Southampton City Council elections are held three out of every four years to elect members of Southampton City Council, the local authority for the city of Southampton in Hampshire, England. Since 1 April 1997 Southampton has been a unitary authority responsible for all local government functions; prior to this it was a non-metropolitan district beneath Hampshire County Council. Southampton City Council is made up of 48 councillors, with three councillors representing each of 16 wards. One councillor from each ward is elected each May on a four-year cycle, with no elections in the fourth year. Political control Since the first election to the council in 1973 following the reforms of the Local Government Act 1972, political control of the council has been held by the following parties: Non-metropolitan district Unitary authority Leadership The leaders of the council since 1996 have been: Council elections Non-metropolitan district elections 1973 Southampton City Council election 1976 Southampton City Council election 1979 Southampton City Council election (New ward boundaries & city boundary changes also took place) 1980 Southampton City Council election 1982 Southampton City Council election 1983 Southampton City Council election 1984 Southampton City Council election 1986 Southampton City Council election 1987 Southampton City Council election 1988 Southampton City Council election 1990 Southampton City Council election 1991 Southampton City Council election 1992 Southampton City Council election 1994 Southampton City Council election 1995 Southampton City Council election Unitary authority elections 1996 Southampton City Council election 1998 Southampton City Council election 1999 Southampton City Council election 2000 Southampton City Council election 2002 Southampton City Council election (New ward boundaries increased the number of seats by 3) 2003 Southampton City Council election 2004 Southampton City Council election 2006 Southampton City Council election 2007 Southampton City Council election 2008 Southampton City Council election 2010 Southampton City Council election 2012 Southampton City Council election 2014 Southampton City Council election 2015 Southampton City Council election 2016 Southampton City Council election 2018 Southampton City Council election 2019 Southampton City Council election 2021 Southampton City Council election 2022 Southampton City Council election 2023 Southampton City Council election (New ward boundaries will increase the number of seats by 3) City result maps By-election results 1990s 2000s 2010s References External links Southampton City Council By-election results Council elections in Hampshire Politics of Southampton Unitary authority elections in England