Swindon Borough Council

Swindon Borough Council
Swindon Borough Council logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Neil Hopkins,
Labour
since 22 May 2026[1]
Gary Sumner,
Conservative
since 22 May 2026
Samantha Mowbray
since July 2023[2]
Structure
Seats57 councillors
Swindon Borough Council composition
Political groups
Minority administration (23)
  Conservative (23)
Opposition (34)
  Labour (19)
  Reform (14)
  Liberal Democrats (1)
Length of term
4 years
Elections
Plurality-at-large
Last election
7 May 2026
Next election
2 May 2030
Meeting place
Civic Offices at Swindon
Civic Offices, Euclid Street, Swindon, SN1 2JH
Website
www.swindon.gov.uk Edit this at Wikidata

Swindon Borough Council is the local authority of the Borough of Swindon in the ceremonial county of Wiltshire, England. It was founded in 1974 as Thamesdown Borough Council, and was a lower-tier district council until 1997. In 1997 it was renamed Swindon Borough Council and became a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council; it is separate from Wiltshire Council, the unitary authority which administers the rest of the county.

The council has been under no overall control since 2026. The Conservatives are the largest party and run the council as a minority administration. It is based at the Civic Offices on Euclid Street.

History

The town of Swindon was made a municipal borough in 1900 as a merger of the two urban districts of Old Swindon and New Swindon. Swindon was then governed by a body formally called the 'mayor, aldermen and burgesses of the borough of Swindon', generally known as the corporation, town council or borough council.[3]

That first borough of Swindon, and its council, was abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, when its area was merged with the neighbouring Highworth Rural District to become a new non-metropolitan district called Thamesdown.[4][5] Thamesdown was given borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.[6] Thamesdown Borough Council was a lower-tier district council, with Wiltshire County Council providing county-level services in the borough.

On 1 April 1997 Thamesdown was made a unitary authority, making it administratively independent from Wiltshire County Council. The way the change was implemented was to create a new non-metropolitan county called Thamesdown covering the same area as the borough, but with no separate county council. Instead, the existing borough council took on county council functions, making it a unitary authority.[7] In June 1996, during the transition period to becoming a unitary authority, the council passed an order that the borough and the new non-metropolitan county would both be renamed Swindon with effect from 1 April 1997 as well.[8] Swindon remains part of the ceremonial county of Wiltshire for the purposes of lieutenancy.[9]

Powers, functions and operations

The local authority derives its powers and functions from the Local Government Act 1972 and subsequent legislation. For the purposes of local government, Swindon Borough is a non-metropolitan area of England. As a unitary authority, Swindon Borough Council has the powers and functions of both a non-metropolitan county and district council. In its capacity as a district council it is a billing authority collecting council tax and business rates, it processes local planning applications, and it is responsible for housing, waste collection and environmental health. In its capacity as a county council it is a local education authority, responsible for social services, libraries and waste disposal.[10]

Since 2010, many schools in the area have become academies and are no longer controlled by the council. It was also the owner of Swindon's main bus operator, Thamesdown Transport, until 2017 when it sold the business to the Go-Ahead Group due to issues with funding.[11] Maintenance services are usually contracted to Swindon Commercial Services (SCS), who work in partnership with the council.[12]

The council's principal decision-making body is its cabinet, which comprises the leader and (as of 2026) nine portfolio-holding members.[13]

Political control

The council has been under no overall control since the 2026 election, with the Conservatives being the largest party. They subsequently formed a minority administration to run the council.[14][15]

The first election to Thamesdown Borough Council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until it came into its powers on 1 April 1974. Thamesdown was renamed Swindon and became a unitary authority on 1 April 1997. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[16]

Thamesdown Borough Council (lower tier non-metropolitan district)

Party in controlYears
Labour1974–1976
No overall control1976–1978
Labour1978–1997

Swindon Borough Council (unitary authority)

Party in controlYears
Labour1997–2000
No overall control2000–2004
Conservative2004–2023
Labour2023–2026
No overall control2026–present

Leadership

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Swindon,[17] with political leadership instead being provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1995 have been:

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Sue Bates[18]Labour19951998
Maurice Fanning[18]Labour19981999
Sue Bates[19][18]Labour199927 Sep 2001
Mike Bawden[20][18]Conservative11 Oct 2001May 2002
Sue Bates[21][18]Labour17 May 2002Aug 2002
Kevin Small[22][23]Labour21 Aug 2002May 2003
Mike Bawden[24][25]Conservative16 May 2003May 2006
Roderick Bluh[26][27]Conservative19 May 2006Apr 2013
David Renard[28][29]Conservative11 Apr 2013May 2023
Jim Robbins[30][31]Labour19 May 2023May 2026
Gary Sumner[15]Conservative22 May 2026

Composition

Following the 2026 election, the composition of the council is:

Party Councillors
Conservative23
Labour19
Reform14
Liberal Democrats1
Total57

The next elections are due on or before 2 May 2030.

Premises

The council is based at the Civic Offices on Euclid Street in Swindon.[32] The building was built for the old municipal borough council, and had been formally opened by Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester on 5 July 1938.[33]

Elections

Fifty-seven councillors are elected by the borough's 20 wards for four-year terms. The entire council stands for election every four years after a 2023 change in the election structure.[34] The next election, in which every councillor will stand, is in May 2026.

Wards and councillors

Parliamentary constituency Ward Councillor Party Term of office
Swindon North Blunsdon and Highworth Steve Weisinger Conservative 2022–26
Nick Gardiner Conservative 2023–26
Vijay Manro Conservative 2024–26
Gorse Hill and Pinehurst Carol Shelley Labour 2022–26
John Ballman Labour 2023–26
Princia Fernandes Labour 2024–26
Haydon Wick Matt Lodge Independent 2022–26
Stanka Adamcova Labour 2023–26
Ray Ballman Labour 2024–26
Penhill and Upper Stratton Claire Crilly Labour 2022–26
Ravi Ventakesh Labour 2023–26
Thomas Smith Labour 2024–26
Priory Vale Rob Heath* Green 2022–26
Rajhia Ali Labour 2023–26
Ian Edwards* Green 2024–26
Rodbourne Cheney William Stone Labour 2022–26
Jim Grant Labour 2023–26
Ana Fernandes Labour 2024–26
St Andrews Jake Chandler Conservative 2022–26
Jason Mills Labour 2023–26
Daniel Adams Conservative 2024–26
St Margaret and South Marston Matthew Vallender Conservative 2022–26
Tom Butcher* Green 2023–26
Simon Shelley Labour 2024–26
Swindon South Central Anabelle Pegado Conservative 2022–26
Adorabelle Amaral-Shaikh Labour 2023–26
Domingos Dias Labour 2024–26
Covingham and Dorcan Kevin Parry Conservative 2022–26
Dale Heenan Conservative 2023–26
Barbara Parry Conservative 2024–26
Eastcott Imtiyaz Shaikh Labour 2022–26
Paul Dixon Labour 2023–26
Marina Strinkovsky Labour 2024–26
Liden, Eldene and Park South Janine Howarth Labour 2022–26
Mike Davies Labour 2023–26
Marianne Le Coyte-Grinney Labour 2024–26
Lydiard and Freshbrook Sean Wilson Labour 2022–26
Repi Begum* Green 2023–26
Leon Grother Labour 2024–26
Mannington and Western Jim Robbins Labour 2022–26
Fay Howard Labour 2023–26
Kevin Small Labour 2024–26
Old Town Nadine Watts Labour 2022–26
Chris Watts Labour 2023–26
Jane Milner-Barry Labour 2024–26
Shaw Suresha Gattapur Conservative 2022–26
Junab Ali Labour 2023–26
Rose Llewellyn Labour 2024–26
Walcot and Park North Abdul Amin Labour 2022–26
Emma Bushell Labour 2023–26
Mohammed Miah Labour 2024–26
Swindon South and East Wiltshire Chiseldon and Lawn Lawrence Elliott Conservative 2022–26
Neil Hopkins Labour 2023–26
East Wiltshire Ridgeway Gary Sumner Conservative 2024–26
Wroughton and Wichelstowe Adam Poole Liberal Democrats 2023–26
Elaine Cook Conservative 2024–26
Matty Courtliff Conservative 2024–26

*Elected as Labour candidates, defecting to Green in 2025.[35]

Notes

References

  1. ↑ "New Mayor of Swindon elected as outgoing Mayor thanked". Swindon 24. 22 May 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  2. ↑ Thomas, Aled (21 July 2023). "Swindon Borough Council interim chief executive names as Sam Mowbray". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  3. ↑ "Swindon Municipal Borough". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  4. ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 22 July 2024
  5. ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 27 April 2023
  6. ↑ "District Councils and Boroughs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 28 March 1974. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  7. ↑ "The Wiltshire (Borough of Thamesdown)(Structural Change) Order 1995: Article 8", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1995/1774 (art. 8), retrieved 22 July 2024
  8. ↑ "Historical information on changes to electoral arrangements of Local authorities, Parliamentary areas and European Parliamentary boundaries". Boundary-Line Downloads. Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 25 August 2025. (See downloadable boundary-legislation-changes-from-1973.xls spreadsheet.)
  9. ↑ "Lieutenancies Act 1997", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1997 c. 23, retrieved 26 April 2023
  10. ↑ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 27 April 2023
  11. ↑ "Swindon council sells loss-making Thamesdown Transport bus firm". BBC News. 3 February 2017.
  12. ↑ Swindon Borough Council. "Tenders and contract opportunities". Swindon Borough Council. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  13. ↑ "Cabinet and administration". Swindon Borough Council. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  14. ↑ Ribbeck, Michael (23 May 2026). "New leader and cabinet members chosen at Swindon Borough Council". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  15. 1 2 Lennon, Marie (22 May 2026). "Leader elected in council's minority administration". BBC News. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 26 November 2024. (Put "Swindon" in search box to see specific results.)
  17. ↑ "Mayor of Swindon". Swindon Borough Council. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 "Bulldog Bates 'had enough'". Gazette and Herald. 9 July 2003. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  19. ↑ "Council minutes, 27 September 2001" (PDF). Swindon Borough Council. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  20. ↑ "Council minutes, 11 October 2001" (PDF). Swindon Borough Council. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  21. ↑ "Council minutes, 17 May 2002" (PDF). Swindon Borough Council. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  22. ↑ "Council minutes, 21 August 2002" (PDF). Swindon Borough Council. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  23. ↑ Hudson, Barrie (4 August 2016). "Council in crisis... lead to chaos..." Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  24. ↑ "Council minutes, 16 May 2003" (PDF). Swindon Borough Council. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  25. ↑ Harvey, Dave (19 May 2006). "Farewell to the magic roundabout". BBC News. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  26. ↑ "Council minutes, 19 May 2006". Swindon Borough Council. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  27. ↑ "Swindon council leader Roderick Bluh steps down". BBC News. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  28. ↑ "Council minutes, 11 April 2013". Swindon Borough Council. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  29. ↑ Thomas, Aled (22 July 2023). "David Renard defends record as Swindon council leader". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  30. ↑ "Council minutes, 19 May 2023". Swindon Borough Council. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  31. ↑ Lennon, Marie (11 May 2026). "Local elections 2026: Who runs Swindon now?". BBC News. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  32. ↑ "Contacting us". Swindon Borough Council. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  33. ↑ "Swindon's loyal welcome to the Duke of Gloucester: New Civic Offices opened". North Wilts Herald. Swindon. 8 July 1938. p. 16. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  34. ↑ "Swindon Borough Council votes for election every four years". BBC News. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  35. ↑ "Green Party gathers pace as two more councillors defect". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.