Hampshire County Council

Last updated

Hampshire County Council
Coat of arms of Hampshire County Council, England.svg
Depiction of Coat of arms
Hampshire County Council.svg
Type
Type
History
Founded1 April 1889
Leadership
Keith Mans,
Conservative
since 23 May 2024 [1]
Nick Adams-King,
Conservative
since 23 May 2024
Carolyn Williamson
since 19 July 2021 [2]
Structure
Seats78 councillors [3]
Hampshire county council 2024.svg
Political groups
Administration (51)
  Conservative (51)
Other parties (26)
  Liberal Democrats (17)
  Independent (3)
  Labour (3)
  Green (2)
  Whitehill & Bordon Community Party (1):
  Vacant (1)
Length of term
4 years
Elections
First past the post
Last election
 6 May 2021
Next election
 1 May 2025
Meeting place
Council Offices, The Castle, Winchester - geograph.org.uk - 3273582.jpg
The Castle, Upper High Street, Winchester, SO23 8UJ [4]
Website
www.hants.gov.uk
Constitution
Hampshire County Council - The Constitution

Hampshire County Council (HCC) is the upper-tier local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Hampshire in England. The council was created in 1889. The county council provides county-level services to eleven of the thirteen districts geographically located within the ceremonial county of Hampshire. The county council acts as the upper tier of local government to approximately 1.4 million people. [5] It is one of 21 county councils in England.

Contents

Whilst they form part of the ceremonial county of Hampshire, the two cities of Southampton and Portsmouth are unitary authorities, independent from Hampshire County Council. The county council comprises 78 elected councillors, who meet in the city of Winchester, which is the county town. [6]

Since 1997, the council has been controlled by the Conservatives. [7]

In November 2022, the county council warned it may face bankruptcy within 12 months due to austerity cuts, alongside similar warnings from Kent County Council. [8]

History

Elected county councils were created in 1889 under the Local Government Act 1888, taking over many administrative functions that had previously been performed by unelected magistrates at the Quarter Sessions. The boroughs of Portsmouth and Southampton were both considered large enough to provide their own county-level services, so they became county boroughs, independent from the county council. The county council was elected by and provided services to the remainder of the county outside those two boroughs, which area was termed the administrative county. [9]

The first elections were held in January 1889, and the council formally came into being on 1 April 1889, on which day it held its first official meeting at Winchester Castle. George Sclater-Booth, Lord Basing, a Conservative peer and former Member of Parliament, was appointed the first chairman of the council. [10]

The Isle of Wight was covered by Hampshire County Council when it was created in 1889, but soon after it was decided that the island should have its own county council, and so it was made a separate administrative county with effect from 1 April 1890. [11] Bournemouth was made a county borough in 1900, removing it from the administrative county of Hampshire. [12]

The council's legal name until 1959 was the "County Council of the County of Southampton", although the name "Hampshire County Council" was used informally from the council's creation in 1889. [10] The name was officially changed to Hampshire County Council with effect from 1 April 1959. [13]

Local government was reformed in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, which made Hampshire a non-metropolitan county. As part of the 1974 reforms it ceded an area in the south-west of the county including Christchurch to Dorset, but the county council gained authority over Portsmouth and Southampton. The lower tier of local government was rearranged at the same time, with the county being divided into thirteen non-metropolitan districts. [14]

The council was granted a coat of arms in 1992. [15]

In 1997 Portsmouth and Southampton regained their independence from the county council when they were made unitary authorities following a review by Local Government Commission for England. [16] They remain part of the ceremonial county of Hampshire for the purposes of lieutenancy. [17] In 2015 the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Government Association unanimously agreed to support a 'pan-Hampshire' combined authority, but the bid was eventually unsuccessful. [18]

Governance

Hampshire County Council provides county-level services. District-level services are provided by the area's eleven district councils. [19]

The county council has authority over the pink area, formally called the non-metropolitan county. The wider ceremonial county of Hampshire additionally includes the two unitary authorities of Southampton (8) and Portsmouth (12) shown in yellow. Hampshire numbered districts.svg
The county council has authority over the pink area, formally called the non-metropolitan county. The wider ceremonial county of Hampshire additionally includes the two unitary authorities of Southampton (8) and Portsmouth (12) shown in yellow.

The ceremonial county is divided into thirteen districts, with the county council having responsibility for the eleven districts excluding the two unitary authorities of Portsmouth and Southampton, which area is formally called the non-metropolitan county. [20]

  1. Test Valley
  2. Basingstoke and Deane
  3. Hart
  4. Rushmoor
  5. Winchester
  6. East Hampshire
  7. New Forest
  8. Southampton (unitary)
  9. Eastleigh
  10. Fareham
  11. Gosport
  12. Portsmouth (unitary)
  13. Havant

Political control

The council has been under Conservative majority control since 1997.

Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms has been as follows: [21]

Party in controlYears
No overall control 1974–1977
Conservative 1977–1985
No overall control 1985–1989
Conservative 1989–1993
No overall control 1993–1997
Conservative 1997–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 1976 have been: [22]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Freddie Emery-Wallis Conservative 19761993
Mike Hancock Liberal Democrats 19931997
Freddie Emery-Wallis Conservative 19971999
Ken Thornber [23] Conservative 199923 May 2013
Roy Perry Conservative 23 May 201317 May 2019
Keith Mans Conservative 17 May 201919 May 2022
Rob Humby Conservative 19 May 202223 May 2024
Nick Adams-King Conservative 23 May 2024

Composition

Following the 2021 election and changes of allegiance and by-elections up to May 2024, the composition of the council was:

PartyCouncillors
Conservative 52
Liberal Democrats 18
Independent 3
Labour 3
Green 1
Whitehill and Bordon Community Party1
Total78

Two of the independent councillors and the Whitehill and Bordon Community Party councillor sit together as the "Independent Group". [24] The other independent councillor does not belong to any group. The next election is due in 2025.

Premises

The council's main offices and meeting place are at Winchester Castle, parts of which date back to 1067. The council's part of the castle complex is known as Castle Hill and comprises more recent buildings added to the historic castle site, notably in 1895, 1912 and 1933. [25] [26] The council also has area offices in Basingstoke, Farnborough, Havant and Totton. [27]

Elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2017 the council has comprised 78 councillors, representing 76 electoral divisions, with two divisions electing two councillors and the rest electing one each. Elections are held every four years. [28]

Notable members

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borough of Fareham</span> Non-metropolitan district and borough in England

The Borough of Fareham is a local government district with borough status in Hampshire, England. Its council is based in Fareham. Other places within the borough include Portchester, Hill Head, Sarisbury, Stubbington, Titchfield and Warsash. The borough covers much of the semi-urban area between the cities of Southampton and Portsmouth, and is part of the South Hampshire conurbation. The neighbouring districts are Eastleigh, Winchester, Portsmouth and Gosport. The district's southern boundary is the coast of the Solent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City of Winchester</span> Place in England

Winchester, or the City of Winchester, is a local government district with city status in Hampshire, England.

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

Southampton City Council is the local authority of the city of Southampton in the ceremonial county of Hampshire, England. Southampton has had a council since 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; it is independent from Hampshire County Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isle of Wight Council</span> Principal local authority of the Isle of Wight

Isle of Wight Council, known between 1890 and 1995 as Isle of Wight County Council, is the local authority for the Isle of Wight in England. Since 1995 it has been a unitary authority, being a county council which also performs the functions of a district council. It is based at County Hall in Newport. The council has been under no overall control since 2021, being led by a coalition of independent, Green, and Our Island councillors called the Alliance Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bedford Borough Council</span> Local authority in Bedfordshire, England

Bedford Borough Council is the local authority of the Borough of Bedford, a local government district in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England. The town of Bedford was a borough from at least the 12th century until 1974, when the modern district was created. It covers a largely rural surrounding area as well as the town itself. The modern council was initially called Bedford District Council from 1974 to 1975, then North Bedfordshire Borough Council from 1975 until 1992, when the current name was adopted. Until 2009 it was a lower-tier district council, with county-level services provided by Bedfordshire County Council. The county council was abolished in 2009, since when Bedford Borough Council has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reading Borough Council</span> Local authority in Berkshire, England

Reading Borough Council is the local authority for Reading in the county of Berkshire, England. Reading has had a council since at least 1542, which has been reformed on numerous occasions. Since 1998, the council has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bath and North East Somerset Council</span> English local government council

Bath and North East Somerset Council is the local authority for Bath and North East Somerset, a local government district in the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. The council is a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council. Since 2017 the council has been a member of the West of England Combined Authority.

<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">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> English unitary authority council

Middlesbrough Council, also known as Middlesbrough Borough Council, is the local authority for Middlesbrough, in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. Since 1996 it has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council. The council is led by the directly elected Mayor of Middlesbrough.

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

Somerset Council, known until 2023 as Somerset County Council, is the local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England. Since 2023 it has been a unitary authority, being a county council which also performs the functions of a district council. The non-metropolitan county of Somerset is smaller than the ceremonial county, which additionally includes Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset.

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

Northumberland County Council is the local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Northumberland in North East England. Since 2009 it has been a unitary authority, having also taken over district-level functions when the county's districts were abolished.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luton Borough Council</span> Local council of Luton, England

Luton Borough Council, also known as Luton Council, is the local authority of Luton, in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England. Luton has had an elected local authority since 1850, which has been reformed several times. Since 1997 the council has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Essex County Council</span> English principal local authority in the East of England

Essex County Council is the county council that governs the non-metropolitan county of Essex in England. It has 75 councillors, elected from 70 divisions, and has been under Conservative majority control since 2001. The council meets at County Hall in the centre of Chelmsford. It is a member of the East of England Local Government Association.

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

Swindon Borough Council is the local authority of the Borough of Swindon in the ceremonial county of Wiltshire, England. It was founded in 1974 as Thamesdown Borough Council, and was a lower-tier district council until 1997. In 1997 it was renamed Swindon Borough Council and became a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council; it is independent from Wiltshire Council, the unitary authority which administers the rest of the county.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portsmouth City Council</span> Local authority of the city of Portsmouth in Hampshire, England

Portsmouth City Council is the local authority of the city of Portsmouth, in the ceremonial county of Hampshire, England. Portsmouth has had a council since 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; it is independent from Hampshire County Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council</span>

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is the local authority of Blackburn with Darwen in the ceremonial county of Lancashire, England. Since 1998 it has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council; it is independent from Lancashire County Council.

<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">Southend-on-Sea City Council</span> Local authority of Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England

Southend-on-Sea City Council is the local authority of the city of Southend-on-Sea, in the ceremonial county of Essex, England. Southend has had an elected local authority since 1866, which has been reformed several times. Since 1998 the council has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council; it is independent from Essex County Council

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

Buckinghamshire Council is the local authority for Buckinghamshire (district), a non-metropolitan county in England. It is a unitary authority, performing both county and district-level functions. It was created on 1 April 2020, replacing the previous Buckinghamshire County Council and the councils of the four abolished districts of Aylesbury Vale, Chiltern, South Bucks, and Wycombe. The territory of the Council is about four-fifths of Buckinghamshire and has about two-thirds of its population.

References

  1. ↑ Oliver, Toby (23 May 2024). "Hampshire County Council elects new leader and chairman". Hampshire Chronicle. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  2. ↑ "Chief Executive Officer of Hampshire County Council". Hampshire County Council. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  3. ↑ "Your Councillors". Hampshire County Council. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  4. ↑ "Map" (PDF). Hampshire County Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  5. ↑ "Hampshire Population" . Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  6. ↑ "Your Councillors". democracy.hants.gov.uk. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  7. ↑ Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael (2015). Hampshire County Council Election Results 1973-2009 (PDF). The Elections Centre, Plymouth University. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  8. ↑ "Hampshire and Kent councils warn they could go bankrupt in less than a year". ITV News. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  9. ↑ "Local Government Act 1888", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1888 c. 41, retrieved 27 August 2023
  10. 1 2 "Hants County Council: Settling down to business". Evening News. Portsmouth. 2 April 1889. p. 2. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  11. ↑ "Local Government Board's Provision Order Confirmation (No. 2) Act 1889 (52 & 53 Vict. c. 177)". legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  12. ↑ "Bournemouth Municipal Borough / County Borough". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  13. ↑ "Hampshire will be Hampshire - officially". Hampshire Telegraph and Post. Portsmouth. 27 February 1959. p. 8. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  14. ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 31 May 2023
  15. ↑ "Hampshire County Council brand permissions: Coat of arms" . Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  16. ↑ "The Hampshire (Cities of Portsmouth and Southampton) (Structural Change) Order 1995", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1995/1775, retrieved 30 August 2023
  17. ↑ "Lieutenancies Act 1997", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1997 c. 23, retrieved 30 August 2023
  18. ↑ "Coast joint authority plan dropped". BBC News. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  19. ↑ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
  20. ↑ "About the Council | Government in Hampshire". Hampshire County Council. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  21. ↑ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  22. ↑ "Council minutes". Hampshire County Council. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  23. ↑ "Hampshire's former council leader Ken Thornber dies". BBC News. 5 November 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  24. ↑ "Your councillors by political grouping". Hampshire County Council. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  25. ↑ Historic England. "Castle Hill Offices, County Hall (1167140)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  26. ↑ Historic England. "Castle Avenue Offices, County Hall (1167078)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  27. ↑ "Office locations and directions". Hampshire County Council. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  28. ↑ "The Hampshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2016", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2016/1223, retrieved 30 August 2023
  29. ↑ Problems and Progress in Old People's Welfare: Report of the Third National Conference on the Care of Old People, 26th & 27th November, 1948 (National Old People's Welfare Committee, 1949), p. 2
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.