We're a 'metropolitan' borough because we form part of Greater Manchester, one of the six metropolitan counties set up in 1974 to cover the large urban areas of England.
Along with our partners, Wigan and Leigh Housing and Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, we are responsible for all local government services in the borough, including:
- Adult (social) services
- Education, children and young people's services
- Housing
- Libraries
- Planning applications and development
- Leisure, recreation and the arts
- Environmental health
- Highways
- Regeneration of the local economy
- Waste collection
- Revenue collection and benefits.
We employ over 11,000 full and part time people - including teachers and schools staff, making us the borough's largest employer.
For the past four years, Wigan Council has been independently judged to be one of the very best councils in the country. Under the Audit Commission's Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA), we are currently rated a 4 star council - the highest score possible.
Our aims are simple but ambitious - to help people reach their full potential, to create places where people want to live, and to build strong vibrant communities.
If you share our aims, we offer a range of job opportunities which are advertised through our website, jobs bulletin, Jobcentre Plus and the local and national press to name but a few.
Several flagship projects are transforming the area's image. These include:
- a £120 million new shopping complex, the Grand Arcade, in Wigan town centre that is set to open in spring 2007
- a £43M redevelopment of Wigan Pier, transforming the area from a heritage site into a cultural quarter
- on the other side of the borough, the Leigh Sports Village will include a 10,000 seat stadium for use by all the major sporting clubs in the town, a brand new building for Wigan and Leigh College, a major public sports hall and swimming pool and 400 metre running track.
