Trafford Council
Foundation1 April 1974
MayorJane Brophy
Party 1
Liberal Democrat
Election 121 May 2025[1]
LeaderTom Ross
Party 2
Labour
Election 217 December 2022[2]
Chief ExecutiveSara Todd
Election 31 February 2019
Seats63 councillors
Structure 1Trafford Council Seat Diagram post 2026 LE (including total seat number).png
Structure1 res250
Political groups 1
Administration (35)
Labour (35)
Other parties (28)
Conservative (12)
Liberal Democrats (7)
Green (7)
Reform (2)
Joint committeesGreater Manchester Combined Authority
Greater Manchester Police, Fire and Crime Panel
Voting system 1First-past-the-post
Last election 17 May 2026
Next election 1May 2027
Session roomStretford Town Hall - geograph.org.uk - 5295314.jpg
Meeting placeTrafford Town Hall, Talbot Road, Stretford, Manchester, M32 0TH
Websitetrafford.gov.uk

Trafford Council, or Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council, is the local authority of the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford in Greater Manchester, England. It is a metropolitan borough council and provides the majority of local government services in the borough. The council has been a member of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority since 2011.

The council has been under Labour majority control since 2019. It is based at Trafford Town Hall in Stretford.

History

The Metropolitan Borough of Trafford and its council were created in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 as one of ten metropolitan districts within the new metropolitan county of Greater Manchester. The first election was held in 1973. For its first year the council acted as a shadow authority alongside the area's seven outgoing authorities, being the borough councils of Altrincham, Sale and Stretford, the urban district councils of Bowdon, Hale, and Urmston, and the Bucklow Rural District Council (in respect of four of its parishes only). The new metropolitan district and its council formally came into being on 1 April 1974, at which point the old districts and their councils were abolished.[3]

The metropolitan district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.[4] The council styles itself Trafford Council rather than its full formal name of Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council.[5][6]

From 1974 until 1986 the council was a lower-tier authority, with upper-tier functions provided by the Greater Manchester County Council. The county council was abolished in 1986 and its functions passed to Greater Manchester's ten borough councils, including Trafford, with some services provided through joint committees.[7]

Since 2011 the council has been a member of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, which has been led by the directly elected Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017. The combined authority provides strategic leadership and co-ordination for certain functions across Greater Manchester, notably regarding transport and town planning, but Trafford Council continues to be responsible for most local government functions.[8][9]

Governance

Trafford Council provides metropolitan borough services. Some strategic functions in the area are provided by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority; the leader of Trafford Council sits on the combined authority as Trafford's representative.[10] There are four civil parishes in the borough at Carrington, Dunham Massey, Partington and Warburton, which form an additional tier of local government for their areas; the rest of the borough is unparished.[11]

Political control

The council has been under Labour majority control since 2019.

Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms took effect has been as follows:[12][13]

Party in controlYears
1974–1986
1986–1988
1988–1995
1995–1996
1996–2003
2003–2004
2004–2018
2018–2019
2019–present

Leadership

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Trafford. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1976 have been:

CouncillorPartyFromTo
A. R. Littler[14]1 April 19741974
Frank Eadie[15]19741975
Mike King19761977
Colin Warbrick[16][17]19761977
Mike King[18]19771978
Jonathan Taylor[19][20]19781982
Mike King[21][22]19821985
Colin Warbrick[23][24]1985May 1986
Barry Brotherton[25][26]May 19861988
Colin Warbrick[26][27]May 1988May 1993
Frank Eadie[27][28]May 1993May 1995
Beverley Hughes[29][30]May 1995May 1997
David Acton[31][32]May 19972004
Susan Williams[33][34]200419 May 2009
Matthew Colledge[35][36]19 May 200913 Mar 2014
Sean Anstee[36][37][38]13 Mar 201423 May 2018
Andrew Western[38][39][40]23 May 20184 Jan 2023
Tom Ross[39]4 Jan 2023

Composition

The current composition of the council, and its composition following the most recent (2026) election is as follows:

PartyCouncillors
Current
35
12
7
7
2Total6263

The next election is due in May 2026.[41]

Elections

See also: Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2023, the council has comprised 63 councillors representing 21 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with a third of the council (one councillor for each ward) elected each time for a four-year term of office.[42]

Wards and councillors

Each ward is represented by three councillors.[43]

Parliamentary constituencyWardCouncillorPartyTerm of office
Altrincham & Sale
West constituency		AltrinchamGeraldine Coggins2023–27
Michael Welton2024–28
Daniel Jerrome2026–30
Ashton upon MerseyShona Gilbert2023–27
Tony O'Brien2024–28
Ben Hartley2026-30
BowdonPhil Eckersley2023–27
Shengke Zhi2023–26
Lisa Hancock2024–28
BroadheathKaushik Chakraborty2025–27
Ulrich Savary2024–28
Prakash Nathani2026–30
Hale Barns & Timperley SouthDylan Butt2023–27
Michael Taylor2024–28
Nathan Evans2026-30
HaleJane Leicester2023–27
Natalie Shalom2024–28
Rupert Kelly2026-30
ManorRob Duncan2023–27
Keleigh Glenton2024–28
Rupali Paul2026-30
Timperley CentralShaun Ennis2023–27
Simon Lepori2024–28
Julian Newgrosh2026-30
Timperley NorthJane Brophy2023–27
Meena Minnis2024–28
Will Frass2026–30
Stretford & Urmston
constituency		Bucklow-St. MartinsFrances Cosby2023–27
James Wright2024–28
Charlotte Waterworth2026-30
DavyhulmeSue Maitland2023–27
Barry Winstanley2024–28
Billy Burke2026-30
FlixtonGed Carter2023–27
Simon Thomas2024–28
Dolores O'Sullivan2026-30
Gorse Hill & CornbrookDavid Acton2023–27
George Devlin2024–28
Aaron Fradley2026-30
LongfordSarah Haughey2023–27
Dave Jarman2024–28
Gareth Twose2026-30
Lostock & BartonJill Axford2023–27
Shirley Procter2024–28
Mike Cordingley2026-30
Old TraffordWaseem Hassan2023–27
Sophie Taylor2024–28
Jennie Wadsworth2026-30
Stretford & Humphrey ParkStephen Adshead2023–27
Tom Ross2024–28
Jane Slater2026–30
UrmstonJoanne Harding2023–27
Kevin Procter2024–28
Claire Sheridan2026-30
Wythenshawe & Sale
East constituency		BrooklandsWill Jones2023–27
Bilal Babar2024–28
Rose Thompson2026-30
Sale CentralBarry Brotherton2023–27
Zak Deakin2024–28
Eve Parker2026-30
Sale MoorJoanne Bennett2023–27
Olly Baskerville2024–28
Liz Patel2026–30
  • Elected in a by-election in October 2025 following the death in office of Labour councillor Denise Western.
  • Elected as Labour, resigned from the Labour party in July 2025 and joined the Lib Dems in September 2025.
  • Elected in a by-election in November 2025 following the resignation of Green councillor Owain Sutton.

Premises

The council is based at Trafford Town Hall, on Talbot Road in Stretford. The building was originally called Stretford Town Hall, having been completed in 1933 for the former Stretford Borough Council, one of Trafford Council's predecessors.[44] Most of the council's offices are in a modern extension to the rear of the building which opened in 2013, replacing an earlier office extension of 1983 on the same site.[45]

References

  1. ^ Jackson, Nick (22 May 2025). "New mayor urges new focus on 'care for people, health and the planet'". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  2. ^ "New Trafford Council leader announced after by-election". 18 December 2022.
  3. ^ "70" (act). 1972. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  4. ^ "District Councils and Boroughs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 28 March 1974. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Find your local council". gov.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  6. ^ "CONSTITUTION FOR EXECUTIVE GOVERNANCE". Trafford Council. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  7. ^ "51" (act). 1985. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  8. ^ No. 908. 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Understand how your council works". gov.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  10. ^ "GMCA Members". Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  12. ^ "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 21 May 2025. (Put "Trafford" in search box to see specific results.)
  13. ^ Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council (5 May 2016). "Declaration of result of poll: Trafford". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  14. ^ He's the last, and proud of it, Manchester Evening News, May 19, 1973, p.7
  15. ^ Nine lives in a new county, Manchester Evening News, February 25, 1975, p.8
  16. ^ "Tory leader". Manchester Evening News. 21 May 1976. p. 1. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  17. ^ "All-in clash is looming". Manchester Evening News. 11 August 1977. p. 5. Retrieved 25 July 2025. ...Councillor Colin Warbrick, leader of the Tory-controlled council...
  18. ^ "Police eject youth in council cuts demo". Manchester Evening News. 5 April 1978. p. 5. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  19. ^ "'Threat to heritage' comes under fire". Manchester Evening News. 1 November 1978. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  20. ^ "Election Results Special". Manchester Evening News. 7 May 1982. p. 25. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  21. ^ King, Ray (17 July 1982). "700 jobs axe may be too little". Manchester Evening News. p. 11. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  22. ^ "Bowled over by £17m hotel deal". Manchester Evening News. 3 April 1985. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  23. ^ "Battle of health axe will go on". Manchester Evening News. 22 October 1985. p. 15. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  24. ^ "Town fight for power". Manchester Evening News. 14 May 1986. p. 11. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  25. ^ "Socialists choose their team". Manchester Evening News. 28 May 1986. p. 13. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  26. ^ Keeling, Neal (6 May 1988). "Tory pledge on schools". Manchester Evening News. p. 1. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  27. ^ "A new leader for council". Manchester Metro News. 30 April 1993. p. 28. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  28. ^ "Trafford hangs Tories out to dry in their last bolthole". Manchester Evening News. 5 May 1995. p. 30. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  29. ^ Scheerhout, John (19 May 1995). "Superstore is shelved after shift in power". Manchester Metro News. p. 12. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  30. ^ Scheerhout, John (9 May 1997). "I will not fail you, says new MP Bev". Manchester Metro News. p. 22. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  31. ^ "Showbiz mayor is pleased as Punch". Manchester Evening News. 23 May 1997. p. 19. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  32. ^ "David Acton". Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council. Archived 13 March 2004 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  33. ^ "The Rt Hon Baroness Williams of Trafford". gov.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  34. ^ "Matt Colledge is new leader as Susan Williams stands down to fight Bolton West seat at next election". 25 July 2025. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  35. ^ "Council minutes, 19 May 2009". Trafford Council. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  36. ^ "Council minutes, 13 March 2014". Trafford Council. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  37. ^ "Trafford Council: Tories 'will not seek to form coalition'". BBC News. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  38. ^ "Council minutes, 23 May 2018". Trafford Council. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  39. ^ "Council minutes, 4 January 2023". Trafford Council. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  40. ^ "Trafford Council: New MP's replacement as leader confirmed". BBC News. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  41. ^ "Trafford". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  42. ^ No. 1375. 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  43. ^ "Your Councillors". Trafford MBC. Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  44. ^
  45. ^ Mara, Felix (18 July 2013). "Keep it simple: Trafford Town Hall redevelopment by 5Plus". Architects' Journal. Retrieved 4 June 2024.