Borough of Darlington

Last updated

Borough of Darlington
Unitary authority area and borough
Darlington, St Cuthbert (geograph 7140842).jpg
Darlington parish church
Coat of Arms of Darlington Borough Council.svg
Coat of arms
Motto(s): 
Latin: Optima Petamus, lit.  'let us seek the best'
Darlington UK locator map.svg
Darlington shown within County Durham
Coordinates: 54°31′00″N1°33′00″W / 54.5167°N 1.5500°W / 54.5167; -1.5500
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Country England
Region North East
Ceremonial county County Durham
City region Tees Valley
Incorporated 1 April 1974
Unitary authority 1 April 1997
Named for Darlington
Administrative HQ Darlington Town Hall
Government
[1]
 • Type Unitary authority
 • BodyDarlington Borough Council
 •  Executive Leader and cabinet
 •  Control No overall control
 •  Leader Stephen Harker (L)
 •  Mayor Bob Donoghue
 •  MPs
2 MPs
Area
[2]
 • Total
76 sq mi (197 km2)
 • Rank 145th
Population
 (2022) [3]
 • Total
109,469
 • Rank 221st
 • Density1,430/sq mi (554/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)
[4]
 •  Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
[4]
 •  Religion
List
Time zone UTC+0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+1 (BST)
Postcode areas
DL
Dialling codes 01325
ISO 3166 code GB-DAL
GSS code E06000005
Website www.darlington.gov.uk

The Borough of Darlington is a unitary authority area with borough status in County Durham, England. Since 1997 Darlington Borough Council has been a unitary authority; it is independent from Durham County Council. It is named after its largest settlement, the town of Darlington, where the council is based. The borough also includes a rural area surrounding the town which contains several villages. The population of the borough at the 2021 census was 107,800, [5] of which over 86% (93,015) lived in the built-up area of Darlington itself. [6]

Contents

Since 2016 the council has been a member of the Tees Valley Combined Authority, which has been led by the directly elected Tees Valley Mayor since 2017.

The neighbouring districts are the County Durham district to the north and west, Stockton-on-Tees to the east and North Yorkshire to the south, the River Tees forming the border for the latter.

History

The town of Darlington was made a municipal borough in 1867. In 1915 it was elevated to become a county borough, taking over county-level functions from Durham County Council. [7]

The borough was reformed and enlarged on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. It absorbed nearly all of the surrounding Darlington Rural District, with the exception of the parish of Great Aycliffe (which covers the town of Newton Aycliffe) which went to Sedgefield district. [8] [9] The enlarged borough was also reconstituted as a non-metropolitan district as part of the 1974 reforms, with Durham County Council once more providing county-level services to the town. [10]

The council was made a unitary authority on 1 April 1997, regaining its independence from the county council. The way this change was implemented was to create a new non-metropolitan county of Darlington covering the same area as the existing borough, but with no separate county council; instead the existing borough council took on county functions, making it a unitary authority. [11] The borough remains part of County Durham for ceremonial purposes, with whom it continues to share certain local services, such as the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service and Durham Constabulary. [12]

Since 2016 the council has been a member of the Tees Valley Combined Authority along with Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees. Unlike Darlington, the other four districts in the combined authority had all been part of the county of Cleveland between 1974 and 1996. [13]

Governance

Darlington Borough Council
Darlington Borough Council.svg
Type
Type
Leader & Cabinet
Leadership
Bob Donoghue,
Conservative
since 23 May 2024 [14]
Steve Harker,
Labour
since 25 May 2023
Ian Williams
since 2021 [15]
Structure
Seats50 councillors
United Kingdom Darlington Borough Council 2025.svg
Political groups
Administration (27)
  Labour (24)
  Liberal Democrats (3)
Other parties (23)
  Conservative (13)
  Green (7)
  Independent (3)
Joint committees
 Tees Valley Combined Authority
Elections
First-past-the-post
Last election
 4 May 2023
Next election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
Darlington Town Hall - geograph.org.uk - 459150.jpg
Town Hall, Feethams, Darlington, DL1 5QT
Website
www.darlington.gov.uk

Darlington Borough Council provides both county-level and district-level services. Parts of the borough are covered by civil parishes, which form a second tier of local government for their areas. [16]

Since 2016 the council has been a member of the Tees Valley Combined Authority. [17]

Political control

The council has been under no overall control since 2019. Following the 2023 election a coalition of Labour and the Liberal Democrats formed to run the council, led by Labour councillor Steve Harker. [18]

Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms has been as follows: [19]

Lower-tier non-metropolitan district

Party in controlYears
Labour 1974–1976
Conservative 1976–1979
Labour 1979–1987
No overall control 1987–1991
Labour 1991–1997

Unitary authority

Party in controlYears
Labour 1997–2019
No overall control 2019–present

Leadership

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. An attempt to secure a referendum on having a directly elected mayor in 2006 was unsuccessful. [20]

The leaders since 1991 have been: [21]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
John Williams [22] Labour 19918 May 2011
Bill Dixon Labour 19 May 201119 Jul 2018
Steve Harker Labour 19 Jul 201823 May 2019
Heather Scott Conservative 23 May 201919 May 2022
Jonathan Dulston Conservative 19 May 202225 May 2023
Steve Harker Labour 25 May 2023

Composition

Following the 2023 election and subsequent changes of allegiance up to May 2024, the composition of the council was: [23] [24] [25]

PartyCouncillors
Labour 24
Conservative 13
Green 7
Liberal Democrats 3
Independent 3
Total50

The next election is due in 2027.

Elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2015 the council has comprised 50 councillors, representing 20 wards, each of which elects two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years. [26]

Premises

The council is based at Darlington Town Hall on Feethams in the centre of Darlington. [27] The building was purpose-built for the old county borough council and was completed in 1970. [28]

Settlements

As well as Darlington itself the borough includes the surrounding villages of:

It is home to Teesside International Airport (previously known as Durham Tees Valley Airport).

Demographics

Freedom of the Borough

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

Individuals

Military Units

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darlington</span> Town in County Durham, England

Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, County Durham, England. It lies on the River Skerne, 15 miles (24 km) west of Middlesbrough and 20 miles (32 km) south of Durham. Darlington had a population of 107,800 at the 2021 Census, making it a "large town" and one of the largest settlements in North East England. The town is linked to London, Leeds, Newcastle and Edinburgh by the East Coast Main Line and the A1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borough of Stockton-on-Tees</span> Unitary authority area in County Durham and North Yorkshire, England

The Borough of Stockton-on-Tees is a unitary authority area in England with borough status in County Durham and North Yorkshire. In 2021, it had a population of 196,600. Its main settlement and namesake of the borough is Stockton-on-Tees, which lies on the north bank of the River Tees, along with the towns of Billingham and Norton-on-Tees, in County Durham. It also includes the towns of Ingleby Barwick, Thornaby-on-Tees and Yarm, all south of the Tees, in North Yorkshire. The borough locally governed by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. The borough forms part of the Tees Valley together with four other nearby boroughs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tees Valley</span> Combined authority region in North East England

Tees Valley is a combined authority area in North East England, around the lower River Tees. The area is not a geographical valley; the local term for the valley is Teesdale. The combined authority covers five council areas: Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees: this includes areas in both County Durham and North Yorkshire counties.

The unitary authorities of Durham and Borough of Darlington are divided into 8 parliamentary constituencies, including 2 cross-county constituencies, all of which are county constituencies.

Cleveland was abolished in 1996 both as a county council and a non-metropolitan county, being succeeded by the unitary authorities of Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees. The constituency boundaries used up to the 2005 United Kingdom general election were drawn up when the county still existed. For the review which came into effect for the 2010 general election, the four authorities were considered separately, with Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland being combined.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council elections are held every four years. Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council is the local authority for the unitary authority of Stockton-on-Tees, which straddles the ceremonial counties of County Durham and North Yorkshire, England. Until 1 April 1996 it was a non-metropolitan district in Cleveland.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borough of Hartlepool</span> Unitary authority area in County Durham, England

The Borough of Hartlepool is a unitary authority area with borough status in County Durham, England. Hartlepool Borough Council became a unitary authority in 1996; it is independent from Durham County Council. It is named after its largest settlement, Hartlepool, where the council is based. The borough also includes a rural area to the west of the town. The population of the borough at the 2021 census was 92,571, of which over 95% (87,995) lived in the built-up area of Hartlepool itself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middlesbrough Council</span> Local authority for the Borough of Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Durham County Council</span> Local authority in North East England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thurrock Council</span> Local authority in England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council</span> Unitary authority in England

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council is the local authority of the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees, which straddles the ceremonial counties of County Durham and North Yorkshire in England. Since 1996 the council has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council. It therefore provides services including Council Tax billing, libraries, social services, town planning, waste collection and disposal, and it is a local education authority. Since 2016 the council has been a member of the Tees Valley Combined Authority, which has been led by the directly elected Tees Valley Mayor since 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council</span> Unitary authority in England

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is the local authority for Redcar and Cleveland, a local government district with borough status in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. Since 1996 the council has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council. The council was created in 1974 as Langbaurgh Borough Council and was a lower-tier authority until 1996 when it was renamed and became a unitary authority, taking over county-level functions from the abolished Cleveland County Council.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borough of Middlesbrough</span> District in North Yorkshire, England

The Borough of Middlesbrough is a district in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. It is part of the Tees Valley region, along with the boroughs of Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar and Cleveland, Hartlepool and Darlington. The district covers the town of Middlesbrough, Nunthorpe civil parish and Stainton and Thornton civil parish. Since its creation in 1974, it has had borough status and the governing Middlesbrough Council became a unitary authority in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">County Durham (district)</span> Unitary authority area in County Durham, England

County Durham is a unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It is governed by Durham County Council. The district has an area of 2,226 square kilometres (859 sq mi), and contains 135 civil parishes. It forms part of the larger ceremonial county of Durham, together with boroughs of Darlington, Hartlepool, and the part of Stockton-on-Tees north of the River Tees.

References

  1. ↑ "Elected Members". Darlington Borough Council. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  2. ↑ "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022". Office for National Statistics . 26 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  3. ↑ "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022". Office for National Statistics . 26 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  4. 1 2 UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Darlington Local Authority (E06000005)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics . Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  5. ↑ "Population and household estimates, England and Wales: Census 2021". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  6. ↑ "Towns and cities, characteristics of built-up areas, England and Wales: Census 2021". Census 2021. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  7. ↑ "Darlington Municipal Borough / County Borough". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  8. ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 3 March 2024
  9. ↑ "The New Parishes Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1973/688, retrieved 3 March 2024
  10. ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 3 March 2024
  11. ↑ "The Durham (Borough of Darlington) (Structural Change) Order 1995", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1995/1772, retrieved 3 March 2024
  12. ↑ "Lieutenancies Act 1997". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  13. ↑ "The Tees Valley Combined Authority Order 2016". legislation.gov.uk . The National Archives. SI 2016/449. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  14. ↑ Edgar, Bill (25 May 2024). "Darlington Mayor: Bob Donoghue elected as town's 2024 mayor". Darlington and Stockton Times. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  15. ↑ Minting, Stuart (12 January 2021). "Top Darlington council jobs to be reshuffled". Northern Echo. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  16. ↑ "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  17. ↑ "The Tees Valley Combined Authority Order 2016". legislation.gov.uk . The National Archives. SI 2016/449. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  18. ↑ Edgar, Bill (26 May 2023). "Cllr Steve Harker elected as new Darlington Council Leader". Northern Echo. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  19. ↑ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  20. ↑ "Pro-mayor group halfway to securing a referendum". The Northern Echo . 29 August 2006. Retrieved 29 August 2007.
  21. ↑ "Council minutes". Darlington Borough Council. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  22. ↑ "Ex-Darlington Council leader John Williams dies at 65". BBC News. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  23. ↑ "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
  24. ↑ Edgar, Bill (4 October 2023). "Darlington Tory councillor Yvonne Renton becomes Independent". Northern Echo. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  25. ↑ Edgar, Bill (30 May 2024). "Darlington councillor Colin Pease quits Conservative Party". Northern Echo. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  26. ↑ "The Darlington (Electoral Changes) Order 2014", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2014/3338, retrieved 3 March 2024
  27. ↑ "Opening times". Darlington Borough Council. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  28. ↑ Lloyd, Chris (2017). Darlington in 50 Buildings. Amberley Publishing. ISBN   978-1445666822.
  29. ↑ "Darlington Borough Council" (PDF). www.darlington.gov.uk.
  30. ↑ Live, Teesside (17 September 2010). "Thousands of people flocked to Darlington to honouring our heroes".

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