Halton Borough Council

Last updated

Halton Borough Council
Coat of Arms of Borough of Halton.svg
Halton Borough Council.svg
Corporate logo
Type
Type
History
Founded 1 April 1974
Leadership
Kevan Wainwright,
Labour
since 17 May 2024 [1]
Mike Wharton,
Labour
since 21 May 2021
Stephen Young
since 1 April 2022
Structure
Seats54 councillors
United Kingdom Halton Borough Council 2024.svg
Political groups
Administration (50)
  Labour (50)
Other parties (4)
  Liberal Democrats (3)
  Conservative (1)
Elections
Plurality-at-large
Last election
2 May 2024
Next election
7 May 2026
Motto
Latin: Industria Navem Implet, lit. 'Industry Fills the Ship'
Meeting place
Runcorn Town Hall.jpg
Town Hall, Heath Road, Runcorn, WA7 5TD
Website
www.halton.gov.uk
Footnotes
[2] [3] [4]

Halton Borough Council is the local authority for Halton, a local government district with borough status in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. Since 1998 the council has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council. Since 2014 the council has been a member of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

Contents

The council has been under Labour majority control since its creation in 1974. The council has offices in both the borough's towns of Runcorn and Widnes; full council meetings are usually held at Runcorn Town Hall and the main administrative offices are at the Municipal Building in Widnes.

History

The non-metropolitan district of Halton and its council were created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the whole area of two former districts and parts of another two, all of which were abolished at the same time: [5]

Widnes and Hale, north of the River Mersey, had been in Lancashire prior to the reforms. The new borough was named Halton after the medieval Barony of Halton which had been centred on Halton Castle in Runcorn, but had included land on both sides of the Mersey. [6] [7]

The first election to the new council was held in 1973. For its first year the council acted as a shadow authority alongside the area's outgoing authorities. The new district and its council formally came into being on 1 April 1974, at which point the old districts and their councils were abolished. [8] The district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor. [9]

From 1974 until 1998, Halton Borough Council was a lower-tier authority providing district-level services, with Cheshire County Council providing county-level services. In 1998, Halton gained responsibility for county-level services. The way this change was implemented was to create a new non-metropolitan county of Halton 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. [10]

The borough remains part of the ceremonial county of Cheshire for the purposes of lieutenancy and shrievalty. [11] It also continues to be served by Cheshire Police and the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Since 2014 the council has been a member of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, which also includes the local authorities of Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral; the five metropolitan district councils which constitute the county of Merseyside. As a unitary authority, Halton's status is similar to the metropolitan district councils. [12] The combined authority has been led by the directly elected Mayor of the Liverpool City Region since 2017. The combined authority provides strategic leadership and co-ordination for certain functions across the region, but Halton Borough Council continues to be responsible for most local government functions. [13] [14]

Governance

Halton Borough Council provides both district-level and county-level functions. Some strategic functions in the area are provided by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority; the leader of Halton Borough Council sits on the combined authority as Halton's representative. [15] Parts of the borough are covered by civil parishes, which form an additional tier of local government for their areas. [16]

Political control

The council has been under Labour majority control since its creation in 1974. [17] [18] [19]

Lower tier non-metropolitan district

Party in controlYears
Labour 1974–1998

Unitary authority

Party in controlYears
Labour 1998–present

Leadership

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Halton. Political leadership is provided by the leader of the council. The first leader, John Collins, had been the last leader of Widnes Borough Council, one of the council's predecessors. The leaders since 1974 have been: [20]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
John Collins [21] Labour 19741981
Ted Gleave Labour 1981May 1989
Stan Hill [22] Labour May 1989May 1993
Dave Cargill [23] [24] Labour May 199318 May 1999
Tony McDermott Labour 18 May 199921 May 2010
Rob Polhill Labour 21 May 201021 May 2021
Mike Wharton Labour 21 May 2021

Composition

Following the 2024 election, the composition of the council was: [25]

PartyCouncillors
Labour 50
Liberal Democrats 3
Conservative 1
Total54

The next election is due in May 2026.

Elections

Since the last boundary changes took effect in 2021, the council has comprised 54 councillors representing 18 wards, each electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with a third of the council (one councillor for each ward) elected each time for a four-year term of office. [26]

Premises

Municipal Building, Kingsway, Widnes, WA8 7QF: Council's administrative headquarters Halton Borough Council municipal building, Widnes.JPG
Municipal Building, Kingsway, Widnes, WA8 7QF: Council's administrative headquarters

Full council meetings are generally held at Runcorn Town Hall on Heath Road. [27] It was completed in 1856 as a large house called Halton Grange. [28] The house was bought by Runcorn Urban District Council in 1932 and converted to become their town hall. [29]

The council's main administrative offices are at the Municipal Building on Kingsway in Widnes, which had been completed in 1967 for Widnes Borough Council. [30] It also has offices at Rutland House in Runcorn town centre. [31]

Mayors of Halton

The Mayor of Halton is a ceremonial post with a term typically lasting for 12 months.

List of Mayors of Halton since 1974 [32]
TermMayor
2024/25Kevan Wainwright
2023/24Valerie Hill
2022/23Mark Dennett
2021/22Christopher Rowe
2019/21Margaret Horabin
2018/19John Bradshaw
2017/18Alan Lowe
2016/17Ged Philbin
2015/16Ellen Cargill
2014/15Shaun Osborne
2013/14Margaret Ratcliffe JP
2012/13Tom McInerney
2011/12Keith Morley
2010/11Marie Wright
2009/10Frank Fraser
2008/09Kath Loftus
2007/08Mike Hodgkinson
2006/07John Swain
2005/06Peter Lloyd Jones
2004/05Pat Tyrrell
2003/04Ron Hignett
2002/03Glyn Redican
2001/02Chris Loftus
2000/01Julie Devaney
1999/00Robert Gilligan
1998/99Anthony McDermott
1997/98Ian Evans
1996/97Francis Nyland
1995/96Stan Hill
1994/95Liam Temple
1993/94Jack Pimblett
1992/93John Weaver
1991/92Olive Smith
1990/91William Flynn
1989/90David Cargill
1988/89Allen Inett
1987/88Reginald Eastup
1986/87Stan Broome
1985/86John Hughes
1984/85Kenneth Ebbrell
1983/84Owen Ludlow
1982/83Raymond Aston
1981/82Robert Beswick
1980/81Catherine Gerrard
1979/80Edwin Gleave
1978/79Arthur Parr
1977/78Albert Dodd
1976/77William Howell
1975/76Charles Helsby
1974/75Alan Millar

Coat of arms

Coat of arms of Halton Borough Council
Coat of Arms of Borough of Halton.svg
Adopted
6 October 1983
Years in use
41
Crest
On a Wreath Or and Gules, four Roses set in square Gules barbed and seeded Proper and standing within the same a Garb gold.
Escutcheon
Gules, four lozenges conjoined in pale Or between two pallets wavy Azure fimbriated Argent.
Supporters
On the dexter side a Male Griffin reguardant Azure beaked rayed and the forelegs Or langued and clawed Gules holding fesswise in the dexter claw an alembic Gold and on the sinister side a Lion reguardant Sable armed Gules crowned Or supporting by the sinister paw an Abbatial Crozier with Sudarium Proper all upon a Compartment comprising a Segment of Steel Proper.
Motto
'Industria Navem Implet' [33]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheshire</span> County of England

Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Merseyside to the north-west, Greater Manchester to the north-east, Derbyshire to the east, Staffordshire to the south-east, and Shropshire to the south; to the west it is bordered by the Welsh counties of Flintshire and Wrexham, and has a short coastline on the Dee Estuary. Warrington is the largest settlement, and the city of Chester is the county town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merseyside</span> County of England

Merseyside is a ceremonial and metropolitan county in North West England. It borders Lancashire to the north, Greater Manchester to the east, Cheshire to the south, the Welsh county of Flintshire across the Dee Estuary to the southwest, and the Irish Sea to the west. All boroughs of the Merseyside area are also part of the Liverpool City Region. The largest settlement is the City of Liverpool.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liverpool City Council</span> Local government body in England

Liverpool City Council is the local authority for the city of Liverpool in Merseyside, England. Liverpool has had a local authority since 1207, which has been reformed on numerous occasions. Since 1974 the council has been a metropolitan borough council. It provides the majority of local government services in the city. The council has been a member of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority since 2014.

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

Halton is a unitary authority area with borough status in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, North West England. The borough was created in 1974 and contains the towns of Runcorn and Widnes and the civil parishes of Daresbury, Hale, Halebank, Moore, Preston Brook, and Sandymoor. Since 1998, Halton Borough Council has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council. Since 2014, it has been part of the Liverpool City Region and a member of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vale Royal</span> Former borough in Cheshire, England

Vale Royal was, from 1974 to 2009, a local government district with borough status in Cheshire, England. It contained the towns of Northwich, Winsford and Frodsham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warrington Borough Council</span> Local authority of Warrington, Cheshire, England

Warrington Borough Council is the local authority of the Borough of Warrington, a local government district in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. Warrington has had a borough council since 1847, which has been reformed on several occasions. Since 1998 the council has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council.

From 2024, the ceremonial county of Cheshire is divided into twelve parliamentary constituencies; one borough constituency, and 11 county constituencies. Two constituencies are partly in the county of Merseyside.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liverpool City Region</span> Combined authority area in Northern England

The Liverpool City Region is a combined authority area in North West England. It has six council areas: the five metropolitan boroughs of Merseyside and the unitary authority of Halton in Cheshire. The city region had a population of 1,571,045 in 2022. Its largest settlement and administrative HQ is Liverpool.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheshire County Council</span> Former local authority in England

Cheshire County Council was the county council of Cheshire. Founded on 1 April 1889, it was officially dissolved on 31 March 2009, when it and its districts were superseded by two unitary authorities; Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East.

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

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, of which over 86% (93,015) lived in the built-up area of Darlington itself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sefton Council</span> Local government body in England

Sefton Council, or Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, is the local authority of the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. It is a metropolitan borough council and provides the majority of local government services in the borough. The council has been a member of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority since 2014.

Halton Borough Council elections are generally held three years out of every four, with a third of the council being elected each time. Halton Borough Council is the local authority for the unitary authority of Halton in Cheshire, England. Since the last boundary changes in 2021, 54 councillors have been elected from 18 wards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council</span>

Knowsley Council, or Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, is the local authority of the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley in Merseyside, England. It is a metropolitan borough council and provides the majority of local government services in the borough. The council has been a member of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority since 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derby City Council</span> Local government unitary authority for Derby, England

Derby City Council is the local authority for the city of Derby, in the ceremonial county of Derbyshire in the East Midlands region of England. Derby has had a council from medieval times, which has been reformed on numerous occasions. Since 1997 the council has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council. Since 2024 the council has been a member of the East Midlands Combined County Authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Combined authorities and combined county authorities</span> Type of local government institution in England

A combined authority (CA) is a type of local government institution introduced in England outside Greater London by the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009. CAs are created voluntarily and allow a group of local authorities to pool appropriate responsibility and receive certain devolved functions from central government in order to deliver transport and economic policy more effectively over a wider area. In areas where local government is two-tier, both must participate in the combined authority.

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

The Borough of Warrington is a unitary authority area with borough status in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The borough is centred around the town of Warrington, and extends out into outlying villages of Lymm and Great Sankey and the town of Birchwood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Helens Borough Council</span> Local government body in England

St Helens Borough Council, legally St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council, is the local authority of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens in Merseyside, England. It is a metropolitan borough council and provides the majority of local government services in the borough. The council has been a member of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority since 2014.

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

Wirral Council, or Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council, is the local authority of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is a metropolitan borough council and provides the majority of local government services in the borough. The council has been a member of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority since 2014.

<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.

The ceremonial county of Cheshire, which comprises the unitary authorities of Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton and Warrington, returned 11 MPs to the UK Parliament from 1997 to 2024. Under the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, coming into effect for the 2024 general election, the boundary commission proposed 12 constituencies, including two which crossed the border into the county of Merseyside.

References

  1. "Council meeting, 17 May 2024". Halton Borough Council. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  2. "Your Councillors". Halton Borough Council. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  3. "Mayor". Halton Borough Council. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  4. "Council Departments & Management Team". Halton Borough Council. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  5. "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 5 June 2024
  6. "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 5 June 2024
  7. A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3. London: Victoria County History. 1907. pp. 386–392. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  8. "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 5 June 2024
  9. "District Councils and Boroughs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . 28 March 1974. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  10. "The Cheshire (Boroughs of Halton and Warrington) (Structural Change) Order 1996", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1996/1863, retrieved 5 June 2024
  11. "Lieutenancies Act 1997: Schedule 1", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1997 c. 23 (sch.1), retrieved 29 May 2024
  12. Clay, Oliver, Halton to become part of Liverpool city region, Runcorn & Widnes Weekly News, archived from the original on 27 July 2011, retrieved 15 January 2009
  13. "The Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral Combined Authority Order 2014", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2014/865, retrieved 5 June 2024
  14. "Understand how your council works". gov.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  15. "Committee details". Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  16. "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  17. "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  18. Coligan, Nick (25 April 2007). "It's one fight that Labour cannot lose; Lib Dems' mission impossible: Local elections 2007". Liverpool Echo . p. 15.
  19. "Halton". BBC News Online . 19 April 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  20. "Council minutes". Halton Borough Council. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  21. Farrington, Jessica (22 October 2020). "New Widnes road named in honour of Halton hero". Runcorn and Widnes World. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  22. "New council leader". Runcorn Weekly News. 11 May 1989. p. 3. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  23. "New man at the top". Runcorn Weekly News. 20 May 1993. p. 27. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  24. Lawrence, Andy (20 May 1999). "Council chief defuses row with praise". Runcorn Weekly News. p. 33. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  25. "Local elections 2024: full mayoral and council results for England". The Guardian. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  26. "The Halton (Electoral Changes) Order 2020", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2020/60, retrieved 4 June 2024
  27. "Calendar". Halton Borough Council. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  28. Historic England. "Runcorn Town Hall, Heath Road (Grade II) (1104859)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  29. Bradburn, Jean; Bradburn, John (2014). Runcorn Through the Ages. Amberley Publishing. ISBN   9781445638812 . Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  30. "'Glass Palace' opens its doors". Widnes Weekly News and District Reporter. 13 October 1967. p. 19. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  31. "Contact us". Halton Council. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  32. "Mayor". Halton Borough Council. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  33. "Halton". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 13 January 2024.