View source for West Midlands County Council

{{Short description|Local government administrative body for the West Midlands from 1974 to 1986}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox legislature
| name               = West Midlands County Council
| logo               = West Midlands County Council.svg
| logo_res           = 250px
| logo_caption       = Logo
| coa_pic            = File:Arms_of_West_Midlands_Metropolitan_County_Council.svg
| coa_res            = 150px
| coa_caption        = Coat of arms
| house_type         = [[Metropolitan county|Metropolitan]] [[County council#England|county council]]
| houses             =
| legislature        =
| established        = [[Local Government Act 1972|1 April 1974]]
| preceded_by        =
| succeeded_by       = Various agencies
| disbanded          = [[Local Government Act 1985|31 March 1986]]
| members            = 104
| last_election1     = [[1981 United Kingdom local elections|1981]]
| session_room       = Birmingham Council House.jpg
| session_res        = 
| meeting_place      = [[Council House, Birmingham|Council House]], Victoria Square, [[Birmingham]]
| website            =
| footnotes          =
}}
'''West Midlands County Council''' (WMCC) was, from 1974 to 1986, the upper-tier administrative body for the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands county]], a [[metropolitan county]] in England.

==History==
The WMCC existed for a total of twelve years. It was established on 1 April 1974, by the [[Local Government Act 1972]] and was abolished on 31 March 1986. It was abolished along with five other [[metropolitan county]] councils and the [[Greater London Council]] by the government of [[Margaret Thatcher]] under the [[Local Government Act 1985]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1986/feb/25/local-government-reorganisation-pensions|title=Local Government Reorganisation (Pensions)|date= 25 February 1986|publisher=Hansard|access-date=15 September 2019}}</ref>

The WMCC was a strategic authority running regional services such as transport, emergency services, and strategic planning. Elections were held to the council in [[1973 United Kingdom local elections|1973]], [[1977 United Kingdom local elections|1977]] and [[1981 West Midlands County Council election|1981]]. Elections were due to be held in 1985 but were cancelled due to the council's impending abolition. The [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] controlled the council from 1974 to 1977, with the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] controlling it 1977–81. It reverted to Labour control for the last term 1981–86.<ref>[https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0V1MW1lr1Z3T05kOHB1NUVxQnc/view Local Elections Handbook pp. 2–3]</ref>

==Premises==
[[File:County Hall - Lancaster Circus (geograph 3354898).jpg|thumb|County Hall, [[1 Lancaster Circus, Birmingham]]: Council's headquarters]]
The first meeting of the shadow authority was held on 30 April 1973 at [[Council House, Birmingham]].<ref name=firstmeeting>{{cite news |last1=Vertigen |first1=Brian |title=Metro Council promise to Liberals over committee seats |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0002135%2F19730501&page=16 |access-date=12 July 2025 |work=Birmingham Post |date=1 May 1973 |page=16}}</ref> Meetings were held at Council House throughout the county council's existence.<ref>{{cite news |title=Big rate rise rally |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0002139%2F19850513&page=5 |access-date=12 July 2025 |work=Birmingham Mail |date=13 May 1985 |page=5 |quote=...the annual meeting of the West Midlands County Council at Birmingham Council House.}}</ref> The county council established its main administrative offices at [[1 Lancaster Circus, Birmingham|County Hall, 1 Lancaster Circus]], in central [[Birmingham]]. After the county council's abolition in 1986, County Hall was occupied, but not as its headquarters, by [[Birmingham City Council]],<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=49121|page=12502|date=27 September 1982}}</ref> until it was sold in 2022 to private investors.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Tamlyn |title=Investor reveals plans for former Birmingham council offices |url=https://www.business-live.co.uk/commercial-property/investor-reveals-plans-former-birmingham-26777806 |access-date=25 August 2024 |work=Business Live |date=25 April 2023}}</ref>

==Political control==
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 from 1974 until its abolition in 1986 was as follows:<ref name=compositions>{{cite web |title=Compositions Calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/composition_calc.html |access-date=21 May 2025 |website=The Elections Centre |publisher=University of Exeter}} (Put "West Midlands" in search box to see specific results.)</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2|Party in control || Years
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || 1974–1977
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 1977–1981
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || 1981–1986
|}

===Leadership===
The [[leader of the council|leaders of the council]] were:

{| class=wikitable
! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To
|-
| [[Stan Yapp]]<ref name=firstmeeting/><ref>{{cite news |title=Labour in vote for new chief |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000769%2F19770509&page=25 |access-date=12 July 2025 |work=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=9 May 1977 |page=25}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1 Apr 1974 || align=right|May 1977
|-
| [[John Taylor (Solihull MP)|John Taylor]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=John |title=Whizz-kid who took Tories to the top |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000769%2F19770519&page=23 |access-date=12 July 2025 |work=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=19 May 1977 |page=23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Harrabin |first1=Roger |title=County chief quits for top Euro post |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000769%2F19790709&page=9 |access-date=12 July 2025 |work=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=9 July 1979 |page=9}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|May 1977 || align=right|Jul 1979
|-
| Gilbert Richards<ref>{{cite news |last1=Harrabin |first1=Roger |title=City man new county Tory leader |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000769%2F19790728&page=1 |access-date=12 July 2025 |work=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=28 July 1979 |page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=County's leader dies |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0002139%2F19800628&page=2 |access-date=12 July 2025 |work=Birmingham Mail |date=28 June 1980 |page=2}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|Jul 1979 || align=right|27 Jun 1980
|-
| Alan Hope<ref>{{cite news |title=Tories choose new county council leader |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003126%2F19800712&page=17 |access-date=12 July 2025 |work=Wolverhampton Express and Star |date=12 July 1980 |page=17}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Backlash! Labour sweeps to power |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003126%2F19810508&page=1 |access-date=12 July 2025 |work=Wolverhampton Express and Star |date=8 May 1981 |page=1}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|Jul 1980 || align=right|May 1981
|-
| Gordon Morgan<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hudson |first1=Nick |title=Hard Labour for Tories |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0002487%2F19810513&page=25 |access-date=12 July 2025 |work=Sandwell Evening Mail |date=13 May 1981 |location=West Bromwich |page=25}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bell |first1=David |title=What a shame about those handouts |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0002487%2F19860401&page=6 |access-date=12 July 2025 |work=Sandwell Evening Mail |date=1 April 1986 |location=West Bromwich |page=6}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Tributes to Cradley Heath politician |url=https://www.halesowennews.co.uk/news/3990142.tributes-to-cradley-heath-politician/ |access-date=10 September 2022 |work=Halesowen News |date=19 December 2008}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|May 1981 || align=right|31 Mar 1986
|}

===Council elections===
Elections were held to the West Midlands County Council three times, in 1973, 1977, and 1981.<ref name=compositions/>
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan=2|Year
! style="width:80px;"| [[Conservative Party (UK)|'''Conservative''']]
! style="width:80px;"| [[Labour Party (UK)|'''Labour''']]
! style="width:80px;"| [[Liberal Party (UK)|'''Liberal''']]
! style="width:80px;"| '''Other'''
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}"|
! style="background:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}"|
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}"|
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}}"|
|-
|[[1973 West Midlands County Council election|1973]]
| align=center|27
| align=center|73
| align=center|4
| align=center|0
|-
|[[1977 West Midlands County Council election|1977]]
| align=center|82
| align=center|18
| align=center|3
| align=center|1
|-
|[[1981 West Midlands County Council election|1981]]
| align=center|25
| align=center|74
| align=center|5
| align=center|0
|-
!
! style="background:{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}"|
! style="background:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}"|
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}"|
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}}"|
|}

Elections were due to be held in 1985 but these were cancelled due to the council's impending abolition. Those councillors elected in 1981 had their terms of office extended until the council's abolition on 31 March 1986.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984|year=1984|chapter=53|section=2|accessdate=10 September 2022}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[West Midlands Combined Authority]]
* [[West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive]]

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{West Midlands County}}
{{Former county councils of England}}
{{West Midlands elections}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:History of the West Midlands (county)]]
[[Category:Former county councils of England]]
[[Category:Local government in the West Midlands (county)]]
[[Category:1974 establishments in England]]
[[Category:1986 disestablishments in England]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1974]]
[[Category:Organizations disestablished in 1986]]
[[Category:20th century in the West Midlands (county)]]
[[Category:1970s in the West Midlands (county)]]
[[Category:1980s in the West Midlands (county)]]