Borough of Melton

For other uses, see Melton (disambiguation).

Borough of Melton
Borough and non-metropolitan district
Melton Mowbray, best known for both the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie and St Mary's Church. It is the administrative centre of the borough.
Shown within Leicestershire.
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Constituent country	England
Region	East Midlands
Administrative county	Leicestershire
Founded	1974
Admin. HQ	Melton Mowbray
Government
• Type	Melton Borough Council
•  MPs:	Alicia Kearns
Area
• Total	185.9 sq mi (481.4 km2)
• Rank	79th
Population  (2021)
• Total	51,773
• Rank	Ranked 293rd
• Density	280/sq mi (110/km2)
Ethnicity (2021) [1]
•  Ethnic groups	List 96.9% White 1.3% Mixed 1.2% Asian 0.4% Black 0.2% other
Religion (2021) [1]
•  Religion	List 56.8% Christianity 41.7% no religion 1.2% other 0.3% Islam
Time zone	UTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+1 (British Summer Time)
ONS code	31UG (ONS) E07000133 (GSS)
Ethnicity	98.8% White
Website	melton.gov.uk

Melton is a local government district with borough status in north-eastern Leicestershire, England. It is named after its only town, Melton Mowbray. The borough also includes numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. The north of the district includes part of the Vale of Belvoir. Melton is the least populous district of its type and the fourth least populous district in England overall.

The neighbouring districts are Harborough, Charnwood, Rushcliffe, Newark and Sherwood, South Kesteven and Rutland.

History

The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the area of two former districts, which were both abolished at the same time: ^[2]

• Melton Mowbray Urban District
• Melton and Belvoir Rural District

The new district was named Melton after the area's only town, Melton Mowbray. ^[3] The district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor. ^[4]

Governance

Melton Borough Council
Type
Type	Non-metropolitan district
History
Founded	1 April 1974
Leadership
Mayor	Alan Hewson, Independent since 12 May 2022 [5]
Leader	Pip Allnatt, Labour since 24 May 2023 [6]
Chief Executive	Edd de Coverly since 28 August 2017 [7]
Structure
Seats	28 councillors
Political groups	Administration (15)   Independent (9)   Labour (6) Other parties (13)   Conservative (11)   Liberal Democrat (1)   Independent (1)
Length of term	4 years
Elections
Last election	4 May 2023
Next election	6 May 2027
Meeting place
Parkside, Station Approach, Burton Street, Melton Mowbray, LE13 1GH
Website
www.melton.gov.uk

Melton Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Leicestershire County Council. Much of the borough is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government. ^{[8] [9]}

Political control

The council has been under no overall control since the 2023 election, being run by a joint administration of Labour and most of the independent councillors, led by Labour councillor Pip Allnatt. ^[10]

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Since 1974 political control of the council has been as follows: ^[11]

Party in control		Years
	Conservative	1974–1995
	No overall control	1995–2003
	Conservative	2003–2023
	No overall control	2023–present

Leadership

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Melton. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 2010 have been: ^[12]

Councillor	Party		From	To
Malise Graham		Conservative	pre-2010	14 Dec 2011
Byron Rhodes		Conservative	14 Dec 2011	17 May 2016
Pam Posnett		Conservative	17 May 2016	16 May 2017
Joe Orson [13]		Conservative	16 May 2017	10 May 2023
Pip Allnatt		Labour	24 May 2023

Composition

Following the 2023 election and one subsequent by-election in November 2023, ^[14] the composition of the council was: ^{[15] [16]}

Party		Councillors
	Conservative	11
	Independent	10
	Labour	6
	Liberal Democrats	1
Total		28

Of the ten independent councillors, nine sit together as the "Independent Group" which forms the council's administration with Labour. ^[17] A by-election for the vacant seat is due to be held on 2 November 2023. Otherwise, the next election is due in 2027.

Elections

See also: Melton Borough Council elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2003 the council has comprised 28 councillors representing 16 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years. ^[18]

The borough is part of the Melton and Rutland parliamentary constituency.

Premises

The council is based at Parkside on Burton Street, adjoining Melton Mowbray railway station. The building was purpose-built for the council and opened in 2011. ^[19]

When first created in 1974 the council inherited offices at Egerton Lodge on Wilton Road from Melton Mowbray Urban District Council and at Warwick Lodge on Dalby Road from Melton and Belvoir Rural District Council. ^[20] In 1986 the council moved to a new building called Council Offices on Nottingham Road. ^[21] The Nottingham Road building burnt down on 30 May 2008. ^{[22] [23]} The northern wing of the building was repaired and is now called Phoenix House, but the rest of the building was beyond repair and was demolished. The council instead chose to build new headquarters at Parkside, spending £5.6m on the new building. ^[19]

East Midlands Councils is based at the Pera Business Park on Nottingham Road, opposite the former Melton borough offices. ^[24] The former East Midlands Regional Assembly was based at the same site until it was abolished in 2010.

Geography

Belvoir Castle

The district borders South Kesteven, in Lincolnshire, to the east, Rutland to the south, Charnwood to the west (along the A46 Fosse Way), and Rushcliffe and Newark and Sherwood in Nottinghamshire to the north. The north part of the district is known as the Vale of Belvoir.

Parishes

The former Melton Mowbray Urban District is an unparished area. The rest of the borough is divided into civil parishes. ^[9]

• Ab Kettleby, Asfordby
• Barkestone-le-Vale, Plungar and Redmile, Belvoir, Bottesford, Buckminster
• Broughton and Old Dalby, Branston, Burton and Dalby
• Clawson, Hose and Harby, Croxton Kerrial
• Eaton, Eastwell
• Freeby, Frisby on the Wreake
• Gaddesby, Garthorpe, Grimston, Saxelbye, Shoby
• Goadby Marwood
• Harby
• Hoby with Rotherby
• Kirby Bellars, Knossington and Cold Overton
• Scalford, Somerby, Sproxton, Stathern
• Twyford and Thorpe
• Waltham and Thorpe Arnold, Wymondham

Economy

Farming and food production are the main industries with Pedigree Petfoods in Melton, and its Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition at Waltham on the Wolds. There is a large creamery (Long Clawson Dairy) at Long Clawson. Samworth Brothers are headquartered in Melton. The Royal Army Veterinary Corps and Defence Animal Training Regiment are also in Melton.

The Birmingham to Peterborough Line runs through the borough, and the borough is criss-crossed by the A607 (Leicester-Grantham) and the A606 (Nottingham-Oakham). Both these roads meet in the centre of Melton (outside Melton Brooksby College), with resulting congestion.

Food

The borough is the home of Stilton Cheese and Melton Mowbray Pork Pies.

Education

Entering the borough near Twyford on the B6047

Until September 2008, the district operated the three-tier education system, whereby there were three middle schools. All these schools fed into the same upper school in Melton from 14-18. At both GCSE and A level, the district's results are above the England average. From age 16 Students can attend either Melton Vale Post 16 Centre for academic sixth form courses, or Brooksby Melton College for vocational courses.

Demography

Melton population pyramid

The Borough of Melton has experienced steady population growth in recent times albeit at a rate lower than the other districts within Leicestershire.

Population growth in the Borough of Melton
Year	1951	1961	1971	1981	1991	2001	2011		2016		2021	2031
Population	32,825	34,512	38,897	42,578	45,105	47,890	50,376		50,900		53,000	55,500
Census [25]									ONS [26]		ONS Projections [27]

Highest rate of accidental death in England in 2010/11

In March 2012, Melton was identified as having the highest rate of accidental death by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, with statistics over the period from 2010/11 showing an average of 29 deaths for 100,000 people. ^[28]

Coat of arms

Coat of arms of Borough of Melton

Notes Granted 17 December 1986 [29] Crest On a wreath Argent and Gules a lion rampant quarterly Argent and Gules holding in the dexter claw a Latin cross Or and in the sinister claw a roll of parchment Proper. Escutcheon Quarterly Gules and Vert in the first and fourth quarters a tower and in the second and third quarters a garb Or over all a lion rampant Argent. Supporters On the dexter side a bull Sable armed Or and gorged with a collar dancetty of two points upward Argent and on the sinister side a horse Argent gorged with a like collar Gules each resting the interior hoof on a tower Or the whole upon a grassy compartment divided per pale by furrows. Motto Unity With Diversity

References

1. UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Melton Local Authority (E07000133)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics . Retrieved 5 January 2024.
2. "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 22 August 2022
3. "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 22 August 2022
4. "District Councils and Boroughs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . 28 March 1974. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
5. "Council minutes, 12 May 2022". Melton Borough Council. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
6. "Council minutes, 24 May 2023". Melton Borough Council. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
7. "Chief Executive". Melton Borough Council. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
8. "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
9. "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
10. "Council sets new direction". Melton Borough Council. 1 August 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
11. "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
12. "Council minutes". Melton Borough Council. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
13. Rennie, Nick (10 May 2023). "Melton Borough Council leader resigns". Melton Times. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
14. Rennie, Nick (20 September 2023). "Melton's only Green borough councillor resigns". Melton Times. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
15. "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
16. "Melton result - Local Elections 2023". BBC News.
17. "Your councillors by political grouping". Melton Borough Council. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
18. "The Borough of Melton (Electoral Changes) Order 2002", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2002/2599, retrieved 31 October 2023
19. "Memories flood back 10 years on from devastating Melton Council offices blaze". Melton Times. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
20. "No. 50667". The London Gazette . 26 September 1986. p. 12520.
21. "No. 50747". The London Gazette . 16 December 1986. p. 16227.
22. "Melton Borough Council offices from the rear after the fire". Geograph. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
23. Photos: Melton Council HQ Fire. "Melton Borough Council offices burn down in May 2008". BBC. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
24. "East Midlands Councils" . Retrieved 1 November 2023.
25. Vision of Britain through time
26. mid year estimate
27. ONS population projections 2014 base / projections reduced by '21 - 500/'31 - 500 given an overestimation at 2016 - 600/
28. Child Safety (26 March 2012). "New Injury Stats Show Burden Of Accidents And Regional Varia..." RoSPA. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
29. "East Midlands Region". Civic Heraldry of England. Retrieved 5 March 2021.

External links

• Community profile at Leicestershire County Council
• Council returns to Melton in October 2008
• Council office demolished in June 2008
• Stapleford Miniature Railway

52°48′N0°48′W / 52.8°N 0.8°W / 52.8; -0.8