Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley

Last updated

Borough of Knowsley
Metropolitan borough
Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council building, Huyton.jpg
Knowsley council headquarters in Huyton
Coat of arms of Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council.png
Coat of arms
Motto(s): 
By faith and industry
Knowsley UK locator map.svg
Knowsley shown within Merseyside
Coordinates: 53°26′20″N2°51′04″W / 53.439°N 2.851°W / 53.439; -2.851
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Country England
Region North West
Ceremonial county Merseyside
City region Liverpool
Incorporated 1 April 1974
Named for Knowsley Village
Administrative HQMunicipal Buildings, Huyton
Government
[1]
 • Type Metropolitan borough
 • Body Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council
 •  Executive Leader and cabinet
 •  Control Labour
 •  Leader Graham J Morgan (L)
 •  Mayor Eddie Connor
 •  MPs
Area
[2]
 • Total
34 sq mi (87 km2)
 • Rank 208th
Population
 (2022) [3]
 • Total
157,103
 • Rank 133rd
 • Density4,700/sq mi (1,816/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)
[4]
 •  Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
[4]
 •  Religion
List
Time zone UTC+0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+1 (BST)
Postcode areas
  • L10
  • L14
  • L16
  • L25–26
  • L28
  • L32–36
  • WA8
Dialling code 0151
ISO 3166 code GB-KWL
GSS code E08000011
Website knowsley.gov.uk

The Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley is a metropolitan borough in Merseyside, North West England. It covers several towns and villages, including Kirkby, Prescot, Huyton, Whiston, Halewood, Cronton and Stockbridge Village; Kirkby, Huyton, and Prescot being the major commercial centres. It takes its name from the village of Knowsley, though its headquarters are in Huyton. It forms part of the wider Liverpool City Region.

Contents

Within the boundaries of the historic county of Lancashire, the borough was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of Huyton-with-Roby Urban District, Kirkby Urban District and Prescot Urban District, along with most of Whiston Rural District and a small part of West Lancashire Rural District, all from the administrative county of Lancashire.

It is known for Knowsley Hall and Knowsley Safari Park.

History

The modern-day borough of Knowsley was formerly composed of villages and towns in Lancashire dating back to 650 AD. [5] The Earls of Derby have their ancestral home in the borough at Knowsley Hall, the surroundings of which today house the popular visitor attraction of Knowsley Safari Park.

Knowsley experienced rapid population expansion in the 1950s and 1960s, resulting from the combination of industrialization and migration, including a significant amount of overspill development from Liverpool. By 1971, some 194,600 lived within the area which would become Knowsley. [6] However, over the next two decades general economic decline – particularly in manufacturing – contributed to a significant fall in population to around 154,600 by 1994. Subsequently, a population stabilization strategy helped to stem this decline. The strategy was focused on house building and marketing the borough to secure inward investment. [7] Record house building and strong growth in inward investment yielded the borough's first small rise in population in over 25 years in 1995. The population stabilized at over 154,000 for most of the rest of the 1990s. [8]

The borough of Knowsley was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 covering the area of three former urban districts, which were abolished at the same time, plus six civil parishes (five from Whiston Rural District and one from West Lancashire Rural District): [9]

‡Parishes from Whiston Rural District

All the component parts of Knowsley had previously been in the administrative county of Lancashire, but were transferred to the new metropolitan county of Merseyside at the same time the district came into being on 1 April 1974. A committee of councillors from the outgoing district councils chose the name Knowsley for the new district in 1972, taking the name from Knowsley village, being a central location within the new district, rather than using the name of one of the three urban districts which had the majority of the population. The committee noted that the Knowsley Hall estate had historic connections to all the constituent parts of the new district. [10] The government confirmed the name in 1973. [11] The new district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chairman of the council to take the title of mayor. [12]

Geography

Settlements

Governance

Westminster

The residents of Knowsley Metropolitan Borough are represented in the British Parliament by Members of Parliament (MPs) for three separate parliamentary constituencies. Knowsley is represented by Anneliese Midgley MP (Labour), Garston and Halewood is represented by Maria Eagle MP (Labour) and St Helens South and Whiston is represented by Marie Rimmer MP (Labour).

Knowsley Council Composition

After local elections in 2008 the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley was governed by the Labour Party, the largest party represented on the council. The Liberal Democrats, the second largest party, were in opposition. There were no other councillors.

Year Labour Liberal Democrats
20084716
20105310
2011594
2012630
2016423

After local elections in 2010 the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley continued to be governed by the Labour Party, the largest party represented on the council, who increased their total number of seats by 5 to 53. The Liberal Democrats, the second largest party represented on the council, continued to be in opposition losing 5 seats to the governing Labour Party to decrease their total number of seats to 10.

After local elections in 2011 the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley continued to be governed by the Labour Party, the largest party represented on the council, who increased their total number of seats to 59. The Liberal Democrats, the second largest party represented on the council, continued to be in opposition losing 6 seats to the governing Labour Party to decrease their total number of seats to 4.

After the local elections in 2012, Knowsley became a one party borough, completely taking out the Liberal Democrat seats. [13]

In 2016 the number of seats was reduced to 45 with the Liberal Democrats winning three

Following several years of subsequent elections, the political composition is now Labour 33, Green 5, Liberal Democrats 3, Independent 3 with one vacancy in Page Moss ward.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

The Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley is one of the six constituent local government districts of the Liverpool City Region. Since 1 April 2014, some of the borough's responsibilities have been pooled with neighbouring authorities within the metropolitan area and subsumed into the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

The combined authority has effectively become the top-tier administrative body for the local governance of the city region and the leader of Knowsley Council, along with the five other leaders from neighbouring local government districts, take strategic decisions over economic development, transport, employment and skills, tourism, culture, housing and physical infrastructure.

The Liverpool City Region, which includes Knowsley, is also governed by the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region who is directly elected by the residents of the Liverpool City Region and has powers over a number of areas, the incumbent Mayor is Steve Rotheram of the Labour Party.

Demography

According to the 2011 census, 80.9% of people in Knowsley describe themselves as Christian, the highest proportion in any local authority in England and Wales. [14] This is significantly different from average figures from the 2011 census for England and Wales, which showed that 59.3 per cent of the population identified as Christian and 14.1 million people, around a quarter of the population in England and Wales, reported that they have no religion.

Twin towns

Knowsley is twinned with: [15]

Freedom of the Borough

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

Individuals

Military units

Organisations and Groups

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halewood</span> Town in Merseyside, England

Halewood is a town and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley in Merseyside, England. It lies near the city of Liverpool's southeastern boundary, bordered by the suburbs of Netherley, Hunt's Cross and Woolton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huyton</span> Town in England

Huyton is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, Merseyside, England. Part of the Liverpool Built-up Area, it borders the Liverpool suburbs of Dovecot, Knotty Ash and Netherley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metropolitan Borough of St Helens</span> Metropolitan borough in England

The Metropolitan Borough of St Helens is a local government district with borough status in Merseyside, North West England. The borough is named after its largest settlement, St Helens. It is one of the six boroughs of the Liverpool City Region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whiston, Merseyside</span> Town in England

Whiston is a town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley in Merseyside, England. Previously recorded within the historic county of Lancashire, it is located eight miles east of Liverpool. The population was 13,629 at the 2001 Census, increasing to 14,263 at the 2011 Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roby, Merseyside</span> Village in England

Roby is a village and electoral ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, Merseyside, England. Part of the wider built-up-area of Huyton-with-Roby with Huyton, Roby is effectively a dormitory village or suburb of the adjacent City of Liverpool. At the 2021 Census, the population of Roby electoral ward was 9,353.

Whiston Rural District was a rural district of the administrative county of Lancashire, England. It was created in 1895 by renaming the Prescot Rural District when the parish of Prescot was removed from that rural district and created a separate urban district. Later the parish of Speke was incorporated into the City of Liverpool and Ditton into the Municipal Borough of Widnes. In 1922 the parish of Kirkby was added from the disbanded Sefton Rural District and removed again in 1958 when it was created a separate urban district. It was named after and administered from Whiston. In 1934 and 1954 parts of Windle and Eccleston were removed and placed in St Helens CB

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knowsley South (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1983–2010

Knowsley South was a constituency in Merseyside, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Helens South and Whiston (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 2010 onwards

St. Helens South and Whiston is a constituency created in 2010 represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Marie Rimmer of the Labour Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knowsley (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 2010 onwards

Knowsley is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Anneliese Midgley of the Labour Party..

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Widnes (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885–1983

Widnes was a county constituency in England, based on the town of Widnes, in Lancashire. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huyton (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1950–1983

Huyton was a former constituency for the House of Commons. Created in 1950, it was centred on Huyton in Lancashire, North West England, just beyond the borders of the city of Liverpool. The only MP was frontbench Labour politician, Harold Wilson who while representing the seat became Leader of the Labour Party in 1963 and prime minister from 1964 to 1970 and again from 1974 to 1976.

Huyton with Roby Urban District was a local government district in Lancashire, England from 1894 to 1974. It consisted of the civil parish of Huyton with Roby which comprised the settlements of Huyton and Roby. It replaced the Huyton with Roby urban sanitary district.

Prescot Urban District was a local government district in the administrative county of Lancashire, England from 1895 to 1974.the main settlement of the district was the town of Prescot.

Kirkby Urban District was a local government district in the administrative county of Lancashire, England, from 1958 to 1974. From 1949 onwards, the main settlement of the district was Kirkby new town. A District Council was created in 1958. The first meeting of the District Council was held on 9 April 1958. At that meeting it was resolved that Councillor James Wylie, J.P. be appointed Chairman of the Council

<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">2023 Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council election</span> 2023 local election in England, UK

The 2023 Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council in Merseyside, England. This was on the same day as other local elections. Labour retained its majority on the council.

References

  1. ↑ "Your Council". Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  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 – Knowsley Local Authority (E08000011)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics . Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  5. ↑ Knowsley Council (2015). Knowsley Metropolitan Borough – An Introduction: History, Geography, Population and Economy. p. 2.
  6. ↑ Knowsley District, A Vision of Britain Through Time, 23 December 2016
  7. ↑ Knowsley Council (2015). Knowsley Metropolitan Borough – An Introduction: History, Geography, Population and Economy. p. 2.
  8. ↑ Knowsley District, A Vision of Britain Through Time, 23 December 2016
  9. ↑ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 28 August 2022
  10. ↑ Toker, John (22 December 1972). "This is Knowsley: A village that will soon be a giant district". Liverpool Echo. p. 10. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  11. ↑ "The Metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1973/137, retrieved 28 August 2022
  12. ↑ "District Councils and Boroughs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . 28 March 1974. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  13. ↑ Vote 2012, hosted by David Dimbleby, aired 3 May 2012, BBC One
  14. ↑ "Religion in England and Wales 2011". Office for National Statistics.
  15. ↑ Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Town Twinning retrieved 21 January 2019
  16. ↑ "Gerrard given freedom of borough". 11 November 2008.
  17. ↑ "Duke of Lancaster's Regiment awarded Freedom of Knowsley". Knowsley Council. 12 October 2009. Archived from the original on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  18. ↑ "Hospitals and councillors past and present to be honoured with Freedom of the Borough". 4 March 2021.
  19. ↑ "NHS heroes to receive freedom of two boroughs". 2 March 2021.
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.