South Tyneside Council is the local authority of for the metropolitan borough of South Tyneside in the ceremonial county of Tyne and Wear in North East England. It is one of five metropolitan boroughs in Tyne and Wear and one of 36 in England. It provides the majority of local government services in South Tyneside. The council has been under Reform UK majority control since 2026. It is based at South Shields Town Hall. The council is a constituent member of the North East Mayoral Combined Authority.
South Tyneside Council | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 1 April 1974 |
| Leadership | |
Vacant since 8th May 2026 | |
Paul Mackings, Reform UK since 13 May 2026 | |
Jonathan Tew since August 2021 | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 54 councillors |
 | |
Political groups |
|
| Elections | |
Last election | 7 May 2026 |
Next election | 6 May 2027 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Town Hall, Westoe Road, South Shields, NE33 2RL | |
| Website | |
| www | |
History
editSouth Tyneside was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 as a metropolitan district within the new county of Tyne and Wear. The new district covered the area of four former districts, which were all abolished at the same time:[1]
- Boldon Urban District
- Hebburn Urban District
- Jarrow Municipal Borough
- South Shields County Borough
Boldon, Hebburn and Jarrow had been lower-tier authorities subordinate to Durham County Council prior to the reforms. South Shields had been a self-governing county borough. The new district was named "South Tyneside" reflecting its position both relative to the River Tyne and within the Tyneside conurbation.[2] The new district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.[3]
Between 1974 and 1986 the council formed the lower tier of local government, with Tyne and Wear County Council providing county-level services to the area. The county council was abolished in 1986 under the Local Government Act 1985, since when South Tyneside Council has been responsible for all local government services.[4]
Governance
editSince 1986 the council has provided both district-level and county-level functions, with some services being provided through joint arrangements with the other Tyne and Wear councils. In 2024 a combined authority was established covering South Tyneside, County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland and Sunderland, called the North East Mayoral Combined Authority. It is chaired by the directly elected Mayor of the North East and oversees the delivery of certain strategic functions across the area.[5] [6]
Political control
editThe council has been under Reform UK control since May 2026, following the elections of that year.
The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[7][8]
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 1974–1978 | |
| No overall control | 1978–1979 | |
| Labour | 1979–2025 | |
| No overall control[9] | 2025–2026 | |
| Reform | 2026-Present | |
Leadership
editThe role of mayor is largely ceremonial in South Tyneside. Political leadership is provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1997 have been:
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Waggott[10][11][12] | Labour | 1997 | May 2008 | |
| Iain Malcolm[13][14] | Labour | 13 May 2008 | 17 Nov 2020 | |
| Tracey Dixon[15][16] | Labour | 14 Jan 2021 | ||
Composition
editFollowing the 2026 local election,[17] the composition of the council was:
| Party | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Reform | 41 | |
| Green | 10 | |
| Independent | 2 | |
| Labour | 1 | |
| Total | 54 | |
Premises
editThe council is based at the South Shields Town Hall, which had been completed in 1910 for the old South Shields Borough Council.[18][19]
Elections
editSince the last boundary changes in 2004, the council has comprised 54 councillors representing 18 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with a third of the council elected each time.[20]
References
edit- ↑ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 15 June 2023 Schedule 1, Part 1
- ↑ "The Metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/173, retrieved 15 June 2023
- ↑ "District Councils and Boroughs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 28 March 1974. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
- ↑ "Local Government Act 1985", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1985 c. 51, retrieved 15 June 2023
- ↑ "The North East Mayoral Combined County Authority (Establishment and Functions) Order 2024", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2024/402, retrieved 6 May 2024
- ↑ "North East devolution deal". GOV.UK. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
- ↑ "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 21 May 2025. (Put "South Tyneside" in search box to see specific results.)
- ↑ "South Tyneside". BBC News Online. 19 April 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
- ↑ Smith, Ryan (24 June 2025). "Leader to remain in role as Labour loses majority on South Tyneside Council". Shields Gazette. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ↑ "Waggott will be new South Tyneside leader". Local Government Chronicle. 5 February 1997. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ↑ "Labour takes a real hammering". Chronicle Live. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ↑ Ford, Coreena (14 September 2008). "Row over council leader's £50-a-head farewell party". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ↑ "Council minutes, 13 May 2008". South Tyneside Council. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ↑ Dickinson, Katie (17 November 2020). "South Tyneside Council leader Iain Malcolm steps down as councillor and quits the Labour party". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ↑ Binding, Chris (18 January 2021). "South Tyneside Council's new leader sets out her priorities". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ↑ "Council minutes, 14 January 2021". South Tyneside Council. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ↑ "Election results - 07 May 2026 Local Government Election". South Tyneside Council. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
- ↑ "Contact us". South Tyneside Council. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ↑ Historic England. "Municipal Buildings, Westoe Road (Grade II) (1232325)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ↑ "The Borough of South Tyneside (Electoral Changes) Order 2004", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2004/358, retrieved 15 June 2023