1995 Cardiff Council election

The 1995 Cardiff Council election was the first election to the new unitary County Council of the City and County of Cardiff following the re-organization of local government in Wales. It was held on Thursday 4 May 1995.[1] It was followed by the 1999 elections. On the same day there were elections to the other 21 local authorities in Wales and community councils in Wales. Labour won a majority of the seats.[2] It was preceded in Cardiff by the 1991 elections to Cardiff City Council and the 1993 elections to South Glamorgan County Council.

1995 Cardiff Council election

4 May 1995
All 67 seats to Cardiff Council 34 seats needed for a majority
Party Labour Liberal Democrats Conservative Seats won 56 9 1 Seat change N/A N/A N/A Popular vote 133,992 40,633 38,851   Party Plaid Cymru Seats won 1 Seat change N/A Popular vote 7,428
Council control before election N/A Council control after election Labour

Overview

All council seats were up for election. These were the first elections held following local government reorganisation, which created new 'super authorities' and would lead to the abolition of South Glamorgan County Council on 1 April 1996. Cardiff councillors would act in a shadow capacity to the new Cardiff Council, until the following April.[3]

The ward boundaries for the new authority were based on the previous Cardiff City Council. In addition, the Creigiau ward which was previously within Taff Ely Borough Council was included within the new authority.

Candidates

All 67 seats were contested by the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats, whilst the Conservative Party contested 58, and Plaid Cymru contested 28. The majority of the sitting members on the two previous authorities stood for election.

Members of the Cardiff City Council[4] prior to the election are denoted with *

Members of South Glamorgan County Council[5] prior to the election are denoted with +

Outcome

Labour won an overwhelming majority, including wards that had been held on predecessor councils by the Conservatives for many years. A number of long-serving Conservative councillors failed to be elected. The Liberal Democrats captured wards where they had been successful in the past but the party also lost some ground. Plaid Cymru had their first Cardiff councillor elected for 27 years, in the Creigiau ward.[1]

Cardiff Council election result 1995 [2]

Party		Seats	Gains	Losses	Net gain/loss	Seats %	Votes %	Votes	+/−
	Labour	56	56	N/A	N/A	83.5			N/A
	Liberal Democrats	9	9	N/A	N/A	13.4			N/A
	Conservative	1	1	N/A	N/A	1.5			N/A
	Plaid Cymru	1	1	N/A	N/A	1.5			N/A
	Independent	0	0	N/A	N/A	0		4,676	N/A
	Green	0	0	N/A	N/A	0		3,839	N/A
	Communist	0	0	N/A	N/A	0		391	N/A

Ward Results

Adamsdown (two seats)

Adamsdown[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Kenneth Hutchings+	1,201	47.5	N/A
	Labour	L. Glaister*	954
	Liberal Democrats	Nigel Howells	733	29.0	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	John Dixon	688
	Independent	William Herbert*	422	16.7	N/A
	Plaid Cymru	Steffan Wiliam	124	4.9	N/A
	Communist	F. Rawlings	46	1.8	N/A
Turnout				40.5	N/A
Registered electors			5,413
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Former city mayor, Bill Herbert, was rejected as Labour's candidate in favour of South Glamorgan councillor and county highways chairman, Ken Hutchings. Herbert stood as an Independent.[6]

Butetown (1 seat)

Butetown[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Ben Foday+	648	78.3	N/A
	Plaid Cymru	M. Chambers	69	8.3	N/A
	Conservative	Ronald Thomas	63	7.6	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	K. Hassan	48	5.8	N/A
Turnout				31.1	N/A
Registered electors			2,676
	Labour win (new seat)

Caerau (2 seats)

Caerau[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Jacqui Gasson*+	1,562	48.8	N/A
	Labour	Harry Ernest*	1,488	46.5	N/A
	Labour	Julie Mawn	1,282
	Liberal Democrats	Roger Burley+	1,268
	Conservative	H. Evans	93	2.9	N/A
	Conservative	Wendy Rees	92
	Plaid Cymru	C. Woodard	56	1.8	N/A
Turnout				41.2	N/A
Registered electors			7,478
	Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Canton (3 seats)

Canton[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Kevin Brennan*	2,716	51.6	N/A
	Labour	Cherry Short*+	2,431
	Labour	David Thomas*	2,358
	Liberal Democrats	C. Warren	1,218	23.1	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	A. Wigley	730
	Liberal Democrats	S. White	719
	Conservative	N. Durbin	542	10.3	N/A
	Plaid Cymru	P. Daley	444	8.4	N/A
	Green	Vivien Turner	344	6.5	N/A
Turnout				41.7	N/A
Registered electors			10,394
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Cathays (3 seats)

Cathays[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Sarah Merry	2,022	40.6	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	Fred Hornblow*	1,884	37.8	N/A
	Labour	Kathryn-Ann Slade	1,837
	Labour	Gerard Moreton	1,723
	Liberal Democrats	Simon Wakefield	1,701
	Liberal Democrats	Robin Rowland+	1,662
	Green	N. Clark	491	9.9	N/A
	Plaid Cymru	Terence O'Neill	447	9.0	N/A
	Communist	Robert Griffiths	137	2.8	N/A
Turnout				37.8	N/A
Registered electors			11,485
	Labour win (new seat)
	Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Creigiau (1 seat)

Creigiau[1][2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Plaid Cymru	Delme Bowen	436	43.2	N/A
	Labour	S. Jones	226	22.4	N/A
	Independent	A. Thomas-Barton	223	22.1	N/A
	Conservative	J. Greenwood	101	10.0	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	J. Frankham-Barnes	24	2.4	N/A
Turnout				48.6	N/A
Registered electors			2,078
	Plaid Cymru win (new seat)

Cyncoed (3 seats)

Cyncoed[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Jenny Randerson*	2,718	56.8	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	T. Pickets*+	2,694
	Liberal Democrats	J. Pryce	2,531
	Conservative	A. Baker	1,123	23.5	N/A
	Conservative	J. Dickson	1,113
	Conservative	S. Williams	1,048
	Labour	Diane Owen	664	13.9	N/A
	Labour	J. Anderson	658
	Labour	C. Bonnett	597
	Plaid Cymru	W. Vernon	157	3.3	N/A
	Green	D. Corker	123	2.6	N/A
Turnout				52.2	N/A
Registered electors			8,777
	Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
	Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
	Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Ely (3 seats)

Ely[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Brian Finn	2,383	77.6	N/A
	Labour	T. Davies*	2,200
	Labour	Russell Goodway+	2,053
	Conservative	M. Rees	282	9.3	N/A
	Conservative	J. Osmond	278
	Conservative	D. Philpott	249
	Liberal Democrats	S. Coles	231	7.6	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	A. Burns	202
	Liberal Democrats	S. Kinch	198
	Plaid Cymru	L. Haries	168	5.5	N/A
Turnout				29.0	N/A
Registered electors			10,696
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Fairwater (3 seats)

Fairwater[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Maxwell Phillips*	2,576	72.4	N/A
	Labour	T. Ward*	2,464
	Labour	Derek Rees+	2,311
	Conservative	D. Marks	401	11.3	N/A
	Conservative	C. Trigg	361
	Liberal Democrats	J. Evans	350	9.8	N/A
	Conservative	R. Trigg	343
	Liberal Democrats	Peter Borrow	258
	Liberal Democrats	S. Pye	240
	Plaid Cymru	H. Jones	233	6.5	N/A
Turnout				34.0	N/A
Registered electors			10,182
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Gabalfa (1 seat)

Gabalfa[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Jean Wilkinson	1,221	70.2	N/A
	Conservative	V. Kempton	189	10.9	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	Cathy Pearcy	158	9.1	N/A
	Plaid Cymru	A. Fearon	118	6.8	N/A
	Green	J. Rowlands	53	3.0	N/A
Turnout				32.7	N/A
Registered electors			5,330
	Labour win (new seat)

Grangetown (3 seats)

Grangetown[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	John Smith*	2,244	58.5	N/A
	Labour	Peter Perkins+	2,196
	Labour	Lynda Thorne*	2,168
	Conservative	W. Jones	614	16.0	N/A
	Conservative	A. Mountstephen	570
	Conservative	W. Selwood	549
	Independent	C. Dimond	367	9.6	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	M. Islam	243	6.3	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	L. Luxton	227
	Plaid Cymru	D. Williams	214	5.6	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	M. Verma	183
	Green	K. Shaw	152	4.0	N/A
Turnout				35.8	N/A
Registered electors			9,621
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Heath (3 seats)

Heath[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Graham Hinchey+	1,892	35.6	N/A
	Labour	R. Longworth	1,813
	Liberal Democrats	Fenella Bowden	1,786	33.6	N/A
	Labour	Paul Mitchell	1,765
	Liberal Democrats	J. James	1,689
	Liberal Democrats	G. Harris	1,677
	Conservative	Tony John+	1,204	22.7	N/A
	Conservative	Greville Tatham*	1,160
	Conservative	Wayne Warlow	1,037
	Green	M. Evans	221	4.2	N/A
	Plaid Cymru	Nans Couch	205	3.9	N/A
Turnout				54.1	N/A
Registered electors			9,358
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)
	Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Lisvane and St Mellons (1 seat)

Lisvane and St Mellons[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	J. Richards*	1,099	55.7	N/A
	Labour	I. Rees	466	23.6	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	J. Miller	279	14.1	N/A
	Plaid Cymru	J. Jones	72	3.6	N/A
	Green	H. O'Connor	58	2.9	N/A
Turnout				39.8	N/A
Registered electors			4,969
	Conservative win (new seat)

Llandaff (2 seats)

Llandaff[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Gregory Owens	1,568	44.0	N/A
	Labour	John Sheppard	1,460
	Conservative	Julius Hermer*+	1,173	32.9	N/A
	Conservative	M. Jones*	1,121
	Plaid Cymru	Keith Bush	339	9.5	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	E. Williams	303	8.5	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	M. Kettle	296
	Green	F. James	184	5.2	N/A
Turnout				47.2	N/A
Registered electors			7,074
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Llandaff North (2 seats)

Llandaff North[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Anthony Earle	1,850	71.7	N/A
	Labour	M. Matthewson*	1,755
	Conservative	J. Marshall	268	10.4	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	A. James	253	9.8	N/A
	Conservative	P. Gough	225
	Liberal Democrats	D. Wright	137
	Plaid Cymru	E. Eckley	122	4.7	N/A
	Green	R. Thomas	87	3.4	N/A
Turnout				41.5	N/A
Registered electors			5,978
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Llanishen (3 seats)

Llanishen[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Garry Hunt*	3,367	57.9	N/A
	Labour	Nicholas Butler+	3,240
	Labour	Christopher Bettinson+	3,167
	Conservative	P. Tatham*	1,532	26.3	N/A
	Conservative	E. Morgan-Roberts	1,148
	Conservative	J. Strong	1,138
	Liberal Democrats	J. Brent	616	10.6	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	Veronica Hallett	593
	Liberal Democrats	W. Monkley	443
	Plaid Cymru	W. Cross	301	5.2	N/A
Turnout				48.6	N/A
Registered electors			11,331
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Llanrumney (3 seats)

Llanrumney[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Gillian Bird*	2,445	67.4	N/A
	Labour	Brian James*	2,306
	Labour	John Phillips*	2,112
	Independent	D. Stephanakis	365	10.1	N/A
	Conservative	E. Woods	269	7.4	N/A
	Conservative	J. Summerhayes	261
	Conservative	F. Prew	215
	Green	P. Llewellyn	214	5.9	N/A
	Plaid Cymru	E. Lewis	181	5.0	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	Philip Bramhall	152	4.2	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	K. Ali	77
	Liberal Democrats	A. Ali	75
Turnout				36.3	N/A
Registered electors			8,664
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Pentwyn (3 seats)

Pentwyn[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Vita Jones+	2,556	69.7	N/A
	Labour	Brian Pinnell	2,249
	Labour	James Regan	2,223
	Liberal Democrats	P. Ribton	569	15.5	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	J. Walklett	558
	Liberal Democrats	D. Hourahane	486
	Conservative	J. Goodwin	285	7.8	N/A
	Plaid Cymru	G. Davies	256	7.0	N/A
	Conservative	A. Dickson	238
	Conservative	C. Peterson	236
Turnout				31.3	N/A
Registered electors			11,299
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Pentyrch (1 seat)

Pentyrch[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Christine Priday	616	43.2	N/A
	Plaid Cymru	Colin Palfrey	426	29.9	N/A
	Independent	M. Henderson	328	23.0	N/A
	Green	A. Jones	38	2.7	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	J. Kenner	17	1.2	N/A
Turnout				52.9	N/A
Registered electors			2,716
	Labour win (new seat)

Plasnewydd (4 seats)

Plasnewydd[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	A. Cox*	3,121	56.2	N/A
	Labour	Susan Lent+	3,103
	Labour	P. Morris*	2,883
	Labour	Julie Morgan+	2,845
	Plaid Cymru	E. Parish	676	12.2	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	D. Powell	654	11.8	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	Mark Stephens	610
	Green	Chris Von Ruhland	558	10.0	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	Rodney Berman	550
	Liberal Democrats	A. Veasey	517
	Conservative	D. Munton	391	7.0	N/A
	Conservative	D. Shorter	388
	Conservative	J. Munton	371
	Conservative	M. Williams	358
	Communist	C. Eliassen	155	2.8	N/A
Turnout				35.2
Registered electors			12,949
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Radyr & St Fagans (1 seat)

Radyr & St Fagans[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Marion Drake+	1,421	67.6	N/A
	Conservative	C. Kolmar	502	23.9	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	S. Barker	91	4.3	N/A
	Plaid Cymru	Eluned Bush	87	4.1	N/A
Turnout				51.9	N/A
Registered electors			4,043
	Labour win (new seat)

Rhiwbina (3 seats)

Rhiwbina[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	P. Owen	2,198	41.0	N/A
	Labour	F. Bowrhay	2,178
	Labour	S. Moore	2,095
	Conservative	M. Davies*	1,921	35.8	N/A
	Conservative	Jeffrey Sainsbury*	1,900
	Conservative	Gareth Neale*+	1,875
	Liberal Democrats	R. Nute	768	14.3	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	J. Nute	764
	Liberal Democrats	P. Wilkins	694
	Plaid Cymru	Falmai Griffiths	291	5.4	N/A
	Green	S. Fletcher	182	3.4	N/A
Turnout				54.5	N/A
Registered electors			9,389
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Riverside (3 seats)

Riverside[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	R. Brown*	2,346	58.4	N/A
	Labour	Sue Essex*	2,341
	Labour	J. Singh+	2,143
	Plaid Cymru	Penny Bestic	540	13.5	N/A
	Green	P. Lukes	448	11.2	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	N. Roberts	348	8.7	N/A
	Conservative	W. Donaldson	332	8.3	N/A
	Conservative	M. Evans	322
	Liberal Democrats	R. Hewlett	191
	Liberal Democrats	R. Fawcett	172
Turnout				37.2	N/A
Registered electors			9,008
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Roath (3 seats)

Roath[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Freda Salway*	2,101	47.0	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	M. Michaelis*	2,081
	Liberal Democrats	R. Michaelis+	2,024
	Labour	Ralph Rees	1,204	26.9	N/A
	Labour	W. Cookson	1,150
	Labour	R. Surridge	1,034
	Conservative	G. Hughes	669	15.0	N/A
	Conservative	J. Baker	662
	Conservative	D. Williams	602
	Plaid Cymru	T. Davies	278	6.2	N/A
	Green	P. Ward	218	4.9	N/A
Turnout				41.2	N/A
Registered electors			10,112
	Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
	Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
	Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Rumney (2 seats)

Rumney[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	D. Francies	1,557	61.1	N/A
	Labour	S. Pantak	1,281
	Independent	J. Sage	567	22.3	N/A
	Independent	U. Natale	546
	Conservative	A. McCarthy	263	10.3	N/A
	Conservative	A. Hollands	241
	Liberal Democrats	T. Lewis	95	3.7	N/A
	Plaid Cymru	D. Reeves	65	2.6	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	R. Verma	56
Turnout				36.5	N/A
Registered electors			6,736
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Splott (2 seats)

Splott[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Gordon Houlston+	2,414	62.3	N/A
	Labour	Clarissa Holland	2,336
	Independent	M. Cook+	1,003	25.9	N/A
	Independent	M. Cook	870
	Plaid Cymru	A. O'Neill	158	4.1	N/A
	Conservative	F. Arnold	125	3.2	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	K. Chubb	119	3.1	N/A
	Conservative	A. Thomas	111
	Liberal Democrats	J. Febbo	94
	Communist	D. Macaskill	53	1.4	N/A
Turnout				46.6	N/A
Registered electors			8,167
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Trowbridge (2 seats)

Trowbridge[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	W. Bowen+	1,907	75.0	N/A
	Labour	D. English*	1,658
	Conservative	R. Hollands	231	9.1	N/A
	Conservative	J. McCarthy	177
	Liberal Democrats	M. Barradine	175	6.9	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	C. Elliott	171
	Green	K. Moss	123	4.8	N/A
	Plaid Cymru	J. Davies	105	4.1	N/A
Turnout				27.8	N/A
Registered electors			9,016
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

Whitchurch & Tongwynlais (4 seats)

Whitchurch & Tongwynlais[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	W. Salmon+	3,592	48.6	N/A
	Labour	A. Fennessy+	3,416
	Labour	K. Price	3,166
	Labour	R. Pearson	3,132
	Conservative	W. Griffiths*	1,980	26.8	N/A
	Conservative	Brian John Griffiths*	1,676
	Conservative	Victor Riley*	1,676
	Conservative	D. Morgan	1,458
	Plaid Cymru	Gareth Pierce	860	11.6	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	S. Spear	613	8.3	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	A. Evans	612
	Liberal Democrats	G. Mellem	569
	Liberal Democrats	G. Hallett	507
	Green	S. Martin	345	4.7	N/A
Turnout				52.5	N/A
Registered electors			11,878
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)
	Labour win (new seat)

By-elections between 1995 and 1999

Fairwater

Fairwater by-election, 10 April 1997[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Michael Michael	1,527	70.9	-1.5
	Conservative		388	18.0	+6.7
	Liberal Democrats		237	11.0	+1.2
Majority			1,139	52.9	N/A
Turnout
Registered electors
	Labour hold		Swing

Plasnewydd

Plasnewydd by-election, 18 September 1997[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Geoff Mungham	1,944	46.3	-9.9
	Liberal Democrats		1,398	33.3	+21.5
	Conservative		457	10.9	+3.9
	Green		260	6.2	-3.9
	Socialist Labour		140	3.3	N/A
Majority			546	13.0	N/A
Turnout				30.3	-4.9
Registered electors
	Labour hold		Swing

The by-election was called following the election of Cllr. Julie Morgan as the Member for the Parliamentary constituency of Cardiff North.

Rhiwbina

Rhiwbina by-election, 3 September 1998[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Gareth Neale	1,881	45.5	+9.7
	Labour		1,096	26.5	-14.5
	Liberal Democrats		966	23.3	+9.0
	Plaid Cymru		189	4.5	-0.9
Majority			785	19.0	N/A
Turnout				43.3	-11.2
Registered electors
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing

References

1. "Cardiff - Plaid's return to the capital - Results". South Wales Echo. 5 May 1995. pp. 6–7.
2. "Cardiff Council Election Results 1995-2012" (PDF). The Elections Cente, Plymouth University. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
3. "Voters go to the polls". South Wales Echo. 4 May 1995. p. 3. Voters went to the polls today as local government in Wales undergoes its biggest shake up for 21 years. Twenty two new super-councils will take over the functions of 37 district and eight county authorities, which are being abolished from April next year... Until April next year, the councillors will act in a shadow capacity and many will serve on two or three authorities at the same time.
4. "Cardiff Welsh District Council Election Results 1973-1991" (PDF). The Elections Centre (Plymouth University). Retrieved 21 June 2019.
5. "South Glamorgan County Council Election Results 1973-1993" (PDF). The Elections Centre (Plymouth University). Retrieved 21 June 2019.
6. "Former mayor rejected". South Wales Echo. 5 May 1995. p. 6.
7. "Cumulative Index by Authority". Edkins Family Index. Edkins Family. Retrieved 6 May 2020.