Poole was a unitary authority in Dorset, England from 1997 to 2019. From 1974 until 1 April 1997 it was a non-metropolitan district. In 2019 it was abolished and subsumed into Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.
The first election to the council was held in 1973, ahead of the local government reorganisation coming into effect the following year. From 1973 until the council's abolition in 2019 political control of the council was held by the following parties:
Lower tier non-metropolitan district
Unitary authority
The role of mayor was largely ceremonial at Poole Borough Council. Political leadership was instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders from 2003 until the council's abolition in 2019 were:
Resignation of Cllr Andrew Muspratt and Cllr Marian Mackenzie
Resignation of Cllr Bob Dugdale
Death of Cllr Mary Hillman
Resignation of Cllr Daniel Martin
Resignation of Cllr Michael Plummer
Death of Cllr Brian Leverett
Resignation of Cllr Stephen Rollo-Smith.
Resignation of Cllr Joanne Tomlin.