Unitary authority created in 1996 from the western end of the former (mainly English-speaking and Labour) Clwyd and the eastern end of the former (mainly Welsh-speaking and politically mixed) Gwynedd. No overall political control: Ind 18, Lab 12, Con 14, Plaid Cymru 10, LibDem 5.

Cabinet includes all groups except Labour.

PEOPLE

Population 112,000. More than 80% live along 75km coastal belt. Llandudno and Colwyn Bay main urban areas. About 4% of population lives in Snowdonia National Park which covers 35% of area. Only 54% of population born in Wales and much smaller percentage born in Conwy. About one in eight primary pupils are from Welsh-speaking families

JOBS

Conwy has lowest GDP in Wales. Manufacturing has declined to less than 6% since 1991. Employment skewed towards service industries and tourism.

Unemployment at 2.1% slightly below Wales average of 2.4% but dependence on tourism produces marked increase in winter. Agriculture, still important in rural hinterland, accounts for only 3% of jobs.

SCHOOLS AND PUPILS

17,200 pupils in 71 schools, including one special school. Three of seven secondaries and one primary have foundation status. Three Welsh-medium schools and one Welsh-medium unit in urban areas and many Welsh-medium rural primaries. Only 13.8% of pupils entitled to free school meals against Welsh average of 17%, but one in five pupils has special needs.

ATTENDANCE

Improving overall: only 8.7% of secondary school sessions missed in 2004-5.

But unauthorised absence, 2.3% last year, worse than all-Wales average of 1.7%. Nineteen permanent exclusions in 2003-4; it is usually about 15.

RESULTS

52% of 16-year-olds got five A-C GCSE grades in 2005, same as national figure after years of being consistently above. A-levels - more than two-thirds get A to C - compare favourably with national figures.

FUNDING

Total LEA budget this year pound;63.4million. School budget per primary pupil pound;3,011 (sixth highest in Wales) and pound;3,520 for secondaries, just below Welsh average.

STAYING-ON RATE

Up from just under 80% last year. More than two-thirds of 18-year-olds go on to university or FE.