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Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council

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Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council
NameWigan Metropolitan Borough Council
House typeMetropolitan borough, Leader and cabinet
Foundation1 April 1974
JurisdictionMetropolitan Borough of Wigan
HeadquartersWigan Town Hall
Leader titleMayor
Leader nameCllr Marie Morgan
Leader title2Leader of the Council
Leader name2Cllr David Molyneux (Labour)
Leader title3Chief Executive
Leader name3Alison McKenzie-Folan
Seats75 councillors
Political groups* Administration (61), ** Labour (61), * Other parties (14), ** Conservative (8), ** Independent (4), ** Aspull, New Springs & Whelley Independents (2)
Voting systemFirst-past-the-post
Last election4 May 2023
Next election2024
Meeting placeWigan Town Hall, Library Street, Wigan, WN1 1YN
Websitewigan.gov.uk

Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council is the local authority for the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England. Established under the Local Government Act 1972, it assumed its current powers on 1 April 1974, amalgamating the former County Borough of Wigan with several surrounding districts. The council provides a wide range of services to over 330,000 residents and operates from its headquarters at the historic Wigan Town Hall.

History

The council was created by the Local Government Act 1972, which reorganised local government across England and Wales. It replaced the older County Borough of Wigan, along with the Atherton Urban District, Leigh Municipal Borough, Ashton-in-Makerfield Urban District, and several other districts from the former Lancashire County Council administrative area. This amalgamation formed the present-day Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, one of the ten districts within the newly created Greater Manchester metropolitan county. Key historical administrative buildings incorporated into the new authority included Leigh Town Hall and the former Wigan Rural District offices.

Governance and structure

The council operates a Leader and cabinet model of governance, led by the Leader of the Council who is appointed from the majority political group. Day-to-day executive decisions are made by the cabinet, whose portfolio holders oversee areas such as resources, communities, and regeneration. Full council meetings are held at Wigan Town Hall, where all 75 councillors debate major policies and set the budget. Strategic oversight and operational delivery are managed by the Chief Executive and a senior management team, coordinating departments like Children's Services and Adult Social Care.

Political composition

Following the 2023 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council election, the Labour Party holds a substantial majority with 61 of the 75 seats. The principal opposition is the Conservative Party with 8 councillors, alongside several independent groups including the Aspull, New Springs & Whelley Independents. The current Leader of the Council is Cllr David Molyneux of the Labour Party, while the ceremonial role of Mayor is held by Cllr Marie Morgan. Political control has been held continuously by the Labour Party since the council's inception in 1974.

Services and responsibilities

The council delivers all statutory local government services within its boundaries. These include education provision through numerous schools, the management of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust facilities, and maintaining the borough's highways and infrastructure. It has statutory duties for adult social care, children's safeguarding, and public health, while also operating waste collection, libraries like Leigh Library, and planning functions. A notable partnership is The Deal, a community empowerment initiative developed with residents and organisations such as the National Health Service.

Electoral wards and constituencies

The borough is divided into 25 electoral wards, each electing three councillors who serve four-year terms. These wards include Abram, Ashton, and Wigan Central. For UK Parliamentary elections, the borough's area is covered by three constituencies: Wigan, Leigh, and Makerfield. Ward boundaries are periodically reviewed by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England to ensure electoral equality.

Finances and budget

The council's funding derives from a combination of Council Tax, business rates revenue, and grants from central government, including the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Its annual budget is set by the full council and funds all service areas, with significant expenditure on social care, education, and environmental services. The authority has faced substantial funding reductions due to the United Kingdom government austerity programme, leading to service transformations and efficiency programmes like The Deal to manage demand and resources.

Category:Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council Category:Local authorities in Greater Manchester Category:Metropolitan district councils of England