Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council

Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council is the local authority of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is a unitary authority, having the powers of a non-metropolitan county and district council combined. Windsor and Maidenhead is divided into 19 wards, electing 41 councillors. The council was created by the Local Government Act 1972 and replaced six local authorities: Cookham Rural District Council, Eton Urban District Council, Eton Rural District Council, Maidenhead Borough Council, New Windsor Borough Council and Windsor Rural District Council. Since 1 April 1998 it has been a unitary authority, assuming the powers and functions of Berkshire County Council.

History
The authority was formed as the Windsor and Maidenhead District Council. It replaced Cookham Rural District Council, Eton Urban District Council, Eton Rural District Council, Maidenhead Borough Council, New Windsor Borough Council and Windsor Rural District Council. The current local authority was first elected in 1973, a year before formally coming into its powers and prior to the creation of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead on 1 April 1974. The council gained borough status, entitling it to be known as Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council.

It was envisaged through the Local Government Act 1972 that Windsor and Maidenhead as a non-metropolitan district council would deliver district-level services, with the Berkshire County Council providing county-level services. This arrangement lasted until 1998 when Berkshire County Council was abolished and Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council gained responsibility for services that had been provided by the county council.

Political control
The council has had a Liberal Democrat majority since the 2023 election, and the party forms an administration, including two members of the independent group in cabinet, it isn't however a joint administration with the Borough First and the Old Windsor Residents' Association.

The first elections to the council were held in 1973, initially acting as a shadow authority until the new arrangements took effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:

Non-metropolitan district

Unitary authority

Leadership
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Windsor and Maidenhead, with political leadership instead being provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 2007 have been:

Composition
Following the 2023 election, the composition of the council was:

The Liberal Democrat's form the administration but include Two members of the Independent group in Cabinet. It isn't however a joint administration. The next election is due in 2027.

Elections
Elections are held every four years. Since the last boundary changes in 2019 there have been 41 councillors elected from 19 wards. The next election is due in 2027.

Premises
The council is based at Maidenhead Town Hall, on St Ives Road in Maidenhead, which had been built in 1962 for the former Maidenhead Borough Council.