In Cardiff, many members of the previous County Borough Council sought election to both the new South Glamorgan authority and the new Cardiff City Council (where the elections were held a few weeks later).
Glamorgan was the only county to be divided as a result of local government re-organization in England and Wales from 1 April 1974.
However, the Conservatives favoured the creation of South Glamorgan given that they entertained hopes of winning control.
[citation needed] The first elections were in May 1973 and councillors would act in a shadow capacity for the next 11 months, setting up the various functions, until the new council came into effect.
Mrs Elsworth had won the Illtyd ward for the Vale of Glamorgan Borough Council in 1972 by only four votes.