| Election Name: | 1991 Cardiff City Council election |
| Country: | Wales |
| Flag Image: | Flag of Cardiff.svg |
| Type: | Parliamentary |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Party Colour: | yes |
| Majority Seats: | 33 |
| Election Date: | 2 May 1991 |
| Party1: | Welsh Labour Party |
| Seats1: | 39 |
| Seat Change1: | 10 |
| Popular Vote1: | 68,270 |
| Party2: | Welsh Conservative Party |
| Seats2: | 16 |
| Seat Change2: | 8 |
| Party3: | Welsh Liberal Democrats |
| Seats3: | 9 |
| Seat Change3: | 3 |
| Party4: | Independent (politician) |
| Seats4: | 1 |
| Seat Change4: | 1 |
| Popular Vote4: | 572 |
| Council control | |
| Posttitle: | Council control after election |
The 1991 Cardiff City Council election was held on Thursday 2 May 1991 to the district council of Cardiff in South Glamorgan, Wales. It took place on the same day as other district council elections in Wales and England. The Labour Party regained a majority on Cardiff City Council, after sharing government for the previous four years.[1]
The previous Cardiff City Council election took place in 1987.[2] The 1991 election was to be the final election to the district council before its dissolution and replacement, in 1995, by the new County Council of the City and County of Cardiff unitary authority.
All 65 council seats were up for election, though the election in the safe Conservative ward of Heath was delayed, with the results coming later (though not affecting Labour's majority control). Since 1987 Labour had governed in coalition with the SDP-Liberal Alliance. Following the 1991 election it regained a majority on the council.[3]
One of the major upsets of the election was the next Cardiff Lord Mayor-to-be, Gerald Brinks, losing his Roath seat. His designated successor, Anthea Thomas, also lost her seat in Llanishen. This meant Cllr Jeff Sainsbury unexpectedly became the new Lord Mayor, four years earlier than planned, as well as leader of the Conservative group on the council.
Labour made 11 gains and lost only one seat, to Independent Betty Campbell, in Butetown. The Conservatives lost 8 seats and the Liberal Democrats lost three.
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Contests were held in all twenty-six wards:[2] (a)[4] (b)
The contest in the Heath ward was suspended until after the main election, with the result declared at a later date.
(a) Elections Centre source also indicates pre-existing 'retiring' ward councillors, whether candidate is female, compares the percentage vote of the lead candidate for each party in the ward
(b) South Wales Echo source also indicates pre-existing 'retiring' ward councillors, candidates' full initials, whether the result was 'no change' or a 'gain'
* pre-existing 'retiring' ward councillors at this election