Borough of Boston

Last updated

Borough of Boston
Non-metropolitan district and borough
Boston - panoramio (19).jpg
Town Hall, Kirton (26584624566).jpg
Algakirk Church - geograph.org.uk - 5148077.jpg
St Mary's church, Sutterton - geograph.org.uk - 4417330.jpg
Boston (Lincolnshire, England) (39831370184).jpg
Boston UK locator map.svg
Shown within the ceremonial county of Lincolnshire
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Constituent country England
Region East Midlands
Administrative county Lincolnshire
Admin. HQ Boston
Government
 • TypeBoston Borough Council
 •  MP: Matt Warman
Area
 • Total141 sq mi (364 km2)
 • Rank 97th
Population
 (2022)
 • Total64,637
 • Rank Ranked 285th
 • Density460/sq mi (180/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)
[1]
 •  Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
[1]
 •  Religion
List
Time zone UTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+1 (British Summer Time)
ONS code 32UB (ONS)
E07000136 (GSS)

The Borough of Boston is a local government district with borough status in Lincolnshire, England. Its council is based in the town of Boston. The borough also includes numerous villages and towns in the surrounding rural area including Kirton, Wyberton, Sutterton, Algakirk and Hubberts Bridge.

Contents

The borough borders South Holland to the south, North Kesteven to the west, and East Lindsey to the north. To the east, it has a coast onto the Wash.

History

The town of Boston had been incorporated as an ancient borough in 1545. [2] It was reformed to become a municipal borough in 1836. [3]

The modern borough was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, by merging the municipal borough of Boston with Boston Rural District. [4] The new district was named Boston after its only town. [5] Boston's borough status passed to the enlarged district from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor, continuing Boston's series of mayors dating back to 1545. [6] The borough covers the northern part of Holland, one of the three traditional Parts of Lincolnshire. Holland had been an administrative county between 1889 and 1974.

In 2020 the council agreed to share its management and other staff with neighbouring East Lindsey District Council. [7] South Holland District Council joined the partnership in 2021, which is now described as the "South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership". [8]

Governance

Boston Borough Council
Boston Borough Council logo.svg
Type
Type
Leadership
Helen Staples,
Boston Independent
since 20 May 2024 [9]
Anne Dorrian,
Boston Independent
since 22 May 2023
Robert Barlow [lower-alpha 1]
since 1 July 2020 [7]
Structure
Seats30 councillors
Political groups
Administration (18)
  Boston Ind. (18)
Other parties (12)
  Conservative (5)
  Independent (5)
  Blue Revolution (1)
  Liberal Democrats (1)
Elections
First past the post
Last election
 4 May 2023
Next election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
West Street, Boston (geograph 3779697).jpg
Municipal Buildings, West Street, Boston, PE21 8QR
Website
www.boston.gov.uk
Wyberton, one of the many villages in the borough Church of St Leodegar, Wyberton - geograph.org.uk - 4419926.jpg
Wyberton, one of the many villages in the borough

Boston Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Lincolnshire County Council. Much of the borough is covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government. [10] [11]

Political control

Since the 2023 election the council has been under the control of local party the Boston Independents.

Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms has been as follows: [12] [13]

Party in controlYears
No overall control 1974–2007
Boston Bypass Independents 2007–2011
Conservative 2011–2015
No overall control 2015–2019
Conservative 2019–2020
No overall control 2020–2023
Boston Independent 2023–present

Leadership

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Boston. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 2006 have been: [14]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Joyce Dobson Conservative 2006
Mary Wright Conservative 18 May 20066 May 2007
Richard Austin Boston Bypass Independents 24 May 200725 May 2011
Peter Bedford Conservative 25 May 201115 May 2017
Michael Cooper Conservative 15 May 201715 Jul 2019
Aaron Spencer Conservative 15 Jul 201920 Jan 2020
Paul Skinner Conservative 3 Feb 20207 May 2023
Anne Dorrian Boston Independent 22 May 2023

Composition

Following the 2023 election, the composition of the council was: [15]

PartyCouncillors
Boston Independent 18
Conservative 5
Independent 5
Blue Revolution 1
Liberal Democrats 1
Total30

The Liberal Democrat and three of the independent councillors sit together as the "20-20 Independent Group". [16] The next election is due in 2027. [17]

Elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2015 the council has comprised 30 councillors representing 15 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years. [18] A map of the wards is available, [19] as is a map showing the Local Government Boundary Commission for England's final recommendations for ward boundaries, October 2012. [20]

The wards, and their numbers of councillors, are: [18]

  • Coastal (2)
  • Fenside (2)
  • Fishtoft (3)
  • Five Villages (2)
  • Kirton and Frampton (3)
  • Old Leake and Wrangle (2)
  • Skirbeck (3)
  • St Thomas' (1)
  • Staniland (2)
  • Station (1)
  • Swineshead and Holland Fen (2)
  • Trinity (2)
  • West (1)
  • Witham (2)
  • Wyberton (2)

Premises

The council is based at the Municipal Buildings on West Street in Boston. [21] The building was built in 1902 for the old borough council to the designs of architect James Rowell. [22]

Parishes

Kirton, one of the many villages of the borough Kirton Town Hall (geograph 5568606).jpg
Kirton, one of the many villages of the borough

Much of the borough is covered by civil parishes, the exception being the pre-1974 municipal borough of Boston, which is an unparished area. The parishes are: [23]

2016 EU referendum

On 23 June 2016 the Borough of Boston voted in the UK-wide Referendum on membership of the European Union (EU) under the provisions of the European Union Referendum Act 2015. In a turnout of 77%, over 75% voted to leave the EU, the highest leave majority of the 382 UK voting areas. [24] The local MP Matt Warman, a Conservative, had campaigned for a "Remain" vote. [25]

United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, 2016
Borough of Boston
ChoiceVotes %
Leave the European Union22,97475.56%
Remain a member of the European Union7,43024.44%
Valid votes30,40499.96%
Invalid or blank votes120.04%
Total votes30,416100.00%
Registered voters and turnout39,96377.27%
Borough of Boston referendum result (without spoiled ballots):
Leave:
22,974(75.6%)		Remain:
7,430 (24.4%)
▲
Swineshead, one of the many villages of the borough Crop of brassica near Swineshead, Lincolnshire - geograph.org.uk - 4224584.jpg
Swineshead, one of the many villages of the borough

Freedom of the Borough

The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the Borough of Boston.

Individuals

Military Units

Arms

Coat of arms of Borough of Boston
Crest
On a wreath of the colours a demi-lion Or holding between the forepaws a woolsack Proper charged with a ram couchant Or.
Escutcheon
Or on a chevron Azure three coronets each composed of crosses paty and fleurs-de-lys Or on a chief Sable a garb between two pairs of windmill sails also Or.
Supporters
On either side a mermaid Proper crined and finned Or upon a compartment of waves barry wavy Azure and Argent.
Motto
Serve With Amnity [32]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston, Lincolnshire</span> Town and port in Lincolnshire, England

Boston is a market town and inland port in the borough of the same name in the county of Lincolnshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parts of Holland</span> One of the historic subdivisions of Lincolnshire, England

The Parts of Holland is a historical division of Lincolnshire, England, encompassing the southeast of the county. The name is still recognised locally and survives in the district of South Holland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Lindsey</span> Non-metropolitan district in England

East Lindsey is a local government district in Lincolnshire, England. Its council is based in Horncastle and the largest town is Skegness. Other towns include Alford, Burgh le Marsh, Coningsby, Louth, Mablethorpe, Spilsby, Sutton on Sea, Wainfleet All Saints, Wragby and Woodhall Spa. The district also covers a large rural area, including many smaller settlements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Holland District</span> Non-metropolitan district in England

South Holland is a local government district of Lincolnshire, England. The council is based in Spalding. Other notable towns and villages include Crowland, Sutton Bridge, Donington, Holbeach and Long Sutton. The district is named after the historical division of Lincolnshire known as the Parts of Holland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Kesteven</span> District in England

North Kesteven is a local government district in Lincolnshire, England. The council is based in Sleaford. The district also contains the town of North Hykeham, which adjoins the neighbouring city of Lincoln, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borough of Guildford</span> Borough and non-metropolitan district in England

The Borough of Guildford is a local government district with borough status in Surrey, England. With around half of the borough's population, Guildford is its largest settlement and only town, and is where the council is based.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wyberton</span> Village in Lincolnshire, England

Wyberton is a village in Lincolnshire, England. It lies just south-west of Boston, and on the B1397 – the former A16 London Road – between Boston and Kirton. The A16 bisects the village. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 3,747.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sutterton</span> Village and civil parish in Lincolnshire, England

Sutterton is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Boston in Lincolnshire, England, approximately 6 miles (10 km) south-west of Boston. The population of the parish at the 2021 census was 1,769, up from 1,585 in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirton, Lincolnshire</span> Town and civil parish in Lincolnshire, England

Kirton or Kirton in Holland is a historic market town and civil parish in the Borough of Boston, Lincolnshire, England. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 5,371.

Holland Fen with Brothertoft is a civil parish in Lincolnshire, England, consisting, as the name indicates, of Holland Fen and Brothertoft, but also includes the areas known as Pelhams Land, Harts Ground and Pepper Gowt Plot. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 669.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishtoft</span> Village and suburb of Boston in Lincolnshire, England

Fishtoft is a village and suburb of Boston in Lincolnshire, England. Local government has been arranged in this way since the reorganization of 1 April 1974, which resulted from the Local Government Act 1972. This parish forms an electoral ward in itself. Hitherto, the parish had formed part of Boston Rural District, in the Parts of Holland. Holland was one of the three divisions of the traditional county of Lincolnshire. Since the Local Government Act of 1888, Holland had been in most respects, a county in itself. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 6,835. Rising significantly to 7,156 at the 2021 Census. Fishtoft is also a civil parish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bicker, Lincolnshire</span> Village in Boston, Lincolnshire, England

Bicker is a village in the Borough of Boston, Lincolnshire, England. The population of the village was 941 at the 2011 census. It is situated approximately 9 miles (10 km) west-south-west from Boston, and on the A52 road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A17 road (England)</span> Road in England

The A17 road is a mostly single carriageway road linking Newark-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire, England, to King's Lynn in Norfolk. It stretches for a distance of 62 miles travelling across the flat fen landscapes of southern Lincolnshire and western Norfolk and links the East Midlands with East Anglia. The road is notable for its numerous roundabouts and notoriously dangerous staggered junctions and also for its most famous landmark, the Cross Keys Bridge at Sutton Bridge close to the Lincolnshire/Cambridgeshire/Norfolk borders which carries the road over the River Nene.

Boston Borough Council in Lincolnshire, England is elected every four years. Since the last boundary changes in 2015, 30 councillors are elected from 15 wards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brothertoft</span> Village in Lincolnshire, England

Brothertoft is a village in the civil parish of Holland Fen with Brothertoft, in the Boston district, in the county of Lincolnshire, England. It is about 4 miles (6.4 km) northwest from the market town of Boston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincolnshire County Council</span> Elected administrative body for the county

Lincolnshire County Council is the county council that governs the non-metropolitan county of Lincolnshire in England. The non-metropolitan county is smaller than the ceremonial county; the latter additionally includes North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire which are both unitary authorities and therefore independent from the county council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North East Lincolnshire Council</span> Humberside County Council

North East Lincolnshire Council is the local authority of North East Lincolnshire, a local government district in the ceremonial county of Lincolnshire, England. The council is a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council; it is independent from Lincolnshire County Council.

South Holland District Council in Lincolnshire, England is elected every four years. Since the last boundary changes in 2007 the council has comprised 37 councillors representing 18 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Boston Borough Council election</span> 2023 English local election

The 2023 Boston Borough Council election took place on 4 May, 2023, to elect all 30 members of Boston Borough Council in Lincolnshire, England.

References

  1. ↑ Joint chief executive of Boston Borough Council, East Lindsey District Council and South Holland District Council
  1. 1 2 UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Boston Local Authority (E07000136)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics . Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ↑ Wright, Neil. "Boston's Royal Charter, 1545". Boston Story. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  3. ↑ Municipal Corporations Act 1835
  4. ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan District (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 17 November 2023
  5. ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 31 May 2023
  6. ↑ "District Councils and Boroughs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . 28 March 1974. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  7. 1 2 "Council minutes, 25 June 2020". Boston Borough Council. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  8. ↑ "South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership". Boston Borough Council. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  9. ↑ "Boston's new Mayor honoured to serve the people of the borough". Boston Borough Council. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  10. ↑ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
  11. ↑ "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  12. ↑ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  13. ↑ "Boston". BBC News Online . Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  14. ↑ "Council minutes". Boston Borough Council. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  15. ↑ "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
  16. ↑ "Boston". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  17. ↑ "Your councillors". Boston Borough Council. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  18. 1 2 "The Boston (Electoral Changes) Order 2013", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2013/66, retrieved 23 November 2023
  19. ↑ "Meet Your Councillors [map]" (PDF). Boston Borough Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2024. 'NB Councillors named are as of 2021
  20. ↑ "Final recommendations for ward boundaries in the borough of Boston October 2012" (PDF). Local Government Boundary Commission for England. October 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  21. ↑ "Contacting the council". Boston Borough Council. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  22. ↑ "Building record MLI98391 - Municipal Offices, West Street, Boston". Lincolnshire Heritage Explorer. Lincolnshire County Council. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  23. ↑ "Parish council contact details". Boston Borough Council. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  24. ↑ "BBC News, 24 June 2016: England's most pro and anti-EU boroughs". BBC News. 10 September 2020.
  25. ↑ Goodenough, Tom (10 September 2020). "Which Tory MPs back Brexit". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  26. ↑ "Prof Van-Tam to be given freedom of Boston". BBC News. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  27. ↑ "Professor Jonathan Van-Tam to be honoured with Freedom of Boston Borough". My Boston UK. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  28. ↑ Whitelam, Paul (21 March 2022). "Jonathan Van-Tam deeply humbled and shocked to receive freedom of Boston accolade". Lincolnshire Live. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  29. ↑ "Jonathan Van-Tam granted freedom of Boston in ceremony". BBC News Lincolnshire. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  30. ↑ "David Medlock granted Freedom of Boston Borough at ceremony". Lincolnshire Today. 19 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  31. ↑ "RAF website: Freedom of Boston Parade. Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  32. ↑ "East Midlands Region". Civic Heraldry of England. Retrieved 5 March 2021.

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