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2023-09-12T13:31:28Z

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{{Short description|Local government body in England}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox legislature
| name = City of Wolverhampton Council
| legislature =
| coa_pic = Wolverhampton coat of arms.svg
| coa_caption = Coat of arms
| coa_res = 150px
| motto = Out of Darkness Cometh Light
| logo_pic = City of Wolverhampton Council.png
| logo_res = 200
| house_type =
| foundation =
| preceded_by =
| leader1_type = Mayor
| leader1 = Dr Michael Hardacre
| party1 = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| election1 = 17 May 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=The Mayor of Wolverhampton |url=https://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/your-council-and-meetings/mayor |website=City of Wolverhampton Council |access-date=15 June 2023}}</ref>
| leader2_type = [[Leader of the council|Leader]]
| leader2 = Vacant
| party2 =
| election2 = 3 July 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=Passing of Cllr Ian Brookfield, Leader of the Council
|url=https://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/your-council-and-meetings/cllr-ian-brookfield |website=City of Wolverhampton Council |access-date=15 June 2023}}</ref>
| leader3_type = Chief Executive
| leader3 = Tim Johnson
| party3 = 
| election3 =
| seats = 60 councillors<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wolverhampton.moderngov.co.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=ALPHA&VW=LIST&PIC=0|title = Your Councillors|date = 22 December 2021}}</ref>
| structure1 = City of Wolverhampton Council 2023.svg
| structure1_res = 280
| structure1_alt = City of Wolverhampton Council composition
| political_groups1 =
; Administration (46)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] (46)
; Other parties (14)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] (13)
: Vacant (1)
| committees1 =
| joint_committees = [[West Midlands Combined Authority]]
| voting_system1 = [[Plurality-at-large voting|Plurality-at-large]]
| last_election1 = [[2023 City of Wolverhampton Council election|2023]] (all 60 councillors)
| next_election1 = [[2024 City of Wolverhampton Council election|2024]] (one third of councillors)
| session_room = Civic Centre - geograph.org.uk - 447471.jpg
| session_res =
| meeting_place = [[Wolverhampton Civic Centre]]
| website = {{URL|www.wolverhampton.gov.uk}}
| constitution =
| footnotes =
}}
'''City of Wolverhampton Council''' is the governing body of the city of [[Wolverhampton]], England. It was previously known as '''Wolverhampton Metropolitan Borough Council''' (WMBC) prior to the award of [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]] in 2000, and also as '''Wolverhampton City Council''' before adopting the "City of Wolverhampton" branding in 2015.<ref name="rebrand">{{cite news|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2015/06/18/wolverhampton-city-council-wants-to-rebrand-itself/|title=Wolverhampton City Council wants to rebrand itself|work=[[Express and Star]]|date=18 June 2015|access-date=17 October 2020}}</ref>

==Organisation==
The council offices are at the Civic Centre, which is located in St. Peter's Square in the city centre.<ref>{{cite web |title=City of Wolverhampton Council: Contact Us |publisher=Wolverhampton City Council |url=http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/Contact_us/ |access-date=29 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523121640/http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/Contact_us |archive-date=23 May 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

The [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] currently controls the council and have been in majority on the council since 1974, with the exceptions of 1978–1979, 1987, 1992–1994 and 2008–2010.<ref name="council stats">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/elections/local_council/08/html/cw.stm |title=Wolverhampton City Council local elections 2008 |publisher=BBC Online |date=2 May 2008 |access-date=29 May 2008}}</ref> The leader of the council is Ian Brookfield. The deputy leader is Stephen Simkins after Louise Miles lost her Oxley seat to the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] at the Local Elections in 2021. The council has a Leader and Cabinet model of executive arrangements, with each Cabinet Member having political responsibility for assigned service areas. The council has a total of 60 Councillors (currently 47 Labour and 13 Conservative).

Tim Johnson serves as the council's Chief Executive Officer and chairs the Authority's Strategic Executive Board of Directors comprising Mark Taylor (Deputy Chief Executive Officer), David Pattison (Director of Governance, Monitoring Officer and Solicitor to the City Council), Emma Bennett (Director of Children's Services, including Education provision) and Claire Nye (Director of Finance and Section 151 Officer).

At the Local Government's prestigious Municipal Journal National Awards in 2017, the council won Local Authority of the Year, Most Improved Local Authority of the Year, Leadership Team of the Year and Governance & Scrutiny Team of the Year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://awards.themj.co.uk/winners|title=Last year's local government winners of the MJ Achievement Awards|last=Ltd|first=Hemming Group|website=awards.themj.co.uk|access-date=2017-10-21}}</ref>

Other key achievements in 2017 included the council's Children's Services being rated as "Good" following an OFSTED inspection, the council has been accredited with "Achieving" status for its commitment to equality & diversity following a Local Government Association peer assessment and the council's Mayoralty team was awarded "Civic Team of the Year" by the National Association of Civic Officers.

The council's housing stock is managed by [[Wolverhampton Homes]].<ref name="WCC">{{cite web|url=http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/housing/looking/council/|title=Looking for a council house|publisher=Wolverhampton City Council|access-date=13 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318073151/http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/housing/looking/council|archive-date=18 March 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Council affiliation==
{{for|historical political control and leadership|City of Wolverhampton Council elections}}
{| class="wikitable" border=1
|-
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | Affiliation
! colspan=2 style"vertical-align:top;" | Members<ref>{{cite web|title=Current State of the Parties|url=http://wolverhampton.gov.uk/article/1907/Find-your-local-councillor/|publisher=wolverhampton.gov.uk/home|access-date=31 December 2015}}</ref>
|-
! Current
|-
|{{Party name with color|Labour Party (UK)}}
!47
|-
|style=width: 4px style="background-color:{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}};"|
| style=text-align: left; scope=row | [[Conservative Party (UK)|{{party shortname|Conservative Party (UK)}}]]
!13
|-
|-
| colspan=2 rowspan=1 | '''Vacant Seats'''
!0
|-
| colspan=2 rowspan=1 | '''Total number of seats'''
!60
|-
| colspan=2 rowspan=1 | '''Actual majority'''
!34
|-
|}

==Wards==
There are 20 [[Ward (politics)|wards]] of City of Wolverhampton Council:
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%;width:70%;border:0px;text-align:left;line-height:150%;"
! style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" width="50" | Ward name
! style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" width="50" | Area ([[hectare|ha]])/mi2
! style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" width="50" | Population (2011 census)<ref>{{cite web |title=Thematic Map showing Usual Resident Population (KS101EW) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadThematic.do?a=7&b=6500412&c=bushbury&d=14&e=13&f=32408&g=6368378&i=1001x1003x1004x1005&l=2473&o=362&m=0&r=1&s=1361972867422&enc=1 |access-date=4 May 2008}}</ref>
! style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" width="50" | Population (2001 census)
! class="unsortable" style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" width="10" | Population change
|-
| '''[[Bilston East]]'''
| {{convert|384|ha|sqmi}} || 13,363 || 10,741<ref>{{cite web |title=Bilston East ward dataset – Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941021&c=WV14+8UP&d=14&e=13&g=377829&i=1x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1212572950984&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |access-date=4 May 2008}}</ref>
| +24.41%
|-
| '''[[Bilston North]]'''
| {{convert|290|ha|sqmi}} || 12,213 || 13,527<ref>{{cite web |title=Bilston North ward dataset – Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941020&c=Bilston+North&d=14&e=16&g=377865&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212573477109&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |access-date=4 May 2008}}</ref>
| −9.71%
|-
| '''[[Blakenhall]]'''
| {{convert|342|ha|sqmi}} || 12,022 || 11,301<ref>{{cite web |title=Blakenhall ward dataset – Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941019&c=Blakenhall&d=14&e=16&g=377908&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212573682312&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |access-date=4 May 2008}}</ref>
| +6.38%
|-
| '''[[Bushbury North]]'''
| {{convert|481|ha|sqmi}} || 11,936 || 12,021<ref>{{cite web |title=Bushbury North ward dataset – Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941018&c=bushbury+north&d=14&e=16&g=377941&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212573842265&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |access-date=4 May 2008}}</ref>
| −0.71%
|-
| '''[[Bushbury South and Low Hill]]'''
| {{convert|342|ha|sqmi}} || 14,983 || 14,103<ref>{{cite web |title=Bushbury South and Low Hill ward dataset – Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941017&c=bushbury+south&d=14&e=16&g=377943&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212580542588&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |access-date=4 May 2008}}</ref>
| +6.24%
|-
| '''[[East Park, Wolverhampton|East Park]]'''
| {{convert|342|ha|sqmi}} || 12,497 || 10,452<ref>{{cite web |title=East Park ward dataset – Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941016&c=east+park&d=14&e=16&g=377870&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212580814053&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |access-date=4 May 2008}}</ref>
| +19.57%
|-
| '''[[Ettingshall]]'''
| {{convert|417|ha|sqmi}} || 13,482 || 10,839<ref>{{cite web |title=Ettingshall ward dataset – Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941015&c=ettingshall&d=14&e=16&g=378012&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212590354593&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |access-date=4 May 2008}}</ref>
| +24.38%
|-
| '''[[Fallings Park]]'''
| {{convert|244|ha|sqmi}} || 12,410 || 10,996<ref>{{cite web |title=Fallings Park ward dataset – Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941014&c=fallings+park&d=14&e=16&g=378048&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212590453156&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |access-date=4 May 2008}}</ref>
| +12.86%
|-
| '''[[Graiseley]]'''
| {{convert|225|ha|sqmi}} || 12,284 || 11,691<ref>{{cite web |title=Graiseley ward dataset – Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941013&c=Graiseley&d=14&e=16&g=378083&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212590674750&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |access-date=4 May 2008}}</ref>
| +5.07%
|-
| '''[[Heath Town]]'''
| {{convert|270|ha|sqmi}} || 13,965 || 10,876<ref>{{cite web |title=Heath Town ward dataset – Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941012&c=heath+town&d=14&e=16&g=378123&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212590802265&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |access-date=4 May 2008}}</ref>
| +28.40%
|-
| '''[[Merry Hill, Wolverhampton|Merry Hill]]'''
| {{convert|246|ha|sqmi}} || 12,189 || 11,893<ref>{{cite web |title=Merry Hill ward dataset – Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941011&c=merry+hill&d=14&e=16&g=378199&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212590910375&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |access-date=4 May 2008}}</ref>
| +2.49%
|-
| '''[[Oxley, Wolverhampton|Oxley]]'''
| {{convert|421|ha|sqmi}} || 12,797 || 12,848<ref>{{cite web |title=Oxley ward dataset – Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941010&c=oxley&d=14&e=16&g=378240&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212593716591&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |access-date=4 May 2008}}</ref>
| −0.39%
|-
| '''[[Park ward, Wolverhampton|Park]]'''
| {{convert|385|ha|sqmi}} || 12,294 || 12,844<ref>{{cite web |title=Park ward dataset – Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941009&c=park&d=14&e=16&g=378282&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212593951385&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |access-date=4 May 2008}}</ref>
| −4.28%
|-
| '''[[Penn, West Midlands|Penn]]'''
| {{convert|308|ha|sqmi}} || 12,718 || 12,392<ref>{{cite web |title=Penn ward dataset – Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941008&c=penn&d=14&e=16&g=378328&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212594092774&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |access-date=4 May 2008}}</ref>
| +2.63%
|-
| '''[[St Peter's ward, Wolverhampton|St Peter's]]'''
| {{convert|496|ha|sqmi}} || 12,645 || 14,472<ref>{{cite web |title=St. Peter's ward dataset – Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941007&c=WV1+1SH&d=14&e=16&g=378394&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1212594345099&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |access-date=4 May 2008}}</ref>
| −12.62%
|-
| '''[[Spring Vale]]'''
| {{convert|327|ha|sqmi}} || 12,243 || 12,588<ref>{{cite web |title=Spring Vale ward dataset – Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941006&c=spring+vale&d=14&e=16&g=378411&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212594473519&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |access-date=4 May 2008}}</ref>
| −2.74%
|-
| '''[[Tettenhall Regis]]'''
| {{convert|457|ha|sqmi}} || 11,911 || 12,000<ref>{{cite web |title=Tettenhall Regis ward dataset – Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941005&c=tettenhall+regis&d=14&e=16&g=378451&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212594569893&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |access-date=4 May 2008}}</ref>
| −0.74%
|-
| '''[[Tettenhall Wightwick]]'''
| {{convert|436|ha|sqmi}} || 10,872 || 10,832<ref>{{cite web |title=Tettenhall Wightwick ward dataset – Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941004&c=tettenhall+Wightwick&d=14&e=16&g=378287&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212594654657&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |access-date=4 May 2008}}</ref>
| +0.37%
|-
| '''[[Wednesfield North]]'''
| {{convert|210|ha|sqmi}} || 11,235 || 10,978<ref>{{cite web |title=Wednesfield North ward dataset – Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941003&c=wednesfield+north&d=14&e=16&g=378529&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212594757547&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |access-date=4 May 2008}}</ref>
| +2.34%
|-
| '''[[Wednesfield South]]'''
| {{convert|437|ha|sqmi}} || 11,411 || 11,195<ref>{{cite web |title=Wednesfield South ward dataset – Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941002&c=wednesfield+south&d=14&e=16&g=378127&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212598588197&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |access-date=4 May 2008}}</ref>
| +1.93%
|-
| '''City of Wolverhampton Council area'''
| {{convert|6944|ha|sqmi}} || 249,470 || 236,582
| +5.45%
|-
|}

A map showing the ward boundaries is available.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/2D475038-2A79-4A18-B20A-0CD2EC72C816/0/wards.pdf|title=Revised ward boundaries as of 10th June 2004|date=10 Jun 2004|website=City of Wolverhampton Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090927043345/http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/2D475038-2A79-4A18-B20A-0CD2EC72C816/0/wards.pdf|archive-date=27 September 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Wolverhampton 1921.jpg|right|thumb|Wolverhampton in 1921]]
[[File:Town Hall , North St. , Wolverhampton - geograph.org.uk - 538393.jpg|thumbnail|right|[[Old Town Hall, Wolverhampton|The old Town Hall]] (magistrates court)]]
Wolverhampton gained the beginnings of modern local government in 1777, when the Wolverhampton Improvement Act was passed by Parliament. This allowed for the establishment of 125 Town Commissioners who undertook a variety of local improvement work such as punishing bear baiting, improving drainage, widening streets and by the end of the century street lighting had been provided at every street corner and over the doorway of every inn, and water supply had been improved by the sinking of ten new wells and the provision of a great water tank in the market place. Policing had been improved with the appointment of ten watchmen and attempts were also made to regulate the markets and inspect hazardous food.<ref name=farley>{{cite web |url=http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/history/farley/oldwlv.htm |title=Wolverhampton 985 – 1985 |year=1985 |author=Keith Farley |publisher=Wolverhampton History & Heritage Society |access-date=8 July 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk/politics/local_government/wolves/index.html?sid=14003c39a8d30c9d4326cdaba02d54e8 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121224110143/http://www.wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk/politics/local_government/wolves/index.html?sid=14003c39a8d30c9d4326cdaba02d54e8 |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 December 2012 |title=Local Government in Wolverhampton |work=The History of Wolverhampton – The City and its People |year=2005 |access-date=15 July 2007 }}</ref>

Wolverhampton was incorporated as a [[municipal borough]] in 1848 under the [[Municipal Corporations Act 1835]] and the first meeting of the council, consisting of 12 Aldermen and 36 Councillors, was held on 22 May 1848.<ref>Centenary of the Incorporation of the Borough of Wolverhampton; County Borough of Wolverhampton; 1948; p32</ref><ref name=StaffsArchive>{{cite web |url=http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/leisure/archives/history/placeguide/SPGWolverhamptonTown.htm |title=Archive Gazetter – Wolverhampton |publisher=Staffordshire County Archives |access-date=23 July 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307073930/http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/leisure/archives/history/placeguide/SPGWolverhamptonTown.htm |archive-date=7 March 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The town was then made a [[County Borough]] in 1889 under the [[Local Government Act 1888]].<ref name=StaffsArchive/>

In 1933, the boundaries of the borough expanded, taking in areas from [[Cannock Rural District]] and [[Seisdon Rural District]], with very little of the surrounding urban area being affected,<ref name=avob>{{cite web |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10136544&c_id=10001043 |title=Relationships / unit history of WOLVERHAMPTON |publisher=A Vision of Britain |access-date=15 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001011102/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10136544&c_id=10001043 |archive-date=1 October 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> with only [[Heath Town]] Urban District being abolished.

The bulk of the [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|urban district]]s of Bilston (a borough itself after 1933), [[Tettenhall]] and [[Wednesfield]] were added to the borough in 1966, along with the northern section of the urban district of [[Coseley]] and parts from the north of [[Sedgley]] and the west of [[Willenhall]]. The vast majority of these areas were traditionally part of the Parish of Wolverhampton, and were part of the [[Wolverhampton (UK Parliament constituency)|original Parliamentary Borough]].<ref name=avob/>

Wolverhampton had no further changes made to its boundaries during the [[Local Government Act 1972|1974 reorganisation of local government]], the borough already having a population larger than the 250,000 required for education authorities. This contrasted with both the [[Redcliffe-Maud Report]], and the initial White Paper for the 1974 reforms<ref name=white_paper>HMSO. ''Local Government in England: Government Proposals for Reorganisation''. Cmnd. 4584</ref> where large areas of the present [[South Staffordshire]] district were to be added to the borough. During the 1974 reforms it was placed within the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands Metropolitan County]].

==Coat of arms==
[[File:Wolverhampton Borough Council Coat of Arms.jpg|right|thumb|120px|[[Commemorative plaque]] showing the coat of arms of Wolverhampton Council pre 1898]]

The coat of arms of Wolverhampton was granted on 31 December 1898, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the council.<ref name="Coat of arms">{{cite web |title=Wolverhampton Coat of Arms – Wolverhampton History |url=http://www.wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk/politics/local_government/wolves/coat_arms/index.html?sid=d988a0dcd52acacef8612d4e5f01f4e6 |publisher=Wolverhampton City Council |access-date=11 June 2008 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The various symbols within the arms are representative of the history of the city. The book represents the education within the city, specifically the 16th century [[Wolverhampton Grammar School]];<ref name="Coat of arms"/> the woolpack represents the mediaeval woollen trade within the city;<ref name="Coat of arms"/> the column is a representation of the [[Wolverhampton Pillar|Saxon pillar]] that can be found within the churchyard of [[St. Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton|St. Peter's Collegiate Church]] in the city centre;<ref name="Coat of arms"/> whilst the keys are representative of the church itself and its dedication to St. Peter.<ref name="Coat of arms"/> The padlock represents one of the major industries of the area at the time of the granting of the arms – that of lock-making;<ref name="Coat of arms"/> whilst the brazier at the top is indicative of the general metal-working industries in the area.<ref name="Coat of arms"/> The cross is ascribed to [[Edgar the Peaceful|King Edgar]].<ref name="Coat of arms"/>

The motto on the coat of arms is 'Out of Darkness Cometh Light'.<ref name="Coat of arms"/>

Prior to 1898 there was a former coat of arms that had been in use since 1848, though these arms were never officially granted.<ref>[http://blackcountryhistory.org/collections/getrecord/GB149_P_2492/ Wolverhampton Borough Council Coat of Arms]</ref>
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== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Local authorities in the West Midlands}}
{{Metropolitan districts of England}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wolverhampton Council, City of}}
[[Category:Wolverhampton|Council]]
[[Category:Local authorities in the West Midlands (county)]]
[[Category:Metropolitan district councils of England]]

City of Wolverhampton Council - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 13:31, 12 September 2023