Tamworth Borough Council
Local authority In England
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tamworth Borough Council is the local authority for the borough of Tamworth in the county of Staffordshire, England. The council consists of 30 councillors, three for each of the 10 wards in the town.[4] It is currently under no overall control, and has been led by Labour councillor Carol Dean since May 2024. The borough council is based at Marmion House.[5]
since 1 April 2024[3]
Tamworth Borough Council | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Stephen Gabriel since 1 April 2024[3] | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 30 councillors |
 | |
Political groups |
|
Length of term | 4 years |
| Elections | |
Last election | 7 May 2026 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Marmion House, Lichfield Street, Tamworth, B79 7BZ | |
| Website | |
| www | |
History
Tamworth was an ancient borough. It was reformed in 1836 under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 to become a municipal borough.[6] Until 1889 the borough straddled Warwickshire and Staffordshire. When elected county councils were established under the Local Government Act 1888 one provision of the act was that boroughs could no longer straddle county boundaries, as Tamworth did. The town was therefore placed entirely in Staffordshire, as that county had the larger share of the borough's population, with the new Staffordshire County Council providing higher-tier services.[7] The borough boundaries were enlarged on multiple occasions, notably in 1932 and 1965.[6]
On 1 April 1974 the borough became a non-metropolitan district, altering its powers and responsibilities but keeping the same area.[8]
In 2026 the government announced that Tamworth Borough Council will be abolished in 2028 as part of upcoming structural changes to local government in England, with the area becoming part of a new South and Mid Staffordshire unitary authority. The outgoing council is considering proposing a town council for Tamworth.[9]
Governance
Tamworth Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Staffordshire County Council.[10] There are no civil parishes in the borough, which is an unparished area.[11]
Political control
The council came under Labour majority control in the 2024 election, they lost control in 2026.[12][13]
Political control of the council since 1974 reforms took effect has been as follows:[14][15]
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 1974–1976 | |
| No overall control | 1976–1978 | |
| Conservative | 1978–1980 | |
| Labour | 1980–1983 | |
| Conservative | 1983–1986 | |
| Labour | 1986–1987 | |
| Conservative | 1987–1988 | |
| No overall control | 1988–1990 | |
| Labour | 1990–2004 | |
| Conservative | 2004–2023 | |
| No overall control | 2023–2024 | |
| Labour | 2024–2026 | |
| No overall control[16] | 2026–present | |
Leadership
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Tamworth. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1980 have been:
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Comiskey[17] | Labour | 1980 | 1983 | |
| John Garner[18][19] | Conservative | May 1983 | May 1984 | |
| Irene Davies[19][20] | Conservative | May 1984 | May 1986 | |
| Phil Dix[21][22] | Labour | May 1986 | May 1987 | |
| Irene Davies[22][23] | Conservative | May 1987 | May 1988 | |
| Iain Marshall[23][24] | Conservative | May 1988 | Nov 1989 | |
| Phil Dix[24][25] | Labour | Nov 1989 | May 1995 | |
| Brian Jenkins[26][27] | Labour | May 1995 | Apr 1996 | |
| Stuart Tonks[28][29] | Labour | May 1996 | May 1999 | |
| Steve Holland[30] | Labour | May 1999 | 2000 | |
| Peter Seekings[31] | Labour | 2000 | 2004 | |
| Ron Cook[32] | Conservative | 2004 | 2006 | |
| Jeremy Oates[33][34] | Conservative | 2006 | May 2009 | |
| Bruce Boughton[35] | Conservative | 2009 | Dec 2009 | |
| Danny Cook[35][36] | Conservative | 15 Dec 2009 | 23 Feb 2021 | |
| Jeremy Oates[36][37][38] | Conservative | 23 Feb 2021 | May 2023 | |
| Paul Turner[39][40] | Conservative | 23 May 2023 | 20 Nov 2023 | |
| Thomas Jay[41][42][43] | Conservative | 12 Dec 2023 | May 2024 | |
| Carol Dean[44][45] | Labour | 21 May 2024 | ||
Composition
Following the 2026 election, and a subsequent change of allegiance, the composition of the council was:[46]
| Party | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 13 | |
| Reform | 10 | |
| Conservative | 3 | |
| Green | 2 | |
| Independent | 2 | |
| Total | 30 | |
Elections
Since the last boundary changes in 2002 the council has comprised 30 councillors representing 10 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with a third of the council (one councillor for each ward) being elected each time for a four-year term of office. Staffordshire County Council elections are held in the fourth year of the cycle when there are no borough council elections.[47]
Premises
The council's main offices and usual meeting place are at Marmion House, a tower block on Lichfield Street which had been built in 1960 and was bought by the council in 1980, opening as its headquarters the following year.[48] Some council and committee meetings are held at Tamworth Town Hall on Market Street in the centre of the town, which had been built in 1701.[49] Prior to 1981 the council had met at the Town Hall and had its main offices at the White House at 21 Church Street, which had been purchased in 1888 after the council outgrew the limited office space at the Town Hall.[50][51]
A council chamber was created at Marmion House and was the council's usual meeting place until 2022, when the council transferred most council and committee meetings back to Town Hall as part of plans to dispose of Marmion House.[52][53] Most meetings returned to the council chamber at Marmion House following refurbishment in 2024.[54]