Stevenage Borough Council
Stevenage Borough Council is the local authority for the Stevenage non-metropolitan district of England, the United Kingdom. Stevenage is located in the north-east of Hertfordshire, in the East of England region. The council consists of 39 elected members, representing thirteen electoral wards; each of the wards elects three councillors. Youth representatives from Stevenage Youth Council and the elected Stevenage Youth Mayor also attend Stevenage Borough Council meetings in a non-voting role. The Council is currently controlled by the Labour and Co-operative Group, who hold 24 of the 39 seats. Labour have controlled the council continuously since its creation as a non-metropolitan district in 1974. The Conservative Group hold 9 seats and the Liberal Democrat Group hold 6 seats. The Leader of the Labour and Co-operative Group and the Council is Councillor Richard Henry. History
Stevenage's first elected council was a local board established in 1873, prior to which the town had been administered by the parish vestry. Such local boards were converted into urban district councils in 1894. The Local Government Act 1972 reconstituted Stevenage Urban District as a non-metropolitan district with effect from 1 April 1974. The district was awarded borough status on the same date, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor. Political control
The first elections to the borough council as reformed under the Local Government Act 1972 were held in 1973, initially acting as a shadow authority until the new arrangements took effect on 1 April 1974. The Labour Party has held a majority of the seats on the council since 1974:

Leadership
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Stevenage, and is usually held by a different councillor each year. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1974 have been:

Composition
Following the 2023 election the composition of the council is as follows:

The next elections are due to be held in 2024. Premises
The council is based at Daneshill House on Danestrete in the town centre. The building was built in 1961 for the Development Corporation which oversaw the development of Stevenage as a New Town between 1946 and 1980. The building was bought by the council in 1980 when the development corporation was wound up. Elections

Since the last ward boundary changes in 1999 the council has comprised 39 councillors, with the borough being divided into 13 wards each electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, electing one councillor from each ward each time. Elections to Hertfordshire County Council are held in the fourth year of the cycle when there are no borough council elections. Wards
The wards are:

 Bandley Hill
 Bedwell
 Chells
 Longmeadow
 Manor
 Martins Wood
 Old Town
 Pin Green
 Roebuck
 St Nicholas
 Shephall
 Symonds Green
 Woodfield

Arms

References

Borough Council
Non-metropolitan district councils of England
Local authorities in Hertfordshire
Billing authorities in England