Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council is the local authority for Rotherham in South Yorkshire, England. The council is elected every four years. Since the last boundary changes in 2004, 63 councillors have been elected from 21

wards Ward may refer to: Division or unit * Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward * Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a priso ...

. As part of the government's response to the Rotherham sexual abuses scandal, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles made an order under the Local Government Act 2000 to switch Rotherham council to holding all-out elections in 2016 and then every fourth year after (the boundaries were not changed). Until then, Rotherham was elected 'in thirds' like other Metropolitan Boroughs, with a third of the council being elected in 3 years out of every 4-year cycle.

Political control

From 1902 to 1974 Rotherham was a county borough, independent of any county council. Under the

Local Government Act 1972 The Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974. It was one of the most significant Acts of Parliament to be passed by the Heath Gov ...

it had its territory enlarged and became a

metropolitan borough A metropolitan borough (or metropolitan district) is a type of local government district in England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972, metropolitan boroughs are defined in English law as metropolitan districts within metropolitan ...

, with South Yorkshire County Council providing county-level services. The first election to the reconstituted borough council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its revised powers on 1 April 1974. South Yorkshire County Council was abolished in 1986 and Rotherham became a unitary authority. Political control of the council since 1973 has been held by the following parties:

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 1990 have been:

Council elections

By-election results

1993-1997

1997-2001

2001-2005

2005-2009

2013-2016

2016-2021

The 50% vote increase for the Liberal Democrats marked the highest ever swing in their favour since the creation of the council.

2021-present

References

Rotherham election results

External links

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
{{Metropolitan districts of England Elections in Rotherham Council elections in South Yorkshire Rotherham