Borough of Boston | |
---|---|
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Constituent country | England |
Region | East Midlands |
Administrative county | Lincolnshire |
Admin. HQ | Boston |
Government | |
• Type | Boston Borough Council |
• MP: | Matt Warman |
Area | |
• Total | 141 sq mi (364 km2) |
• Rank | 97th |
Population (2021) | |
• Total | 64,637 |
• Rank | Ranked 285th |
• Density | 460/sq mi (180/km2) |
Ethnicity (2021) | |
• Ethnic groups | |
Religion (2021) | |
• 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 in the surrounding rural area.
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.
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]
Boston Borough Council | |
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Type | |
Type | |
Leadership | |
Anne Dorrian, Boston Independent since 22 May 2023 | |
Structure | |
Seats | 30 councillors |
Political groups |
|
Elections | |
First past the post | |
Last election | 4 May 2023 |
Next election | 6 May 2027 |
Meeting place | |
Municipal Buildings, West Street, Boston, PE21 8QR | |
Website | |
www |
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]
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 control | Years | |
---|---|---|
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 |
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]
Councillor | Party | From | To | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Joyce Dobson | Conservative | 2006 | ||
Mary Wright | Conservative | 18 May 2006 | 6 May 2007 | |
Richard Austin | Boston Bypass Independents | 24 May 2007 | 25 May 2011 | |
Peter Bedford | Conservative | 25 May 2011 | 15 May 2017 | |
Michael Cooper | Conservative | 15 May 2017 | 15 Jul 2019 | |
Aaron Spencer | Conservative | 15 Jul 2019 | 20 Jan 2020 | |
Paul Skinner | Conservative | 3 Feb 2020 | 7 May 2023 | |
Anne Dorrian | Boston Independent | 22 May 2023 |
Following the 2023 election, the composition of the council was: [15]
Party | Councillors | |
---|---|---|
Boston Independent | 18 | |
Conservative | 5 | |
Independent | 5 | |
Blue Revolution | 1 | |
Liberal Democrats | 1 | |
Total | 30 |
The Liberal Democrat, the Blue Revolution councillor and three of the independent councillors sit together as the "20-20 Independent Group". The next election is due in 2027. [16]
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. [17]
The wards are:
The council is based at the Municipal Buildings on West Street in Boston. [18] The building was built in 1902 for the old borough council to the designs of architect James Rowell. [19]
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: [20]
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. [21] The local MP Matt Warman, a Conservative, had campaigned for a "Remain" vote. [22]
United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, 2016 Borough of Boston | |||
Choice | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|
Leave the European Union | 22,974 | 75.56% | |
Remain a member of the European Union | 7,430 | 24.44% | |
Valid votes | 30,404 | 99.96% | |
Invalid or blank votes | 12 | 0.04% | |
Total votes | 30,416 | 100.00% | |
Registered voters and turnout | 39,963 | 77.27% |
Leave: 22,974(75.6%) | Remain: 7,430 (24.4%) | ||
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The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the Borough of Boston.
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Boston is a market town and inland port in the borough of the same name in the county of Lincolnshire, England.
The Parts of Holland is a historical division of Lincolnshire, England, encompassing the south-east of the county. The name is still recognised locally and survives in the district of South Holland.
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.
West Lindsey is a local government district in Lincolnshire, England. Its council is based in Gainsborough, the district's largest town. The district also includes the towns of Caistor and Market Rasen, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. The east of the district includes part of the Lincolnshire Wolds, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
South Kesteven is a local government district in Lincolnshire, England, forming part of the traditional Kesteven division of the county. Its council is based in Grantham. The district also includes the towns of Bourne, Market Deeping and Stamford, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas.
Bassetlaw is a local government district in north Nottinghamshire, England. Its council is based in the town of Worksop; the other towns in the district are Retford, Tuxford and Harworth Bircotes. The district also contains numerous villages and surrounding rural areas.
Not to be confused with the Dutch province of the same name
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.
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The Borough of Great Yarmouth is a local government district with borough status in Norfolk, England. It is named after its main town, Great Yarmouth, and also contains the town of Gorleston-on-Sea and a number of villages and rural areas, including part of The Broads. Other notable settlements include Caister-on-Sea, Hemsby, Hopton-on-Sea and Winterton-on-Sea.
The Local Government Act 1888 was an Act of Parliament which established county councils and county borough councils in England and Wales. It came into effect on 1 April 1889, except for the County of London, which came into existence on 21 March at the request of the London County Council.
East Lindsey District Council in Lincolnshire, England is elected every four years. The district is divided into 37 wards, electing 55 councillors. The last ward boundary changes came into effect in 2015.
West Lindsey District Council in Lincolnshire, England is elected every four years. Prior to 2011 one third of the council was each year, except in every fourth year when there was an election to the county council instead.
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.
City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council is the local authority of the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. It is a metropolitan district council, one of five in West Yorkshire and one of 36 in the metropolitan counties of England, and provides the majority of local government services in Bradford. Since 2014 it has been a constituent member of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
North East Lincolnshire Council is the local authority of North East Lincolnshire. It is a unitary authority, having the powers of a county council and district council combined. It was established on 1 April 1996 on the abolition of Humberside County Council, Great Grimsby Borough Council and Cleethorpes Borough Council. The council provides a full range of local government services including Council Tax billing, libraries, social services, processing planning applications, waste collection and disposal, and it is a local education authority.
North Lincolnshire Council is the local authority of North Lincolnshire, England. It is a unitary authority, having the powers of a county council and district council combined. It provides a full range of local government services including Council Tax billing, libraries, social services, town planning, and waste collection and disposal. It is also a local education authority. The council is based in Scunthorpe.
The City of Lincoln Council is the local authority for the district of Lincoln, in the county of Lincolnshire, England. The council consists of 33 councillors, three for each of the 11 wards in the city. It is currently controlled by the Labour Party, led by Ric Metcalfe. The administrative headquarters is at Lincoln City Hall although council meetings are held at the guildhall.
The 2023 Boston Borough Council election took place on 4 May, 2023, to elect all 30 members of Boston Borough Council in Lincolnshire, England.