Worcester City Council is the local authority for the district of Worcester, in Worcestershire, England. Worcester has had a council since medieval times, which has been reformed on numerous occasions. Since 1974 the council has been a non-metropolitan district council. The council consists of 35 councillors, elected from 15 wards. It is based at Worcester Guildhall. The council has been under no overall control since 2022, and has been run by a Labour minority administration since the 2024 election.
History Worcester was an ancient borough which had held city status from time immemorial. The city was given the right to appoint its own sheriff in 1621, making it a county corporate, independent from the jurisdiction of the Sheriff of Worcestershire.
The city was reformed to become a municipal borough in 1836 under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, which standardised how most boroughs operated across the country. It was then governed by a body formally called the "mayor, aldermen and citizens of the city of Worcester", but generally known as the corporation or city council. When elected county councils were established in 1889, Worcester was considered large enough for its existing city council to provide county-level services, and so it was made a county borough, independent from Worcestershire County Council.
In 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, the city had its territory enlarged, gaining the parishes of Warndon and St Peter the Great County and it became a non-metropolitan district, with Hereford and Worcester County Council providing county-level services. Worcester retained its borough status, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor, whilst its city status was re-conferred on the enlarged district, allowing the council to take the name Worcester City Council. Hereford and Worcester was abolished in 1998, since when a re-established Worcestershire County Council has been the upper-tier authority for Worcester.
Political control The council has been under no overall control since 2022. Following the 2024 election, Labour had most seats and formed a minority administration.
Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms has been as follows: (Put "Worcester" in search box to see specific results.)
Party in control Years 1974–1976 1976–1980 1980–1983 1983–1986 1986–2000 2000–2003 2003–2007 2007–2011 2011–2012 2012–2015 2015–2016 2016–2021 2021–2022 2022–present
Leadership The role of Mayor of Worcester is largely ceremonial, with political leadership instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 2002 have been:
Councillor Party From To Notes Margaret Wills May 1998 May 1999 Stephen Inman 2002 May 2006 Simon Geraghty May 2006 14 May 2013 Adrian Gregson 14 May 2013 3 Jun 2014 Simon Geraghty 3 Jun 2014 5 Feb 2016 Marc Bayliss 23 Feb 2016 17 May 2016 Adrian Gregson 17 May 2016 27 Mar 2018 Marc Bayliss 27 Mar 2018 29 Nov 2022 Chris Mitchell 29 Nov 2022 May 2023 Lynn Denham 16 May 2023 May 2024 Joint leaders Marjory Bisset Lynn Denham 14 May 2024
Composition Following the 2024 election, and subsequent changes of allegiance up to August 2026, the composition of the council was as follows:
Elections
Since the last boundary changes in 2024 the council has comprised 35 councillors representing 16 wards, with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.
Premises The city council is based at Worcester Guildhall on the High Street in the city centre. The current guildhall was built in 1723 on a site which had been occupied by a guildhall since about 1227.
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