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| logo_caption = Council logo | logo_caption = Council logo
| logo_res = 200px | logo_res = 200px
| logo_alt =Wakefield Metropolitan District Council | logo_alt = Wakefield Metropolitan District Council
| house_type = Metropolitan district council | house_type = Metropolitan borough
| body = City of Wakefield | leader1_type = ]
| houses = ] | leader1 = Darren Byford
| new_session = 16 May 2013 (] 2013/2014) | party1 = <br/>]
| election1 = 23 May 2024<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gardner |first1=Tony |title=Meet the new 'calm and strong' Mayor of Wakefield known for his 'wicked sense of humour'' |url=https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/people/meet-the-new-calm-and-strong-mayor-of-wakefield-known-for-his-wicked-sense-of-humour-4640889 |access-date=22 June 2024 |work=Wakefield Express |date=27 May 2024}}</ref>
| leader1_type = Mayor of Wakefield
| leader2_type = ]
| leader1 = Tracey Austin <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wakefield.gov.uk:443/councillors-and-mayor/mayor/introducing|title=Introducing the Mayor and Mayoress|first=Wakefield Metropolitan District|last=Council|website=www.wakefield.gov.uk}}</ref>
| party1 = ]
| election1 =
| leader2_type = Leader of the Council
| leader2 = Denise Jeffery | leader2 = Denise Jeffery
| party2 = ] | party2 = <br>]
| election2 = Dec 2019 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.local.gov.uk/moderngov-main-page|title=LGA Councillor details - Cllr Peter Box CBE|date=12 November 2020|website=www.local.gov.uk}}</ref> | election2 = 1 Dec 2019<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 16 October 2019 |url=http://mg.wakefield.gov.uk/documents/g13866/Printed%20minutes%20Wednesday%2016-Oct-2019%2014.00%20Council.pdf?T=1 |website=Wakefield Council |access-date=20 June 2023}}</ref>
| leader3_type = Deputy Leader | leader3_type = ]
| leader3 = Jack Hemingway | leader3 = Andrew Balchin
| party3 = ] | party3 = <!-- Non-political role -->
| election3 = 2020<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/politics/wakefield-council-confirms-andrew-balchin-new-chief-executive-3071108|title=Wakefield Council confirms Andrew Balchin as new chief executive|work=Wakefield Express|date=17 December 2020|access-date=28 January 2021}}</ref>
| election3 =
| members = 63 councillors
| leader4_type = Leader of the Opposition
| structure1 = West Yorkshire Wakefield Council 2024.svg
| leader4 = Tony Hames <small>interim since 2022</small>
| structure1_res = 250
| party4 = ]
| election4 =
| leader5_type = Chief executive
| leader5 = Andrew Balchin<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/politics/wakefield-council-confirms-andrew-balchin-new-chief-executive-3071108|title=Wakefield Council confirms Andrew Balchin as new chief executive|work=Wakefield Express|date=17 December 2020|access-date=28 January 2021}}</ref>
| party5 =
| election5 =
| members = 63<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://opencouncildata.co.uk/council.php?c=290&y=0|title=Open Council Data UK - compositions councillors parties wards elections|website=opencouncildata.co.uk}}</ref>
| structure1 =]
| structure1_res =
| structure1_alt = | structure1_alt =
| political_groups1 = | political_groups1 =
; Administration (49) ; Administration (56)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} ] (49) : {{Color box|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} ] (56)
| political_groups2 =; Other parties (14) ; Other parties (7)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} ] (7) :{{Color box|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} ] (3)
:{{Color box|{{party color|Independents}}|border=darkgray}} ] (4) :{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} ] (3)}}
:{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} ] (3) :{{Color box|{{party color|Independents}}|border=darkgray}} ] (1)
| house1 = | house1 =
| house2 = | house2 =
| committees1 = | committees1 =
| joint_committees = | joint_committees = ]
| voting_system1 = ] | voting_system1 = ]
| voting_system2 = | voting_system2 =
| last_election1 = ]
| last_election1 = ] (one third of councillors)<br />] (one third of councillors) <br /> ] (one third of councillors)<br />] (one third of councillors)
| next_election1 = 7 May 2026
| next_election1 = ] (one third of councillors)<br />] (one third of councillors)
| session_room = County Hall (1898), Wood Street, Wakefield.jpg | session_room = County Hall (1898), Wood Street, Wakefield.jpg
| session_res = 200px | session_res = 200px
| meeting_place = ] | meeting_place = ], Bond Street, Wakefield, WF1{{nbsp}}2QW
| website = {{URL|www.wakefield.gov.uk}} | website = {{URL|www.wakefield.gov.uk}}
| constitution = {{URL|www.wakefield.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/71433D32-18E8-4FDC-8AD8-0B82A05CC3EC/0/Constitution201314.pdf|Constitution, 16 May 2013}}
| footnotes =
}} }}
'''Wakefield Council''', also known as the '''City of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council''', is the ] of the ] in ], England. Wakefield has had a council since 1848, which has been reformed on several occasions. Since 1974 it has been a ]. It provides the majority of local government services in the city. The council has been a member of the ] since 2014.
'''Wakefield Metropolitan District Council''', also known as '''Wakefield Council''', is the local authority of the ] in ], England. It is a ] and provides a full range of local government services including Council Tax billing, libraries, social services, processing planning applications, waste collection and disposal, and it is a local education authority. Wakefield is divided into 21 wards, electing 63 councillors. A third of the council is elected for three of every four years. The council was created by the Local Government Act 1972 and replaced the Wakefield City Council of the County Borough of Wakefield and several other authorities. Since 1974 Wakefield has held ] and ] status and from this time would use the full title of the authority on all publications, signage, council vehicle fleet and documents, however from around 2005, like many other local authorities doing so at the time, the authority dropped the full title for the shorter Wakefield Council (although for an interim period when the new logo was unveiled, it would have the full authority title below however this has now been replaced with the strapline - 'working for you').


As of May 2019 the council is controlled by the ]. The council leader has been Denise Jeffery since December 2019 and Andrew Balchin is the chief executive. Since April 2014 Wakefield Council is a constituent council of the ]. The council has been under ] majority control since the 1974 reforms. It meets at ] and has its main offices at ].


==History== ==History==
The town of ] had been an ], with its earliest known ] granted {{circa|1190}}. It lost its borough status {{circa|1580}}, after which it was governed by its ]s and ].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Goodchild |first1=John |title=An outline history of Wakefield |url=https://www.wakefieldhistoricalsociety.org.uk/wakefield-history/outline-history/ |website=Wakefield Historical Society |access-date=23 June 2024 |date=May 2011}}</ref>
The council was formed by the Local Government Act 1972 as the Wakefield Metropolitan District Council. It replaced the existing Wakefield City Council that was the local authority of the ]. It also replaced Castleford Borough Council, Ossett Borough Council, Pontefract Borough Council, Featherstone Urban District Council, Hemsworth Urban District Council, Horbury Urban District Council, Knottingley Urban District Council, Normanton Urban District Council, Stanley Urban District Council, Wakefield Rural District Council, Hemsworth Rural District Council and Osgoldcross Rural District Council.


], Wood Street, completed 1880]]
The current local authority was first ], a year before formally coming into its powers and prior to the creation of the ] on 1 April 1974. The council gained ] and ] status and to annually appoint a Mayor of Wakefield.
A ] (constituency) was created in 1832.<ref>{{cite book |title=Parliamentary Boundaries Act |date=1832 |page=368 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Uq0uAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA368 |access-date=23 June 2024}}</ref> In 1848 the town was also incorporated as a ], after which it was governed by a body formally called the "mayor, aldermen and burgesses of the borough of Wakefield", generally known as the corporation or town council.<ref name=VoB>{{cite web |title=Wakefield Municipal Borough / County Borough |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10136313 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=23 June 2024}}</ref>


Wakefield was awarded ] in 1888, after which the corporation was also known as the city council.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=25837|page=3826|date=13 July 1888}}</ref> In 1915, Wakefield raised to the status of a ], taking on the county-level services previously provided in the city by ].<ref name=VoB/>
It was envisaged through the ] that Wakefield as a metropolitan local authority would share power with the ]. The split of powers and functions meant that the West Yorkshire County Council was responsible for "wide area" services such as fire, ambulance and waste disposal with the district authorities responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, ] and refuse collection. This arrangement lasted until 1986 when Wakefield Metropolitan District Council gained responsibility for some services that had been provided by the West Yorkshire County Council. The ] directed the councils of West Yorkshire to form joint arrangements in order to deliver these functions.


The larger metropolitan district of Wakefield and its council were created on 1 April 1974 under the ]. It covered the whole area of eleven former districts and parts of another two, which were all abolished at the same time:<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|access-date=18 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|number=137|access-date=18 June 2023}}</ref>
==Powers and functions==
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*]
*] ]
*] (part)
*] Urban District
*] Urban District
*] Urban District
*] Urban District
*] (parishes of ] and ] only)
*] ]
*] Municipal Borough
*] Urban District
*] ]
*]
{{div col end}}

The new Wakefield district was awarded ] from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor, continuing Wakefield's series of mayors dating back to 1848.<ref name="hans74">{{cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1974/mar/28/district-councils-and-boroughs#S5CV0871P0_19740328_CWA_145|title=District Councils and Boroughs|date=28 March 1974|work=]|access-date=16 January 2012}}</ref> Wakefield's city status was extended to cover the whole of the new borough.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=46303|page=6486|date=31 May 1974}}</ref> As such the council could call itself "Wakefield City Council", which name is sometimes used for it in official documents and the media.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Whole of Government Accounts (Designation of Bodies) Order 2023|year=2023|number=1016|access-date=23 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=48454|page=17420|date=16 December 1980}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Council drops Wakefield shopping centre buyout over cash fears |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-63957923 |access-date=23 June 2024 |work=BBC News |date=13 December 2022}}</ref> The council now styles itself "Wakefield Council", having previously used the branding "City of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council".<ref>{{cite web |title=City of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council |url=http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/default.htm |access-date=23 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030203041155/http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/default.htm |archive-date=3 February 2003}}</ref>

From 1974 until 1986 Wakefield was a district-level authority, with ] providing county-level services. The ] councils, including West Yorkshire County Council, were abolished in 1986 under the ]. Since 1986 Wakefield Council has therefore been responsible for most local government functions.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1985|year=1985|chapter=51|access-date=18 June 2023}}</ref>

In 2004 the district's ] was transferred to Wakefield and District Housing (WDH), a new independent housing association. Council houses account for around 30% of the district's housing.

The council has been a constituent member of the ] since 2014, which has been led by the ] ] since 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2014/9780111109489/contents|title=The West Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2014|website=www.legislation.gov.uk}}</ref>

==Governance==
] ]
The local authority derives its powers and functions from the Local Government Act 1972 and subsequent legislation. For the purposes of local government, Wakefield is within a ] area of England. As a metropolitan district council, Wakefield Metropolitan District Council provides most local government functions directly. It is a ] collecting Council Tax and business rates, it processes local planning applications, it is responsible for ], waste collection and environmental health, it is a ], responsible for social services, libraries and waste disposal. The local authority derives its powers and functions from the Local Government Act 1972 and subsequent legislation. For the purposes of local government, Wakefield is within a ] area of England. As a metropolitan district council, Wakefield Metropolitan District Council provides most local government functions directly, including collecting Council Tax and business rates, town planning, ], waste collection and environmental health, social services, libraries and waste disposal. It is also a ]. Wakefield Council is the ] for Council Tax, and collects ]s on behalf of the ] and the West Yorkshire Fire and Civil Defence Authority.

Certain services are provided with the other local authorities in West Yorkshire. The council is represented on West Yorkshire Joint Services Committee (for trading standards, archives, archaeology and grants), West Yorkshire Fire and Civil Defence Authority, ] and the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/71433D32-18E8-4FDC-8AD8-0B82A05CC3EC/0/Constitution201314.pdf|title=Constitution}}</ref> Wakefield Council has been a constituent member of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority since 2014.

===Political control===
The first election to the reconstituted council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Labour has held a majority of the seats on the council since 1974:<ref>{{cite web |title=Compositions calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/?page_id=3825 |website=The Elections Centre |access-date=10 August 2022}}</ref><ref name=change>{{cite news| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/elections/local_council/08/html/db.stm | title = Wakefield | access-date = 2009-12-03 | work = ] | date=19 April 2008}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=2|Party in control || Years
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || 1974–present
|}

===Leadership===
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Wakefield. Political leadership is instead provided by the ]. The leaders since 1998 have been:<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes |url=http://mg.wakefield.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1 |website=Wakefield Council |access-date=12 August 2022}}</ref>

{| class=wikitable
! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To
|-
| Colin Croxall || {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right| || align=right|1998
|-
| Peter Box || {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1998 || align=right|30 Nov 2019
|-
| Denise Jeffery || {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1 Dec 2019 || align=right|
|}

===Composition===
Following the ], the composition of the council was:<ref>{{cite news |title=Local elections 2024: full mayoral and council results for England |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2024/may/02/local-elections-2024-full-council-results-for-england |access-date=21 May 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=4 May 2024}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="2"|Party!!Councillors
|-
| {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} ||align=center|56
|-
| {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} ||align=center|3
|-
| {{party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} ||align=center|3
|-
| {{party name with colour|Independent politician}} ||align=center|1
|-
! colspan=2|Total
! align=center|63
|}
The independent sits in a group with two of the Conservatives. The other Conservative has opted not to sit in her party's group.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gardner |first1=Tony |title=Wakefield Mayor opts for new Tory-Independent coalition to break deadlock in 'unprecedented' opposition vote |url=https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/politics/wakefield-mayor-opts-for-new-tory-independent-coalition-to-break-deadlock-in-unprecedented-opposition-vote-4642473 |access-date=22 June 2024 |work=Wakefield Express |date=25 May 2024}}</ref> The next election is due in May 2026.


==Premises==
Certain services are provided with the other local authorities in West Yorkshire. The council is represented on ] (for trading standards, archives, archaeology and grants), ], ] and the ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/71433D32-18E8-4FDC-8AD8-0B82A05CC3EC/0/Constitution201314.pdf|title=Constitution}}</ref> Wakefield Council has been a constituent member of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority since 2014.
]
The council meets at ] on Bond Street in Wakefield. The building was completed in 1898 as the headquarters of the former ], and subsequently served as the headquarters of ] between 1974 and 1986. Following the abolition of West Yorkshire County Council in 1986 the building was acquired by Wakefield Council. County Hall is a ] ].<ref name=listed>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1242349|desc=County Hall (offices of West Yorkshire County Council), Bond Street, Wakefield|accessdate=13 August 2019}}</ref>


The council has its main offices and customer services centre in the nearby ] building on Burton Street, which was completed in 2012 and also houses the city's main library.<ref>{{cite web |title=Contact us |url=https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/contact-wakefield-council/contact-us/ |website=Wakefield Council |access-date=20 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Spereall |first1=David |title=Wakefield One council office could become 'smart' building with new sensors |url=https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/politics/wakefield-one-council-office-could-become-smart-building-with-new-sensors-814936 |access-date=20 June 2023 |work=Wakefield Express |date=15 October 2019}}</ref>
==Policies==
In 2004 the district's extensive ] was transferred to Wakefield and District Housing (WDH), a new independent housing association. Council houses account for around 30% of the district's housing.


] on Wood Street is also used for some meetings and offices.<ref>{{cite web |title=Calendar |url=https://mg.wakefield.gov.uk/mgCalendarAgendaView.aspx?MR=0&M=6&DD=2024&CID=0&OT=&C=-1&D=23 |website=Wakefield Council |access-date=23 June 2024}}</ref> It was completed in 1880 and served as the main headquarters of Wakefield's council through its various iterations until the modern council's acquisition of County Hall in 1987.<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Town Hall, Wood Street|num=1258995|grade=I}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gardner |first1=Tony |title=Wakefield Council to shut historic County Hall headquarters blaming soaring energy costs |url=https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/politics/council/wakefield-council-to-shut-historic-county-hall-headquarters-blaming-soaring-energy-costs-3869114 |access-date=23 June 2024 |work=Wakefield Express |date=5 October 2022}}</ref>
==Finances==
Wakefield Metropolitan District Council is the ] for Council Tax, and collects a ]s on behalf of the ] and the West Yorkshire Fire and Civil Defence Authority.


==Elections== ==Elections==
{{main|Wakefield Metropolitan District Council elections}} {{see also|Wakefield Metropolitan District Council elections}}
Since the last boundary changes in 2004 the council has comprised 63 ]s representing 21 ], with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held in three out of every four years, with a third of the council (one councillor for each ward) elected at a time for a four-year term.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The City of Wakefield (Electoral Changes) Order 2003|year=2003|number=3087|access-date=20 June 2023}}</ref>
===Electoral arrangements===

One third of the council is elected in three of every four years, followed by one year without elections. For the purpose of electing councillors, Wakefield is divided into 21 wards.<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/86AC6C0E-7433-49DF-8FA6-79CD7406AF9C/0/Ward_Map.pdf | title= Wakefield Ward Boundaries}}</ref><ref>{{ cite web | url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/3087/made | title= The City of Wakefield (Electoral Changes) Order 2003 }}</ref>
{| {|
|valign="top"| |valign="top"|
Line 115: Line 173:
*20 Wakefield West *20 Wakefield West
*21 Wrenthorpe and Outwood West *21 Wrenthorpe and Outwood West
|}

===Political makeup===
The current council composition is ] 45, ] 11, Independents 4, ] 3 following the ] local elections. The following changes have occurred since that election:<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gardner |first=Tony |date=29 November 2022 |title=Tory chief whip on Wakefield Council quits party to sit as an independent days after resignation of group leader. |work=] |url=https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/politics/council/tory-chief-whip-on-wakefield-council-quits-party-to-sit-as-an-independent-days-after-resignation-of-group-leader-3934016 |access-date=21 December 2022}}</ref>

* Conservative group Leader Cllr Tony Homewood resigns to become Independent.
*Conservative group Chief Whip Cllr Annemarie Glover resigns to become Independent.

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''] make-up of Wakefield Council over time'''
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" | Party
! colspan="6" | Seats
|-
! 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/about-the-council/elections/current-elections/local-election-results-2014|title=Local election Results 2014|publisher=Wakefield Council}}</ref>
! 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wakefield.gov.uk:80/elections/previous-election-results-electorate-statistics/local-election-results/local-elections-2018|title=Local Election results 2018|last=Council|first=Wakefield Metropolitan District|website=www.wakefield.gov.uk|access-date=3 January 2019}}</ref>
!
!]
!]
!Current
|-
| style="background:#c00" |
| ]
| style="text-align: right" | 53
| style="text-align: right" | 52
| style="text-align: right" | 49
|43
|45
|45
|-
| style="background: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| ]
| style="text-align: right" | 7
| style="text-align: right" | 11
| style="text-align: right" | 11
|17
|13
|11
|-
| style="background:#f90" |
|]
| style="text-align: right" | 0
| style="text-align: right" | 0
| style="text-align: right" | 1
|2
|3
|3
|-
| style="background:#999" |
|]
| style="text-align: right" | 2
| style="text-align: right" | 0
| style="text-align: right" | 2
|1
|2
|4
|-
| style="background:#70147A" |
| ]
| style="text-align: right" | 1
| style="text-align: right" | 0
| style="text-align: right" | 0
|0
|0
|0
|}

=== 2022 Vote Share (%) ===
Combined vote share of wards from the ].

LAB = Labour. GRN = ]. LD = Liberal Democrats. Ind = Independent candidates. Oth = Others. CON = Conservative

{| class="sortable" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
|+↓
|- style="color:white;"
| style="background:red; width:51.7%;" |'''51.7'''
| style="background:green; width:4.9%;" | 4.9
| style="background:orange; width:5.3%;" | 5.3
| style="background:grey; width:5.4%;" | 5.4
| style="background:black; width:5.2%;" | 5.2
| style="background:dodgerblue; width:27.5%;" | 27.5
|-
|<span style="color:;purple">'''LAB'''</span>
|<span style="color:;green">'''GRN'''</span>
|<span style="color:;orange">'''LD'''</span>
|<span style="color:;grey">'''Ind'''</span>
|<span style="color:;black">'''Oth'''</span>
|<span style="color:;dodgerblue">'''CON'''</span>
|} |}


Line 209: Line 180:
|width=160 |width=160
|height=170 |height=170
|lines=4
|align=center |align=center
|File:Former_WMDC_Logo_on_Bin.jpg|A rubbish bin in Wakefield city centre showing the former logo of the council. |File:Former_WMDC_Logo_on_Bin.jpg|A rubbish bin in Wakefield city centre showing the former logo of the council
|File:Former_WMDC_on_Dog_Sign.jpg|A sign in South Wakefield depicting the former council logo with the full official title. |File:Former_WMDC_on_Dog_Sign.jpg|A sign in south Wakefield depicting the former council logo and branding
|File:WMDC Sign found attached on Wakefield Town Hall.jpg|This sign found attached on Wakefield Town Hall shows the former logo and full title |File:WMDC Sign found attached on Wakefield Town Hall.jpg|This sign found attached on Wakefield Town Hall shows the former logo and branding
}} }}


Latest revision as of 08:20, 27 August 2024

Wakefield Council
Third of council elected three years out of four
Coat of arms
Wakefield Metropolitan District CouncilCouncil logo
Type
TypeMetropolitan borough
Leadership
MayorDarren Byford,
Labour
since 23 May 2024
LeaderDenise Jeffery,
Labour
since 1 Dec 2019
Chief ExecutiveAndrew Balchin
since 2020
Structure
Seats63 councillors
Political groups
Administration (56)
  Labour (56)
Other parties (7)
  Conservative (3)
  Liberal Democrats (3)
  Independent (1)
Joint committeesWest Yorkshire Combined Authority
Elections
Voting systemMultiple member first-past-the-post voting
Last election2 May 2024
Next election7 May 2026
Motto
Persevere and prosper
Meeting place
County Hall, Bond Street, Wakefield, WF1 2QW
Website
www.wakefield.gov.uk

Wakefield Council, also known as the City of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, is the local authority of the City of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England. Wakefield has had a council since 1848, which has been reformed on several occasions. Since 1974 it has been a metropolitan borough council. It provides the majority of local government services in the city. The council has been a member of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority since 2014.

The council has been under Labour majority control since the 1974 reforms. It meets at County Hall and has its main offices at Wakefield One.

History

The town of Wakefield had been an ancient borough, with its earliest known charter granted c. 1190. It lost its borough status c. 1580, after which it was governed by its manorial courts and vestry.

Wakefield Town Hall, Wood Street, completed 1880

A Wakefield parliamentary borough (constituency) was created in 1832. In 1848 the town was also incorporated as a municipal borough, after which it was governed by a body formally called the "mayor, aldermen and burgesses of the borough of Wakefield", generally known as the corporation or town council.

Wakefield was awarded city status in 1888, after which the corporation was also known as the city council. In 1915, Wakefield raised to the status of a county borough, taking on the county-level services previously provided in the city by West Riding County Council.

The larger metropolitan district of Wakefield and its council were created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. It covered the whole area of eleven former districts and parts of another two, which were all abolished at the same time:

The new Wakefield district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor, continuing Wakefield's series of mayors dating back to 1848. Wakefield's city status was extended to cover the whole of the new borough. As such the council could call itself "Wakefield City Council", which name is sometimes used for it in official documents and the media. The council now styles itself "Wakefield Council", having previously used the branding "City of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council".

From 1974 until 1986 Wakefield was a district-level authority, with West Yorkshire County Council providing county-level services. The metropolitan county councils, including West Yorkshire County Council, were abolished in 1986 under the Local Government Act 1985. Since 1986 Wakefield Council has therefore been responsible for most local government functions.

In 2004 the district's council housing was transferred to Wakefield and District Housing (WDH), a new independent housing association. Council houses account for around 30% of the district's housing.

The council has been a constituent member of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority since 2014, which has been led by the directly elected Mayor of West Yorkshire since 2021.

Governance

Inside the council chamber

The local authority derives its powers and functions from the Local Government Act 1972 and subsequent legislation. For the purposes of local government, Wakefield is within a metropolitan area of England. As a metropolitan district council, Wakefield Metropolitan District Council provides most local government functions directly, including collecting Council Tax and business rates, town planning, housing, waste collection and environmental health, social services, libraries and waste disposal. It is also a local education authority. Wakefield Council is the billing authority for Council Tax, and collects precepts on behalf of the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner and the West Yorkshire Fire and Civil Defence Authority.

Certain services are provided with the other local authorities in West Yorkshire. The council is represented on West Yorkshire Joint Services Committee (for trading standards, archives, archaeology and grants), West Yorkshire Fire and Civil Defence Authority, West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority and the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel. Wakefield Council has been a constituent member of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority since 2014.

Political control

The first election to the reconstituted council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Labour has held a majority of the seats on the council since 1974:

Party in control Years
Labour 1974–present

Leadership

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Wakefield. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1998 have been:

Councillor Party From To
Colin Croxall Labour 1998
Peter Box Labour 1998 30 Nov 2019
Denise Jeffery Labour 1 Dec 2019

Composition

Following the 2024 election, the composition of the council was:

Party Councillors
Labour 56
Conservative 3
Liberal Democrats 3
Independent 1
Total 63

The independent sits in a group with two of the Conservatives. The other Conservative has opted not to sit in her party's group. The next election is due in May 2026.

Premises

Wakefield One, Burton Street

The council meets at County Hall on Bond Street in Wakefield. The building was completed in 1898 as the headquarters of the former West Riding County Council, and subsequently served as the headquarters of West Yorkshire County Council between 1974 and 1986. Following the abolition of West Yorkshire County Council in 1986 the building was acquired by Wakefield Council. County Hall is a Grade I listed building.

The council has its main offices and customer services centre in the nearby Wakefield One building on Burton Street, which was completed in 2012 and also houses the city's main library.

Wakefield Town Hall on Wood Street is also used for some meetings and offices. It was completed in 1880 and served as the main headquarters of Wakefield's council through its various iterations until the modern council's acquisition of County Hall in 1987.

Elections

See also: Wakefield Metropolitan District Council elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2004 the council has comprised 63 councillors representing 21 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held in three out of every four years, with a third of the council (one councillor for each ward) elected at a time for a four-year term.

  • 17 Wakefield North
  • 18 Wakefield Rural
  • 19 Wakefield South
  • 20 Wakefield West
  • 21 Wrenthorpe and Outwood West

Former logos

Former logos of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council
  • A rubbish bin in Wakefield city centre showing the former logo of the council A rubbish bin in Wakefield city centre showing the former logo of the council
  • A sign in south Wakefield depicting the former council logo and branding A sign in south Wakefield depicting the former council logo and branding
  • This sign found attached on Wakefield Town Hall shows the former logo and branding This sign found attached on Wakefield Town Hall shows the former logo and branding

References

  1. Gardner, Tony (27 May 2024). "Meet the new 'calm and strong' Mayor of Wakefield known for his 'wicked sense of humour". Wakefield Express. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  2. "Council minutes, 16 October 2019" (PDF). Wakefield Council. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  3. "Wakefield Council confirms Andrew Balchin as new chief executive". Wakefield Express. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  4. Goodchild, John (May 2011). "An outline history of Wakefield". Wakefield Historical Society. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  5. Parliamentary Boundaries Act. 1832. p. 368. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Wakefield Municipal Borough / County Borough". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  7. "No. 25837". The London Gazette. 13 July 1888. p. 3826.
  8. "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 18 June 2023
  9. "The Metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/137, retrieved 18 June 2023
  10. "District Councils and Boroughs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 28 March 1974. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  11. "No. 46303". The London Gazette. 31 May 1974. p. 6486.
  12. "The Whole of Government Accounts (Designation of Bodies) Order 2023", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2023/1016, retrieved 23 June 2024
  13. "No. 48454". The London Gazette. 16 December 1980. p. 17420.
  14. "Council drops Wakefield shopping centre buyout over cash fears". BBC News. 13 December 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  15. "City of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council". Archived from the original on 3 February 2003. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  16. "Local Government Act 1985", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1985 c. 51, retrieved 18 June 2023
  17. "The West Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2014". www.legislation.gov.uk.
  18. "Constitution" (PDF).
  19. "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  20. "Wakefield". BBC News Online. 19 April 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
  21. "Council minutes". Wakefield Council. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  22. "Local elections 2024: full mayoral and council results for England". The Guardian. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  23. Gardner, Tony (25 May 2024). "Wakefield Mayor opts for new Tory-Independent coalition to break deadlock in 'unprecedented' opposition vote". Wakefield Express. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  24. Historic England. "County Hall (offices of West Yorkshire County Council), Bond Street, Wakefield (1242349)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  25. "Contact us". Wakefield Council. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  26. Spereall, David (15 October 2019). "Wakefield One council office could become 'smart' building with new sensors". Wakefield Express. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  27. "Calendar". Wakefield Council. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  28. Historic England. "Town Hall, Wood Street (Grade I) (1258995)". National Heritage List for England.
  29. Gardner, Tony (5 October 2022). "Wakefield Council to shut historic County Hall headquarters blaming soaring energy costs". Wakefield Express. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  30. "The City of Wakefield (Electoral Changes) Order 2003", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2003/3087, retrieved 20 June 2023

External links

Local authorities in West Yorkshire
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Metropolitan district councils
Metropolitan districts of England
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