May elections: What does Plymouth City Council do?

Elections for Plymouth City Council are taking place in May with one third of the total 57 seats being contested.

The city council has repeatedly changed hands since it was formed in 1998, with power flipping between the Conservatives and Labour, who are currently in control.

The city council is a unitary authority, separate from Devon County Council, and in charge of all council services for a population of about 260,000, from waste and recycling to planning, housing and maintaining roads.

Labour holds 39 of the 57 seats and so whatever the result of these elections for 19 seats, Labour will still be the party in charge.

Most of the council's budget goes on looking after elderly and disabled people and children in care or with special needs.

The city council is responsible for public transport and local roads as well as managing car parks and maintaining street lighting.

Parks and open spaces are managed by the city council which also looks after street cleaning and waste and recycling collections.

The council deals with planning applications of all sizes as well as managing social housing and overseeing the delivery of housing across the city.

Labour has been in charge of the council since 2023 and the Conservatives are the second largest party with seven seats.

There is an Independent Group with two members, two Green Party councillors, one Liberal Democrat, one Reform UK and five other Independent councillors.

Plymouth holds elections by thirds which means a third of seats are contested each year for three years, followed by a year when there are no elections.

Out of the 19 seats where elections are taking place, Labour is defending ten.

The Conservatives are defending five of their seven seats, with two seats held by Independent councillors, one Green and one Liberal Democrat.

All of Devon is facing a massive reorgnisation of local government with all of the district and county councils being abolished to make way for unitary authorities.

As part of this process Plymouth City Council may be expanded to take in parts of Dartmoor and the South Hams or may keep its current boundaries.

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