Swindon Borough Council

Local authority in Wiltshire, England

Swindon Borough Council

Type
Type|

Unitary authority

Leadership

Mayor

Fay Howard,
Labour
since 16 May 2025[1]

Leader

Jim Robbins,
Labour
since 19 May 2023

Chief Executive

Samantha Mowbray
since July 2023[2]

Structure
Seats| 57 councillors

Political groups

Administration (39)
Labour (39)
Other parties (18)
Liberal Democrats (1)
Conservative (16)
Independent (1)

Length of term

| 4 years
Elections

Voting system

| Plurality-at-large

Last election

| 2 May 2024

Next election

| 7 May 2026
Meeting place
Civic Offices, Euclid Street, Swindon, SN1 2JH
Website
www.swindon.gov.uk

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 independent from Wiltshire Council, the unitary authority which administers the rest of the county.

The council has been under Labour majority control since 2023. It is based at the Civic Offices on Euclid Street.

## History

[edit]

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 were abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. 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

[edit]

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, with the council losing control. 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 2022[update]) nine portfolio-holding members.[13]

## Political control

[edit]

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:[14]

Thamesdown Borough Council (lower tier non-metropolitan district)

Party in control | Years

|

| Labour | 1974–1976
| No overall control | 1976–1978
| Labour | 1978–1997

Swindon Borough Council (unitary authority)

Party in control | Years

|

| Labour | 1997–2000
| No overall control | 2000–2004
| Conservative | 2004–2023
| Labour | 2023–present

### Leadership

[edit]

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

Councillor | Party | From | To

|
|
|

Sue Bates[15] |  | Labour | 1995 | 1998
Maurice Fanning[15] |  | Labour | 1998 | 1999
Sue Bates[16][15] |  | Labour | 1999 | 27 Sep 2001
Mike Bawden[17][15] |  | Conservative | 11 Oct 2001 | May 2002
Sue Bates[18][15] |  | Labour | 17 May 2002 | Aug 2002
Kevin Small[19][20] |  | Labour | 21 Aug 2002 | May 2003
Mike Bawden[21][22] |  | Conservative | 16 May 2003 | May 2006
Roderick Bluh[23][24] |  | Conservative | 19 May 2006 | 11 Apr 2013
David Renard[25][26] |  | Conservative | 11 Apr 2013 | May 2023
Jim Robbins[27] |  | Labour | 19 May 2023 |

### Composition

[edit]

Following the 2024 election,[28] and subsequent changes of allegiance up to May 2025 the composition of the council was:[29]

Party  | Councillors

|

| Labour | 39
| Conservative | 16
| Liberal Democrats | 1
| Independent | 1
Total | 57

The next elections are due in May 2026.[29]

## Premises

[edit]

The council is based at the Civic Offices on Euclid Street in Swindon.[30] 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.[31]

## Elections

[edit]

Main article: Swindon Borough Council 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.[32] The next election, in which every councillor will stand, is in May, 2026.

### Wards and councillors

[edit]

Parliamentary constituency  | Ward  | Councillor  | Party  | Term of office

|
|
|
|

North Swindon | 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  |  | Labour | 2022–26
Rajhia Ali  |  | Labour | 2023-26
Ian Edwards  |  | Labour | 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  |  | Labour | 2023-26
Simon Shelley  |  | Labour | 2024-26
Both constituencies | Covingham and Dorcan | Kevin Parry  |  | Conservative | 2022-26
Dale Heenan  |  | Conservative | 2023-26
Barbara Parry  |  | Conservative | 2024-26
Mannington and Western | Jim Robbins  |  | Labour | 2022–26
Fay Howard  |  | Labour | 2023-26
Kevin Small  |  | Labour | 2024-26
South Swindon | Central | Anabelle Pegado  |  | Conservative | 2022–26
Adorabelle Amaral-Shaikh  |  | Labour | 2023-26
Domingos Dias  |  | Labour | 2024-26
Chiseldon and Lawn | Lawrence Elliott  |  | Conservative | 2022–26
Neil Hopkins  |  | Labour | 2023-26
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  |  | Labour | 2023-26
Leon Grother  |  | Labour | 2024-26
Old Town | Nadine Watts  |  | Labour | 2022–26
Chris Watts  |  | Labour | 2023-26
Jane Milner-Barry  |  | Labour | 2024-26
Ridgeway | Gary Sumner  |  | Conservative | 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
Wroughton and Wichelstowe | Adam Poole  |  | Liberal Democrats | 2023-26
Elaine Cook  |  | Conservative | 2024-26
Matty Courtliff  |  | Conservative | 2024-26

## Notes

[edit]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Council minutes, 16 May 2025". Swindon Borough Council. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
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 from 1973 onwards". Boundary-Line support. Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
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 25 June 2022.
14. ^ "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 26 November 2024. (Put "Swindon" in search box to see specific results.)
15. ^ a b c d e "Bulldog Bates 'had enough'". Gazette and Herald. 9 July 2003. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
16. ^ "Council minutes, 27 September 2001" (PDF). Swindon Borough Council. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
17. ^ "Council minutes, 11 October 2001" (PDF). Swindon Borough Council. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
18. ^ "Council minutes, 17 May 2002" (PDF). Swindon Borough Council. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
19. ^ "Council minutes, 21 August 2002" (PDF). Swindon Borough Council. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
20. ^ Hudson, Barrie (4 August 2016). "Council in crisis... lead to chaos..." Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
21. ^ "Council minutes, 16 May 2003" (PDF). Swindon Borough Council. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
22. ^ Harvey, Dave (19 May 2006). "Farewell to the magic roundabout". BBC News. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
23. ^ "Council minutes, 19 May 2006". Swindon Borough Council. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
24. ^ "Swindon council leader Roderick Bluh steps down". BBC News. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
25. ^ "Council minutes, 11 April 2013". Swindon Borough Council. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
26. ^ Thomas, Aled (22 July 2023). "David Renard defends record as Swindon council leader". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
27. ^ "Council minutes, 19 May 2023". Swindon Borough Council. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
28. ^ "Borough election results". Swindon Borough Council.
29. ^ a b "Swindon". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
30. ^ "Contacting us". Swindon Borough Council. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
31. ^ "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.
32. ^ "Swindon Borough Council votes for election every four years". BBC News. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2024.

## External links

[edit]

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