West Midlands County Council
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The West Midlands County Council (WMCC) was the former upper-tier administrative body for the West Midlands county, a metropolitan county in England.
The WMCC lasted for only twelve years. It was established on April 1, 1974, and was abolished on the 31 March 1986. It was abolished along with five other metropolitan county councils and the Greater London Council by the government of Margaret Thatcher.
The WMCC was a strategic authority running regional services such as transport, civil protection and strategic town and country planning. Elections were held to the council in 1973, 1977 and 1981.
The Labour Party controlled the council from 1974-77, with the Conservatives controlling it 1977-81. It reverted to Labour control for the last term 1981-1986.
When it existed the council's headquarters were based at Lancaster Circus in central Birmingham
Upon its abolition, most of the functions of the council such as planning were devolved to the metropolitan district councils of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, and Wolverhampton. Some of its functions were taken over by joint-boards and continued to be run on a county-wide basis, these included policing, fire and rescue and public transport.
Its assets were split between the West Midlands Residuary Body and the West Midlands boroughs councils.
Leaders of the WMCC
- Stan Yapp - Labour 1974-1977
- John Mark Taylor - Conservative 1977-1981
- 1981-1986 unknown?