Cardiff Council elections


Cardiff Council elections take place for the whole council every five years, to Cardiff Council in south Wales. It came into being as a unitary authority on 1 April 1996, after the passing of the Local Government Act 1994. In 2014 the National Assembly for Wales deferred all local elections in Wales to 2017. The council is composed of 75 councillors.
Between 1974 and 1996 Cardiff Council was a district council of South Glamorgan. Prior to 1974 Cardiff Council governed a county borough, separate from the county of Glamorgan.

Political control

Since the current council was established as a unitary authority in 1995, political control has been held by the following parties:

Leadership

The leaders of Cardiff Council since 1996 have been:

Council elections

  • 1987 Cardiff City Council election
  • 1991 Cardiff City Council election
  • 1995 Cardiff Council election
  • 1999 Cardiff Council election
  • 2004 Cardiff Council election
  • 2008 Cardiff Council election
  • 2012 Cardiff Council election
  • 2017 Cardiff Council election
  • 2022 Cardiff Council election

    City result maps

By-election results

1995–1999

Fairwater

Plasnewydd

The by-election was called following the election of Cllr. Julie Morgan as the Member for the Parliamentary constituency of Cardiff North.

Rhiwbina

1999–2004

Cyncoed

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Jenny Randerson.

Canton

The by-election was called following the election of Cllr. Kevin Brennan as the Member for the Parliamentary constituency of Cardiff West.

Llandaff North

Gabalfa

Pentwyn

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Bill Cookson.

2004–2008

There were no by-elections.

2008–2012

Pentyrch

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Simon Roberts.

Riverside

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Gwenllian Lansdown.

2012–2017

Riverside

The by-election was caused by the resignation of Labour councillor Phil Hawkins for personal reasons.

Splott

A by-election was caused by the resignation of Labour councillor Luke Holland following accusations of non-attendance at council meetings. He stated that he planned to move to London.

Canton

The by-election was caused by the resignation of Labour Councillor Cerys Furlong on 30 December 2013.

Llandaff North

The by-election was caused by the resignation of Labour councillor Siobhan Corria for personal reasons.

Pentyrch

The by-election was caused by the resignation of Labour Councillor Craig Williams, following his election as MP for Cardiff North.

Riverside

The by-election was caused by the resignation of Labour councillor Cecilia Love for family reasons.

Plasnewydd

The by-election was caused by the death of Labour councillor Mohammed Javed.

Grangetown

The by-election was caused by the death of Labour councillor Chris Lomax.

2017–2022

Ely

The by-election was caused by the death of Labour councillor Jim Murphy on 1 December 2018.

Cyncoed

The by-election was caused by the death of Liberal Democrat Councillor Wendy Congreve on 14 May 2019.

Whitchurch & Tongwynlais

The by-election was caused by the death of Conservative councillor Tim Davies on 4 June 2019.

Llanishen

The by-election was caused by the resignation of Labour councillor Phil Bale in Autumn 2019.

Heath

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Fenella Bowden who resigned for health reasons.

2022–2026

Grangetown (2024)

The by-election was caused by the death of Labour councillor Abdul Sattar on 15 February 2024.

Splott

Green and Plaid Cymru vote share changes compared to Common Ground's 2022 result.

Llanrumney

Labour councillor Heather Joyce had resigned for health reasons after representing Llanrumney for 17 years.

Grangetown (2025)

A by-election was called following the stepping down of Labour councillor, Sara Robinson.