Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council elections are held three years out of every four, with a third of the council being elected each time. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is the local authority for the unitary authority of Blackburn with Darwen in Lancashire, England. Since the last boundary changes in 2017, 51 councillors have been elected from 17 wards. Political control From 1889 to 1974, Blackburn was a county borough, independent from any county council. Under the Local Government Act 1972 a larger Blackburn district was created, gaining the neighbouring town of Darwen and several other rural parishes, and becoming a non-metropolitan district, with Lancashire County Council providing county-level services. The first election to the reformed borough council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority until the new arrangements took effect on 1 April 1974. The district was renamed Blackburn with Darwen in 1997 and became a unitary authority on 1 April 1998, becoming independent from Lancashire County Council. Political control of the council since 1973 has been held by the following parties: Non-metropolitan district Unitary authority Leadership The leaders of the council since 1993 have been: Council elections 1973 Blackburn Borough Council election 1976 Blackburn Borough Council election 1979 Blackburn Borough Council election (New ward boundaries) 1980 Blackburn Borough Council election 1982 Blackburn Borough Council election 1983 Blackburn Borough Council election 1984 Blackburn Borough Council election 1986 Blackburn Borough Council election 1987 Blackburn Borough Council election 1988 Blackburn Borough Council election 1990 Blackburn Borough Council election 1991 Blackburn Borough Council election 1992 Blackburn Borough Council election 1994 Blackburn Borough Council election (Borough boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same) 1995 Blackburn Borough Council election 1996 Blackburn Borough Council election 1997 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election (New ward boundaries) 1999 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election 2000 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election 2002 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election 2003 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election 2004 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election (New ward boundaries increased the number of seats by 2) 2006 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election 2007 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election 2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election 2010 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election 2011 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election 2012 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election 2014 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election 2015 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election 2016