Trafford Council

Local government body in Greater Manchester, England

Trafford Council

Type
Type|

Metropolitan borough council

History
Founded| 1 April 1974
Leadership

Mayor

Jane Brophy,
Liberal Democrat
since 21 May 2025[1]

Leader

Tom Ross,
Labour
since 17 December 2022[2]

Chief Executive

Sara Todd
since 1 February 2019

Structure
Seats| 63 councillors

Political groups

Administration (42)
Labour (42)
Other parties (21)
Conservative (8)
Green (6)
Liberal Democrats (6)
Independent (1)

Joint committees

| Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Greater Manchester Police, Fire and Crime Panel
Elections

Voting system

| First-past-the-post

Last election

| 2 May 2024

Next election

| 7 May 2026
Meeting place
Trafford Town Hall, Talbot Road, Stretford, Manchester, M32 0TH
Website
trafford.gov.uk

Trafford Council, or Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council, is the local authority of the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford in Greater Manchester, England. It is a metropolitan borough council and provides the majority of local government services in the borough. The council has been a member of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority since 2011.

The council has been under Labour majority control since 2019. It is based at Trafford Town Hall in Stretford.

## History

[edit]

The Metropolitan Borough of Trafford and its council were created in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 as one of ten metropolitan districts within the new metropolitan county of Greater Manchester. The first election was held in 1973. For its first year the council acted as a shadow authority alongside the area's seven outgoing authorities, being the borough councils of Altrincham, Sale and Stretford, the urban district councils of Bowdon, Hale, and Urmston, and the Bucklow Rural District Council (in respect of four of its parishes only). The new metropolitan district and its council formally came into being on 1 April 1974, at which point the old districts and their councils were abolished.[3]

The metropolitan district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.[4] The council styles itself Trafford Council rather than its full formal name of Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council.[5][6]

From 1974 until 1986 the council was a lower-tier authority, with upper-tier functions provided by the Greater Manchester County Council. The county council was abolished in 1986 and its functions passed to Greater Manchester's ten borough councils, including Trafford, with some services provided through joint committees.[7]

Since 2011 the council has been a member of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, which has been led by the directly elected Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017. The combined authority provides strategic leadership and co-ordination for certain functions across Greater Manchester, notably regarding transport and town planning, but Trafford Council continues to be responsible for most local government functions.[8][9]

## Governance

[edit]

Trafford Council provides metropolitan borough services. Some strategic functions in the area are provided by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority; the leader of Trafford Council sits on the combined authority as Trafford's representative.[10] There are four civil parishes in the borough at Carrington, Dunham Massey, Partington and Warburton, which form an additional tier of local government for their areas; the rest of the borough is unparished.[11]

### Political control

[edit]

The council has been under Labour majority control since 2019.

Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms took effect has been as follows:[12][13]

Party in control | Years

|

| Conservative | 1974–1986
| No overall control | 1986–1988
| Conservative | 1988–1995
| No overall control | 1995–1996
| Labour | 1996–2003
| No overall control | 2003–2004
| Conservative | 2004–2018
| No overall control | 2018–2019
| Labour | 2019–present

### Leadership

[edit]

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Trafford. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1976 have been:

Councillor | Party | From | To

|
|
|

Colin Warbrick[14][15] |  | Conservative | 1976 | 1977
Mike King[16] |  | Conservative | 1977 | 1978
Jonathan Taylor[17][18] |  | Conservative | 1978 | 1982
Mike King[19][20] |  | Conservative | 1982 | 1985
Colin Warbrick[21][22] |  | Conservative | 1985 | May 1986
Barry Brotherton[23][24] |  | Labour | May 1986 | 1988
Colin Warbrick[24][25] |  | Conservative | May 1988 | May 1993
Frank Eadie[25][26] |  | Conservative | May 1993 | May 1995
Beverley Hughes[27][28] |  | Labour | May 1995 | May 1997
David Acton[29][30] |  | Labour | May 1997 | 2004
Susan Williams[31][32] |  | Conservative | 2004 | 19 May 2009
Matthew Colledge[33][34] |  | Conservative | 19 May 2009 | 13 Mar 2014
Sean Anstee[34][35][36] |  | Conservative | 13 Mar 2014 | 23 May 2018
Andrew Western[36][37][38] |  | Labour | 23 May 2018 | 4 Jan 2023
Tom Ross[37] |  | Labour | 4 Jan 2023 |

### Composition

[edit]

Following the 2024 election,[39] and a subsequent change of allegiance in July 2025, the composition of the council was:[40]

Party  | Councillors

|

| Labour | 42
| Conservative | 8
| Green | 6
| Liberal Democrats | 6
| Independent | 1
Total  | 63

The next election is due in May 2026.[40]

## Elections

[edit]

See also: Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2023, the council has comprised 63 councillors representing 21 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with a third of the council (one councillor for each ward) elected each time for a four-year term of office.[41]

## Wards and councillors

[edit]

Each ward is represented by three councillors.[42]

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

|
|
|
|

Altrincham & Sale
West constituency | Altrincham | Geraldine Coggins  |  | Green | 2023–27
Daniel Jerrome  |  | Green | 2023–26
Michael Welton  |  | Green | 2024–28
Ashton upon Mersey | Shona Gilbert  |  | Labour | 2023–27
Ben Hartley  |  | Labour | 2023–26
Tony O'Brien  |  | Labour | 2024-28
Bowdon | Phil Eckersley  |  | Conservative | 2023–27
Shengke Zhi  |  | Conservative | 2023–26
Lisa Hancock  |  | Conservative | 2024-28
Broadheath | Denise Western  |  | Labour | 2023–27
Amy Whyte  |  | Labour | 2023–26
Ulrich Savery  |  | Independent  | 2024-28
Hale Barns & Timperley South | Dylan Butt  |  | Conservative | 2023–27
Nathan Evans  |  | Conservative | 2023–26
Michael Taylor  |  | Conservative | 2024-28
Hale | Jane Leicester  |  | Green | 2023–27
Hannah Spencer  |  | Green | 2023–26
Owain Sutton  |  | Green | 2024-28
Manor | Rob Duncan  |  | Conservative | 2023–27
John Holden  |  | Conservative | 2023–26
Keleigh Glenton  |  | Labour | 2024-28
Timperley Central | Shaun Ennis  |  | Liberal Democrats | 2023–27
Julian Newgrosh  |  | Liberal Democrats | 2023–26
Simon Lepori  |  | Liberal Democrats | 2024-28
Timperley North | Jane Brophy |  | Liberal Democrats | 2023–27
Will Frass  |  | Liberal Democrats | 2023–26
Meena Minnis  |  | Liberal Democrats | 2024-28
Stretford & Urmston
constituency | Bucklow-St. Martins | Frances Cosby  |  | Labour | 2023–27
Aidan Williams  |  | Labour | 2023–26
James Wright  |  | Labour | 2024-28
Davyhulme | Sue Maitland  |  | Labour | 2023–27
Karina Carter  |  | Labour | 2023–26
Barry Winstanley  |  | Labour | 2024-28
Flixton | Ged Carter  |  | Labour | 2023–27
Dolores O'Sullivan  |  | Labour | 2023–26
Simon Thomas  |  | Labour | 2024-28
Gorse Hill & Cornbrook | David Acton  |  | Labour | 2023–27
Fianna Hornby  |  | Labour | 2023–26
George Devlin  |  | Labour | 2024-28
Longford | Sarah Haughey  |  | Labour | 2023–27
Judith Lloyd  |  | Labour | 2023–26
Dave Jarman  |  | Labour | 2024-28
Lostock & Barton | Jill Axford  |  | Labour | 2023–27
Mike Cordingley  |  | Labour | 2023–26
Shirley Procter  |  | Labour | 2024-28
Old Trafford | Waseem Hassan  |  | Labour | 2023–27
Emma Hirst  |  | Labour | 2023–26
Sophie Taylor  |  | Labour | 2024-28
Stretford & Humphrey Park | Stephen Adshead  |  | Labour | 2023–27
Jane Slater  |  | Labour | 2023–26
Tom Ross  |  | Labour | 2024-28
Urmston | Joanne Harding  |  | Labour | 2023–27
Catherine Hynes  |  | Labour | 2023–26
Kevin Procter  |  | Labour | 2024-28
Wythenshawe & Sale
East constituency | Brooklands | Will Jones  |  | Labour | 2023–27
Rose Thompson  |  | Labour | 2023–26
Bilal Babar  |  | Labour | 2024-28
Sale Central | Barry Brotherton  |  | Labour | 2023–27
Eve Parker  |  | Labour | 2023–26
Zak Deakin  |  | Labour | 2024-28
Sale Moor | Joanne Bennett  |  | Labour | 2023–27
Liz Patel  |  | Labour | 2023–26
Olly Baskerville  |  | Labour | 2024-28

## Premises

[edit]

The council is based at Trafford Town Hall, on Talbot Road in Stretford. The building was originally called Stretford Town Hall, having been completed in 1933 for the former Stretford Borough Council, one of Trafford Council's predecessors.[43] Most of the council's offices are in a modern extension to the rear of the building which opened in 2013, replacing an earlier office extension of 1983 on the same site.[44]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Jackson, Nick (22 May 2025). "New mayor urges new focus on 'care for people, health and the planet'". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
2. ^ "New Trafford Council leader announced after by-election". 18 December 2022.
3. ^ "Local Government Act 1972: Schedule 1", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70 (sch. 1), retrieved 30 May 2024
4. ^ "District Councils and Boroughs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 28 March 1974. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
5. ^ "Find your local council". gov.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
6. ^ "CONSTITUTION FOR EXECUTIVE GOVERNANCE" (PDF). Trafford Council. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
7. ^ "Local Government Act 1985", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1985 c. 51, retrieved 5 April 2024
8. ^ "The Greater Manchester Combined Authority Order 2011", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2011/908, retrieved 30 May 2024
9. ^ "Understand how your council works". gov.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
10. ^ "GMCA Members". Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
11. ^ "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
12. ^ "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 21 May 2025. (Put "Trafford" in search box to see specific results.)
13. ^ Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council (5 May 2016). "Declaration of result of poll: Trafford" (PDF). Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
14. ^ "Tory leader". Manchester Evening News. 21 May 1976. p. 1. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
15. ^ "All-in clash is looming". Manchester Evening News. 11 August 1977. p. 5. Retrieved 25 July 2025. "...Councillor Colin Warbrick, leader of the Tory-controlled council..."
16. ^ "Police eject youth in council cuts demo". Manchester Evening News. 5 April 1978. p. 5. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
17. ^ "'Threat to heritage' comes under fire". Manchester Evening News. 1 November 1978. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
18. ^ "Election Results Special". Manchester Evening News. 7 May 1982. p. 25. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
19. ^ King, Ray (17 July 1982). "700 jobs axe may be too little". Manchester Evening News. p. 11. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
20. ^ "Bowled over by £17m hotel deal". Manchester Evening News. 3 April 1985. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
21. ^ "Battle of health axe will go on". Manchester Evening News. 22 October 1985. p. 15. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
22. ^ "Town fight for power". Manchester Evening News. 14 May 1986. p. 11. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
23. ^ "Socialists choose their team". Manchester Evening News. 28 May 1986. p. 13. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
24. ^ a b Keeling, Neal (6 May 1988). "Tory pledge on schools". Manchester Evening News. p. 1. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
25. ^ a b "A new leader for council". Manchester Metro News. 30 April 1993. p. 28. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
26. ^ "Trafford hangs Tories out to dry in their last bolthole". Manchester Evening News. 5 May 1995. p. 30. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
27. ^ Scheerhout, John (19 May 1995). "Superstore is shelved after shift in power". Manchester Metro News. p. 12. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
28. ^ Scheerhout, John (9 May 1997). "I will not fail you, says new MP Bev". Manchester Metro News. p. 22. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
29. ^ "Showbiz mayor is pleased as Punch". Manchester Evening News. 23 May 1997. p. 19. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
30. ^ "David Acton". Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council. Archived from the original on 13 March 2004. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
31. ^ "The Rt Hon Baroness Williams of Trafford". gov.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
32. ^ "Matt Colledge is new leader as Susan Williams stands down to fight Bolton West seat at next election". 25 July 2025. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
33. ^ "Council minutes, 19 May 2009". Trafford Council. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
34. ^ a b "Council minutes, 13 March 2014". Trafford Council. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
35. ^ "Trafford Council: Tories 'will not seek to form coalition'". BBC News. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
36. ^ a b "Council minutes, 23 May 2018". Trafford Council. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
37. ^ a b "Council minutes, 4 January 2023" (PDF). Trafford Council. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
38. ^ "Trafford Council: New MP's replacement as leader confirmed". BBC News. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
39. ^ "Local elections 2024: full mayoral and council results for England". The Guardian. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
40. ^ a b "Trafford". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
41. ^ "The Trafford (Electoral Changes) Order 2022", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2022/1375, retrieved 4 June 2024
42. ^ "Your Councillors". Trafford MBC. Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
43. ^ Historic England. "Trafford Town Hall, Talbot Road (Grade II) (1391923)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
44. ^ Mara, Felix (18 July 2013). "Keep it simple: Trafford Town Hall redevelopment by 5Plus". Architects' Journal. Retrieved 4 June 2024.

* v
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Local authorities in Greater Manchester

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* Combined authority
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Councils|

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Local elections|

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The City of Manchester

About Manchester|

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Parliament
constituencies|

| Blackley and
Middleton South|

* Charlestown
* Crumpsall
* Harpurhey
* Higher Blackley
* Moston
* This constituency also contains part of Middleton in neighbouring Rochdale Borough Council.

|

Gorton and
Denton|

* Burnage
* Gorton & Abbey Hey
* Levenshulme
* Longsight
* This constituency also contains Denton in neighbouring Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council.

Manchester
Central|

* Ancoats & Beswick
* Cheetham
* Clayton & Openshaw
* Deansgate
* Miles Platting & Newton Heath
* Piccadilly
* This constituency also contains Failsworth in neighbouring Oldham Council.

Manchester
Rusholme|

* Ardwick
* Fallowfield
* Hulme
* Moss Side
* Rusholme
* Whalley Range

Manchester
Withington|

* Chorlton
* Chorlton Park
* Didsbury East
* Didsbury West
* Old Moat
* Withington

Wythenshawe
and Sale East|

* Baguley
* Brooklands (Manchester)
* Northenden
* Sharston
* Woodhouse Park

* Manchester Airport
* This constituency also contains Brooklands (Trafford), Priory and Sale Moor in neighbouring Trafford Council.

Geographic areas|

* Ardwick
* Ardwick Green
* Baguley
* Belle Vue
* Benchill
* Beswick
* Blackley
* Bradford
* Burnage
* Cheetham Hill
* Chorlton-cum-Hardy
* Chorlton-on-Medlock
* Chorltonville
* Clayton
* Collyhurst
* Crumpsall
* Didsbury
* Fallowfield
* Gorton
* Harpurhey
* Heaton Park
* Hulme
* Levenshulme
* Longsight
* Lower Crumpsall
* Manchester Airport
* Miles Platting
* Moss Side
* Moston
* Newall Green
* New Moston
* Newton Heath
* Northenden
* Northern Moor
* Openshaw
* Parrs Wood
* Peel Hall
* Ringway
* Rusholme
* Sharston
* Victoria Park
* Whalley Range
* Withington
* Woodhouse Park
* Wythenshawe

| City Centre|

* Ancoats
* Castlefield
* Chinatown
* City Centre
* Gay Village
* New Islington
* N.O.M.A.
* Northern Quarter
* Piccadilly Village
* Spinningfields
* St John's Quarter

|

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