Bangor City Council

Bangor City Council or officially the City of Bangor Council is an elected community council serving Bangor in Gwynedd, Wales.

Bangor City Council

Cyngor Dinas Bangor
Type
Type
Leadership
Mayor
John Wyn Williams (2019/20)[1], Plaid Cymru
Deputy Mayor
Owen Joel Hurcum (2019/20)[1], Plaid Cymru
Seats20
Meeting place
Penrhyn Hall, Ffordd Gwynedd, Bangor
Website
bangorcitycouncil.com
Electoral wards in Bangor, Gwynedd

Background

Bangor's council was created in 1883 by royal charter. In 1974 it became City of Bangor Council, after Bangor had been granted city status, though many of its previous powers were passed to Arfon Borough Council (1974–1996)[2] and the new Gwynedd Council, based in Caernarfon.[3]

The city council's roles include consultation on all planning applications within the city boundaries, as well as applications for alcohol licenses.[4] Its current responsibilities extend to maintaining footpaths and bus shelters, as well as managing a number of woodland areas and open public spaces.[4]

Garth Pier, owned by the council

The city council is most notably responsible for the maintenance of Wales' second longest pier, the Garth Pier. After Arfon Borough Council had decided to demolish it in 1974, Bangor City Council bought the 1,550 feet (470 m) pier for a nominal one pence.[5] However, in 2012 the council only had £1 million of the estimated £2 million needed to repair it.[6] The council-financed £1 million restoration began in 2017, phased over three to four years.[7]

In addition the city council owns a number of important buildings, including the Town Clock, the City Council Offices and Penhryn Hall (containing the Council Chamber) in Ffordd Gwynedd.[4] It owns Nantporth Football Stadium, which it leases to Bangor City Football Club. It also owns Hafan Drop-in Centre and Coed Mawr Community Centre.[4]

In June 2012 a curfew keeping young people out of Bangor city centre made the UK national news.[8] Bangor City Council had to call an emergency meeting to raise their concerns, because Gwynedd Council and the local police had imposed the curfew without consulting city councillors.[9]

Representation

Twenty councillors are elected from the eight electoral wards in the city, namely: Deiniol (2), Dewi (3), Garth (2), Glyder (3), Hendre (2), Hirael (2), Marchog (3) and Menai (3). In 2017 half of the seats were won by Plaid Cymru.[10] The eight wards also elect ten county councillors to Gwynedd Council.

Mayor

The council elects a city mayor and deputy mayor annually.[3][11] The Mayor making for 2020 was delayed by a year due to COVID-19 and both the Deputy Mayor and Mayor will remain in their posts for another year until 2021.

Council composition

Following the election on 4 May 2017 Plaid Cymru were the largest party, holding half of the seats.

As of 29 November 2019[12]
Affiliation Members
Plaid Cymru 9
Independent 6
Labour 4
Liberal Democrat 1

In June 2018 a vacancy arose in the Deiniol ward after one of the councillors moved away from the city.[13]

Welsh Labour won a by-election on 29 November 2019, for the Hirael ward.[14]

References
  1. "New Mayor elected for the City of Bangor". Bangor Aye. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  2. "History Of The Council". Bangor City Council. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  3. Tomos Hughes (18 May 2012). "The Mayor and Mayoress' year". North Wales Chronicle. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  4. "Roles and Responsibilities Of The Council". Bangor City Council. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  5. "Bangor Garth - History". National Piers Society. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  6. George Herd (20 February 2012). "Bangor pier: potential £1m shortfall for maintenance work". BBC News. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  7. Dale Spridgeon (26 August 2017). "Bangor pier's £1m restoration project gets underway". North Wales Chronicle. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  8. John Bingham (16 June 2012). "North Korea or Bangor? City centre curfew on all under-16s". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  9. "Bangor dispersal order prompts city council meeting". BBC News. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  10. "The City of Bangor Council". Bangor City Council. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  11. Geraint Jones (9 May 2014). "New mayor of Bangor installed". North Wales Chronicle. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  12. "The City Council". Bangor City Council.
  13. "Bangor City Council Vacancy for Deiniol Ward". The Bangor Aye. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  14. "LABOUR WIN HIRAEL WARD IN BANGOR CITY COUNCIL BY-ELECTION". The Bangor Aye. 29 November 2019.
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