Isle of Anglesey County Council

Isle of Anglesey County Council
Name	Isle of Anglesey County Council
Caption	Llangefni County Hall, the council's headquarters.
Foundation	1 April 1996
Country	Wales
Seat	Llangefni
Government	Unitary authority
Leader title	Leader of the Council
Leader name	Llinos Medi
Leader party	Plaid Cymru
Website	www.anglesey.gov.uk

Isle of Anglesey County Council is the unitary authority governing the Isle of Anglesey, an island and county in the north-west of Wales. Established under the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, the council is headquartered at Llangefni County Hall and provides all major local government services across the island. Its responsibilities range from education and social services to highways maintenance and economic development.

History

The modern council was formed on 1 April 1996, replacing the previous Anglesey Borough Council and taking over county-level functions from the abolished Gwynedd County Council within its area. This change was part of a wider reorganisation of local government in Wales initiated by the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994. Historically, the island's administration can be traced through entities like the historic Anglesey county council established in 1889 under the Local Government Act 1888. The council's headquarters have long been situated in Llangefni, a central market town.

Governance and political control

The council operates a cabinet-style council system led by an elected Leader of the Council, currently Llinos Medi of Plaid Cymru. Following the 2022 Isle of Anglesey County Council election, political control is held by a coalition led by Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats. The full council of 35 councillors meets at Llangefni County Hall, with key decisions made by the Cabinet and scrutinised by various committees. The ceremonial head is the Chairman of the Council, a role separate from the political leadership.

Functions and services

As a unitary authority, the council delivers a comprehensive range of services. These include operating schools like Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni, managing social care provision, maintaining the island's highways network including the A55 and the Britannia Bridge, and overseeing waste collection and recycling centres. It also has powers for land-use planning, licensing, and promoting tourism at sites such as Beaumaris Castle and the Anglesey Coastal Path. The council works in partnership with bodies like Natural Resources Wales and the Welsh Government.

Electoral divisions and wards

The island is divided into 11 electoral wards which elect the 35 councillors. These multi-member wards include areas such as Aethwy, Bro Aberffraw, Bro Rhosyr, Caergybi, Canolbarth Môn, Lligwy, Llanfair-Mathafarn-Eithaf, Llifon, Seiriol, Tal-y-bont, and Twrcelyn. Boundaries are periodically reviewed by the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales to ensure fair representation. Each ward corresponds to communities which may have their own community council, such as Holyhead Town Council.

Finances and budget

The council's funding primarily comes from the Welsh Government through the Revenue Support Grant, supplemented by Council Tax and non-domestic rates. Its annual budget is set to fund services, with significant expenditure directed towards education and social services. Capital projects, such as investments in schools or the Holyhead port area, are often financed through specific grants from Welsh Government programmes or borrowing approved by the Welsh Treasury.

Notable initiatives and controversies

The council has been involved in major projects like supporting the development of the Wylfa Newydd nuclear power station and the Anglesey Energy Island programme. It has faced controversies, including a period of intervention by the Welsh Government in the early 2010s following critical reports on governance. More recent debates have centred on second home policies, the management of the Menai Strait, and responses to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wales.

Category:Local government in Wales Category:Isle of Anglesey Category:Unitary authorities in Wales