in 1974, anglesey became a district of the new large county of gwynedd. the local government (wales) act 1994 abolished the 1974 county and the five districts on 1 april 1996. anglesey became a separate unitary authority. in 2011, the welsh government appointed a panel of commissioners to administer the council, thus the elected members were not in control. the commissioners remained in control until an election was held in may 2013, restoring an elected council. before the period of direct administration, there had been a majority of independent councillors. though members did not generally divide along party lines, these were organised into five non-partisan groups on the council, containing a mix of party and independent candidates. the position remains substantially unchanged since the election, although the labour party has formed a governing coalition with the independents.