Caerphilly County Borough Council
Caerphilly County Borough Council is the governing body for Caerphilly County Borough, one of the principal areas of Wales. The last full council elections took place 2022 [Caerphilly County Borough Council election|5 May 2022].
History
The council was former in April 1996 following the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 by merging Islwyn Borough Council and the Rhymney Valley District Council.In September 2025, Sean Morgan resigned from Welsh Labour and hence leader of the council in order to back Plaid Cymru in the 2025 Caerphilly by-election.
Political control
The council has been under Labour majority control since 2012.The first election to the new council was held in 1995. It initially operated as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities before coming into its powers on 1 April 1996. Political control of the council since 1996 has been as follows:
Leadership
The role of Mayor of Caerphilly is largely ceremonial. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The first leader, Graham Court, was the last leader of the old Rhymney Valley District Council. The leaders of Caerphilly County Borough Council since 1996 have been:Composition
Following the 2022 Caerphilly [County Borough Council election|2022 election], and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to December 2025, the composition of the council was:The next election is due in 2027.
Elections
| Year | Seats | Labour | Plaid Cymru | Independent | Liberal Democrats | Notes |
| Year | Seats | Notes | ||||
| 1995 | 67 | 55 | 9 | 3 | 0 | Labour majority controlled |
| 1999 | 73 | 28 | 38 | 6 | 1 | Plaid Cymru majority control |
| 2004 | 73 | 41 | 26 | 6 | 0 | Labour majority control |
| 2008 | 73 | 32 | 32 | 9 | 0 | No overall control; Plaid Cymru led administration. |
| 2012 | 73 | 50 | 20 | 3 | 0 | Labour majority control |
| 2017 | 73 | 50 | 18 | 5 | 0 | Labour majority control |
| 2022 | 69 | 45 | 18 | 6 | 0 | Labour majority control |
Party with the most elected councillors in bold. Coalition agreements in notes column
Premises
The council inherited two main offices from its predecessor authorities: Ystrad Fawr House at Ystrad Mynach from Rhymney Valley District Council, and Pontllanfraith House in Pontllanfraith from Islwyn Borough Council. Ystrad Fawr House was demolished in 2008 to make way for the Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr hospital. A new headquarters was built at Penallta House in the Tredomen area of Ystrad Mynach, opening in April 2008. The other office at Pontllanfraith House subsequently closed in 2015 and has since been demolished.Electoral divisions
The county borough is divided into 30 electoral wards returning 69 councillors. Many of these wards are coterminous with communities of the same name. The following table lists council wards, communities and community ward areas.| Ward | Communities | Community ward | Councillors |
| Aber Valley | Aber Valley | Abertridwr, Senghenydd | 3 |
| Aberbargoed and Bargoed | Bargoed | Aberbargoed, Bargoed | 3 |
| Aber-carn | Aber-carn | Aber-carn | 2 |
| Argoed | Argoed | Argoed, Hollybush, Markham | 1 |
| Bedwas and Trethomas | Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen | Bedwas, Trethomas | 3 |
| Blackwood | Blackwood | Blackwood Central, Blackwood North, Blackwood South, Cefn Fforest East | 3 |
| Cefn Fforest and Pengam | Cefn Fforest, Pengam | Cefn Fforest, Pengam | 3 |
| Crumlin | Crumlin | Crumlin | 2 |
| Darran Valley | Darran Valley | Deri, Fochriw | 1 |
| Gilfach | Bargoed | Gilfach | 1 |
| Hengoed | Gelligaer | Cefn Hengoed, Hengoed | 2 |
| Llanbradach | Llanbradach and Pwllypant | Llanbradach, Pwllypant, Wingfield | 2 |
| Machen and Rudry | Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen, Rudry | Llanfedw, Machen, Rhydygwern, Rudry | 2 |
| Maesycwmmer | Maesycwmmer | Maesycwmmer | 1 |
| Morgan Jones | Caerphilly | Bryncenydd, Parcyfelin, Tonyfelin | 3 |
| Moriah and Pontlottyn | Rhymney | Abertysswg, Moriah, Pontlottyn, St David's | 2 |
| Nelson | Nelson | Llanfabon, Llwyncelyn | 2 |
| New Tredegar | New Tredegar | Brithdir, Cwmsyfiog, New Tredegar, Phillipstown, Tir-phil | 2 |
| Newbridge | Newbridge | Newbridge | 3 |
| Penmaen | Penmaen | Penmaen | 2 |
| Penyrheol | Penyrheol, Trecenydd and Energlyn | Energlyn, Penyrheol, Trecenydd | 4 |
| Pontllanfraith | Pontllanfraith | Pontllanfraith, Springfield | 3 |
| Risca East | Risca East | Pontymister and Ty-Sign, Pontymister Upper, Trenewydd | 3 |
| Risca West | Risca West | Pontymister Lower, Risca Danygraig, Risca Fernlea and Town, Ty-Isaf Fields Road | 2 |
| St Cattwg | Gelligaer | Cascade, Greenhill, Tir-y-berth | 3 |
| St Martins | Caerphilly | Castle, Cwrt Rawlins, Twyn, Watford | 3 |
| Twyn Carno | Rhymney | Twyn Carno | 1 |
| Van | Van | Brynau, Lansbury, Porset | 2 |
| Ystrad Mynach | Gelligaer | Ystrad Mynach | 3 |
Former wards
Until 2022, the county borough was divided into 33 electoral wards returning 73 councillors. Communities with a community council are indicated with a '*':| Ward | Communities | Other geographic areas |
| Aberbargoed | Bargoed Town* | Bedwellty |
| Abercarn | Abercarn | Chapel of Ease, Cwmcarn, Llanfach, West End |
| Aber Valley | Aber Valley* | Senghenydd, Abertridwr |
| Argoed | Argoed* | Cwm Corrwg, Hollybush, Manmoel, Markham |
| Bargoed | Bargoed Town* | Gilfach Estate |
| Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen | Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen* | Bedwas, Trethomas, Machen, Graig-y-Rhacca |
| Blackwood | Blackwood Town* | Britannia, Cwm Gelli, Highfields |
| Cefn Fforest | Cefn Fforest | |
| Crosskeys | Crosskeys | Pontywaun |
| Crumlin | Crumlin | Bont Pren, Croespenmaen, Hafodyrnynys, Kendon, Treowen, Trinant |
| Darran Valley | Darran Valley* | Deri, Groesfaen, Pentwyn, Fochriw |
| Gilfach | Bargoed Town* | |
| Hengoed | Gelligaer* | |
| Llanbradach | Llanbradach & Pwllypant* | |
| Maesycwmmer | Maesycwmmer* | |
| Morgan Jones | Caerphilly Town* | Bryncenydd, Churchill Park, Pontypandy |
| Moriah | Rhymney* | Abertysswg, Tan-y-bryn |
| Nelson | Nelson* | |
| Newbridge | Newbridge | Cwmdows, Pant, Pentwynmawr |
| New Tredegar | New Tredegar* | Brithdir, Phillipstown, Tirphil, Elliotstown, Cwmsyfiog |
| Pengam | Pengam | Britannia, Fleur de Lis, Gellihaf |
| Penmain | Penmain | Oakdale, Pen-y-fan, Woodfieldside |
| Penyrheol | Penyrheol, Trecenydd and Energlyn* | Trecenydd, Hendredenny, Energlyn, Groeswen |
| Pontllanfraith | Pontllanfraith | Bryn, Gelligroes, Springfield, Penllwyn |
| Pontlottyn | Rhymney* | |
| Risca East | That part of the Community of Risca bounded by a line commencing at the point on the boundary of the former borough of Islwyn at Grid Reference ST 24879259, thence southwards along a track to Grid Reference ST 24799214, thence southwestwards along a cart track to Grid Reference ST 24679204, thence southwestwards along field boundaries to the stream at Grid Reference ST 24459185, thence along that stream southwestwards to the place where it enters the Monmouthshire Canal. | Ty Sign |
| Risca West | The area of Risca not contained in Risca East | |
| St. Cattwg | Gelligaer* | Cascade, Cefn Hengoed, Glan-y-nant, Penpedairheol, Tir-y-berth |
| St. James | Rudry*, Van* | Lansbury Park, Mornington Meadows, Waterloo, Llwyn Gwyn |
| St. Martins | Caerphilly Town* | Watford, Bonfield Park, Castle View |
| Twyn Carno | Rhymney* | Llechryd, Princetown |
| Ynysddu | Ynysddu | Brynawel, Wattsville, Wyllie, Cwmfelinfach, Mynyddislyn |
| Ystrad Mynach | Gelligaer* | Tredomen, Penallta |
Allegations of misconduct
In 2015 Anthony O'Sullivan, the chief executive and two other executives were charged with misconduct during public office. It was alleged that they specifically 'wilfully misconducted themselves in relation to securing Caerphilly County Borough Council's approval of a remuneration package for the said council's chief officers from which they stood to gain for themselves'.Relating to this and other failings the Welsh Assembly commissioned a special report on the council in January 2014.