Cardiff had become a fully self-governing borough in 1835, with a new council becoming effective from 1 January 1836 (though it did not acquire a full-time salaried clerk until 1884).

On 11 June 1888 the town's Member of Parliament, Sir Edward J. Reed, sent a telegram confirming the population size restriction had been reduced to 50,000.

The borough's municipal year began and ended each November, so legislation to increase their functions came later (this initially included education and the Poor Law).

[4] In his introductory remarks Deputy Mayor Lewis suggested (to laughter) that councillors should be paid for their duties.

[8] In 1889 there were five electoral wards - Canton, East, Roath, South and West - each with six councillors who stood down for re-election in 3-yearly rotation.

From July 1890 ten electoral wards were created, of Adamsdown, Canton, Cathays, Central, Grangetown, Park, Riverside, Roath, South, Splott.

At the local elections on 7 May 1970, Labour recovered some ground on the Conservative Party, winning back seats in Cathays and Grangetown.