Britannia, Cwm Gelli, Highfields |
| Cefn Fforest | Cefn Fforest | |
| Crosskeys | Crosskeys | Pontywaun |
| Crumlin | Crumlin | Bont Pren, Croespenmaen, Hafodyrnynys, Kendon, Treowen, Trinant |
| Darran Valley | Darran Valley* | Deri, Groesfaen, Pentwyn, Fochriw |
| Gilfach | Bargoed Town* (Gilfach ward) | |
| Hengoed | Gelligaer* (Cefn Hengoed and Hengoed wards) | |
| Llanbradach | Llanbradach & Pwllypant* | |
| Maesycwmmer | Maesycwmmer* | |
| Morgan Jones | Caerphilly Town* (Bryncenydd, Parcyfelin and Tonyfelin wards) | Bryncenydd, Churchill Park, Pontypandy |
| Moriah | Rhymney* (Abertysswg, Moriah and St.David's wards) | Abertysswg, Tan-y-bryn |
| Nelson | Nelson* | |
| Newbridge | Newbridge | Cwmdows, Pant, Pentwynmawr |
| New Tredegar | New Tredegar* | Brithdir, Phillipstown, Tirphil, Elliotstown, Cwmsyfiog |
| Pengam | Pengam | Britannia, Fleur de Lis, Gellihaf |
| Penmain | Penmain (Penmaen) | Oakdale, Pen-y-fan, Woodfieldside |
| Penyrheol | Penyrheol, Trecenydd and Energlyn* | Trecenydd, Hendredenny, Energlyn, Groeswen |
| Pontllanfraith | Pontllanfraith | Bryn, Gelligroes, Springfield, Penllwyn |
| Pontlottyn | Rhymney* (Pontlottyn ward) | |
| Risca East | That part of the Community of Risca bounded by a line commencing at the point on the boundary of the former borough of Islwyn at Grid Reference ST 24879259, thence southwards along a track to Grid Reference ST 24799214, thence southwestwards along a cart track to Grid Reference ST 24679204, thence southwestwards along field boundaries to the stream at Grid Reference ST 24459185, thence along that stream southwestwards to the place where it enters the Monmouthshire Canal.[39] | Ty Sign |
| Risca West | The area of Risca not contained in Risca East | |
| St. Cattwg | Gelligaer* | Cascade, Cefn Hengoed, Glan-y-nant, Penpedairheol, Tir-y-berth |
| St. James | Rudry*, Van* | Lansbury Park, Mornington Meadows, Waterloo, Llwyn Gwyn |
| St. Martins | Caerphilly Town* (Castle, Twyn and Watford wards) | Watford, Bonfield Park, Castle View |
| Twyn Carno | Rhymney* (Twyn Carno ward) | Llechryd, Princetown |
| Ynysddu | Ynysddu | Brynawel, Wattsville, Wyllie, Cwmfelinfach, Mynyddislyn |
| Ystrad Mynach | Gelligaer* (Ystrad Mynach ward) | Tredomen, Penallta |
Allegations of misconduct
In 2015 Anthony O'Sullivan, the chief executive and two other executives were charged with misconduct during public office. It was alleged that they specifically 'wilfully misconducted themselves in relation to securing Caerphilly County Borough Council's approval of a remuneration package for the said council's chief officers from which they stood to gain for themselves'.[40][41][42]
Relating to this and other failings the Welsh Assembly commissioned a special report on the council in January 2014.[43]