About Us

Flintshire County Council has been through some troubled times and is in a period of positive change. A sound and traditional council with a history of under-recognised high performance in key public services such as education and social services, Flintshire is setting its sights high. The council needs to unify and lead its communities, local partners and town and community councils to meet our shared priorities. Under the guidance of the chief executive and new strategic management team the Council is showing ambition, changing the way it works and is shaping up to fulfill its potential.

» Senior Management Restructure Council Report 2008 (85kb )
» County Council Structure 2008 (158kb )

Our History

Flintshire County Council is a unitary council formed in 1996 – an amalgamation of three predecessor councils – Alyn and Deeside District Council, Delyn Borough Council and the Flintshire geographical area of Clwyd County Council.

Our Services

Flintshire provides vital local public services for 150,100 people who live in 65,341 households. With 7,000 staff we are the second largest employer in the County and provide services including, education, housing, leisure, libraries, planning, refuse collection, environmental health, recycling, roads, social services, trading standards, transport and tourism. Flintshire has 90 schools attended by 25,000 pupils, social services support over 5000 adults and 2000 children each year, has 16 libraries, eight sports and leisure centres, three country parks and maintains 660 miles of County roads.

Our Budget

Welsh Assembly Government supplies 80% of local authority funding; council tax funds the remaining 20%. Flintshire’s revenue budget for 2008/9 is £260m and the capital budget including the Housing Revenue Account is £48.56m.

Our Management Structure

The County Council approved a new senior management structure in March 2008 which comprises three new directorates – Community Services, Environment, and Lifelong Learning, with a federated corporate centre under the Chief Executive.

Our Constitution

The Council has 70 members who determine key policies and strategies including the budget. The Council has a ten-member Executive with seven Scrutiny Committees who hold the Executive to account and co-decide policy. There is a Planning and Development Committee, Audit Committee, Licensing Committee and a Standards Committee.

The Council is in a position of no overall control since the local elections held on 1 May 2008. The Councils governance of a coalition is made up of three political groups. The Leader of the Council is an Independant Member.

In Wales

As one of the 22 unitary authorities in Wales, Flintshire is the largest in population terms in North Wales and the seventh largest in Wales.

Gateway to North Wales

The County’s outstanding location and transport links make an ideal commercial base. Businesses based here have quick and easy access to key markets, services and industrial regions across the Northwest and Midlands. Known as the Gateway to North Wales, Flintshire benefits from a well planned and effective road network. There is easy access to the M53 to Liverpool and the M56 to Manchester, and the major international airports of these cities. Excellent direct rail links exist to London and other major cities, and there are local port facilities at Mostyn. The quality of life in Flintshire is boosted by lower than average property prices, superb leisure and educational facilities, and pleasant countryside.

Heritage and landscape

The natural environment is rich and varied. From the stunning views, open moorland and wild upland heaths of the Clwydian Range Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the West, to the award winning sands of Talacre,rural Flintshire is a landscape of incredible variety. Then there are the quiet riversides, wooded valleys and rolling farmland of Llanasa, Ysceifiog, Whitford and Caergwrle, the wildlife rich coasts, and the River Dee and Estuary. The historic city of Chester and the Snowdonia National Park are both on the doorstep.

At Greenfield Country Park, you’ll find one and a half miles of woodlands, reservoirs, ancient monuments and industrial history with Abbey Farm Museum forming the focal point of the park, and reconstructed local farm buildings providing an evocative backdrop for the displays. Or visit Wepre Country Park in Connah’s Quay: 160 acres of woodland between the town and Ewloe. The ancient woodland site is rich with wildlife and historical interest.

Arts, culture and sport

Theatrical and musical performance are of a very high standard, and Anthony Hopkins is one of the many international stars to have performed at Mold’s famous Clywd Theatr Cymru. Festivals such as the Buckley Jubilee and country fairs have a long tradition in many towns and villages. Flintshire County Council sponsors and organises the annual Flintshire Festival, a two-week celebration of arts and culture in Flintshire, held in October.

Almost every sport and leisure activity is available, including an Olympic-sized ice rink at Deeside Leisure Centre in Queensferry. Flintshire also has no fewer than ten golf links. Flintshire has produced top-class sportsmen and women over the years, but perhaps the most famous are a trio of footballers who made their mark on the international stage – Kevin Ratcliffe, Ian Rush and of course Michael Owen. Welsh Premier League team Connah’s Quay Nomads play at the impressive Deeside College Stadium, which boasts a 500 seater stand, running track and excellent media facilities. The Flintshire 10k Road Race is held each September with the Flintshire Cycle Challenge being held every October. These events attract hundreds of competitors from across the UK.