Shropshire Council

Last updated

Shropshire Council
Arms of Shropshire County Council.svg
Coat of arms
Shropshire Council.svg
Council logo
Type
Type
History
Founded1 April 1889 (1889-04-01)
Leadership
Vince Hunt,
Conservative
since 20 May 2021 [1]
Lezley Picton,
Conservative
since 20 May 2021 [1]
Andy Begley
since 2020 [2]
Structure
Seats74 councillors [3]
Political groups
Administration (39)
  Conservative (39)
Other parties (35)
  Liberal Democrat (18)
  Labour (10)
  Green (4)
  Independent (3)
Elections
First past the post
Last election
 6 May 2021
Next election
1 May 2025
Motto
Floreat Salopia
(May Shropshire Flourish)
Meeting place
Council Chamber, Shire Hall, Shrewsbury - geograph.org.uk - 1236320.jpg
Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ND
Website
www.shropshire.gov.uk OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Shropshire Council, known between 1980 and 2009 as Shropshire County Council and prior to 1980 as Salop County Council, is the local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Shropshire in the West Midlands region of England. Since 2009 it has been a unitary authority, being a county council which also performs the functions of a district council. The non-metropolitan county is smaller than the ceremonial county of Shropshire, which additionally includes Telford and Wrekin.

Contents

The council has been under Conservative majority control since 2005. It is based at Shirehall in Shrewsbury.

History

Elected county councils were established in 1889 under the Local Government Act 1888, taking over administrative functions that had previously been performed by unelected magistrates at the quarter sessions. The first elections were held in January 1889 and the county council formally came into being on 1 April 1889. On that day it held its first official meeting at the Shirehall in Shrewsbury, the courthouse (built 1837) which had served as the meeting place for the quarter sessions. The first chairman was Alfred Salwey of Overton, who had also been chairman of the quarter sessions for some years prior to the creation of the county council. [4] [5]

Old Shirehall, Shrewsbury: Council's headquarters 1889-1966 Old Shirehall Shrewsbury.jpg
Old Shirehall, Shrewsbury: Council's headquarters 1889–1966

The 1888 Act which created county councils did not specify the names of the counties. As Shropshire was also known as Salop, the names 'Shropshire County Council' and 'Salop County Council' were used interchangeably in the council's early years. [6] [7] The council chose to adopt an official seal inscribed in Latin rather than English: Concilii comitatus Salopiensis sigilum commune. [8] The county's legal name was confirmed as being Salop by the Local Government Act 1933. [9]

Local government was reformed in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, which saw Salop designated as a non-metropolitan county. The lower tier of local government was reorganised as part of the same reforms. Prior to 1974 the lower tier had comprised numerous boroughs, urban districts and rural districts. They were replaced by six non-metropolitan districts: Bridgnorth, North Shropshire, Oswestry, Shrewsbury and Atcham, South Shropshire and The Wrekin. The county's legal name remained Salop, although two of the districts included 'Shropshire' in their names. [10]

Logo used until 2009 Shropshire County Council.svg
Logo used until 2009

The council changed the county's legal name from Salop to Shropshire with effect from 1 April 1980, after which the council was called Shropshire County Council. [11] [12]

In 1998, following the recommendations of the Local Government Commission, The Wrekin district was removed from the non-metropolitan county of Shropshire, with its council becoming a unitary authority, independent from the county council. The district council chose to rename the district 'Telford and Wrekin' at the same time. [11]

The ceremonial county and unitary authorities from 1 April 2009; the larger "Shropshire" unitary authority (1) and Telford and Wrekin (2) Shropshire numbered districts.svg
The ceremonial county and unitary authorities from 1 April 2009; the larger "Shropshire" unitary authority (1) and Telford and Wrekin (2)

In 2006 the government published a white paper which encouraged more unitary authorities to be established, particularly in counties with small populations. This started the process which culminated in the 2009 structural changes to local government in England. [13]

Shropshire County Council, supported by South Shropshire District Council and Oswestry Borough Council, proposed to the government that the non-metropolitan county of Shropshire should become a single unitary authority. This was opposed by the other three districts in the county. Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council took legal action challenging the government's decision to proceed with the reorganisation, but was unsuccessful. [14]

Shropshire County Council became a unitary authority with effect from 1 April 2009. The way the changes were implemented was that the five remaining districts in the non-metropolitan county were abolished and merged into a single district called Shropshire, but with there being no separate district council. Instead, the existing county council also took on the functions that legislation assigns to district councils. The county council was given the option of omitting the word 'county' from its name as part of the reforms, which it took, becoming 'Shropshire Council'. [15]

Governance

As a unitary authority, Shropshire Council provides both county-level and district-level functions. The whole county is also covered by civil parishes, which form a second tier of local government. [16]

Political control

The council has been under Conservative majority control since 2005.

Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms has been as follows: [17] [18] [19]

Upper-tier county council

Party in controlYears
No overall control 1974–2005
Conservative 2005–2009

Unitary authority

Party in controlYears
Conservative 2009–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2009 have been: [20]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Malcolm Pate Conservative 18 Jun 2009
Keith Barrow [21] Conservative 18 Jun 20094 Dec 2015
Malcolm Pate Conservative 17 Dec 201518 May 2017
Peter Nutting Conservative 18 May 20179 May 2021
Lezley Picton Conservative 20 May 2021

Composition

Following the 2021 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to July 2024, the composition of the council was: [22]

PartyCouncillors
Conservative 39
Liberal Democrats 18
Labour 10
Green 4
Independent 3
Total:74

The next election is due in May 2025. [23]

Elections

The 63 electoral divisions of Shropshire Shropshire Council UK ward map 2010 (blank).svg
The 63 electoral divisions of Shropshire

Since the last full review of boundaries in 2013, the council has comprised 74 councillors representing 63 electoral divisions, with each division electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years. [24] New boundaries have been drawn up to come into effect from the 2025 election. [25]

Premises

The council is based at the Shirehall on Abbey Foregate in Shrewsbury, which was purpose-built for the council and opened in 1966. Prior to 1966 the council was based at the Old Shirehall in Shrewsbury, which was subsequently demolished. [26] The council has announced its intention to vacate Shirehall. A move to a proposed new development on the banks of the River Severn in central Shrewsbury is being considered as at 2024. [27]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shropshire</span> County in England

Shropshire is a ceremonial county in the West Midlands of England, on the border with Wales. It is bordered by Cheshire to the north, the Welsh county of Wrexham to the north and northwest, Staffordshire to the east, Worcestershire to the southeast, Herefordshire to the south, and the Welsh county of Powys to the west. The largest settlement is Telford, while Shrewsbury is the county town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telford and Wrekin</span> Borough in Shropshire, England

Telford and Wrekin is a borough and unitary authority in Shropshire, England. In 1974, a non-metropolitan district of Shropshire was created called the Wrekin, named after a prominent hill to the west of Telford. In 1998, the district became a unitary authority and was renamed "Telford and Wrekin", which remains part of the Shropshire ceremonial county and shares institutions such as the Fire and Rescue Service and Community Health with the rest the county.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shrewsbury and Atcham</span> Former non-metropolitan district in England

Shrewsbury and Atcham was a local government district with borough status in Shropshire, England, between 1974 and 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Counties of England</span> Geographic divisions of England

The counties of England are a type of subdivision of England. Counties have been used as administrative areas in England since Anglo-Saxon times. There are three definitions of county in England: the 48 ceremonial counties used for the purposes of lieutenancy; the 84 metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties for local government; and the 39 historic counties which were used for administration until 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Shropshire</span> Local government district in England

North Shropshire was a local government district in Shropshire, England from 1974 to 2009. The district council was based at Edinburgh House in Wem. Other settlements included the towns of Ellesmere, Market Drayton and Whitchurch, as well as the large villages of Shawbury and Baschurch. The district bordered onto Wales, Cheshire and Staffordshire as well as the Shropshire districts of Oswestry, Shrewsbury and Atcham and the unitary Telford and Wrekin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridgnorth District</span>

Bridgnorth District was a local government district in Shropshire, England, from 1974 to 2009. Its council was based in the town of Bridgnorth. The district also included the towns of Much Wenlock, Shifnal and Broseley and the villages of Albrighton and Sheriffhales, as well as RAF Cosford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Non-metropolitan county</span> County-level entity in England

A non-metropolitan county, or colloquially, shire county, is a subdivision of England used for local government.

<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">The Wrekin (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1918 onwards

The Wrekin is a constituency in the House of Commons of the British Parliament, located in the county of Shropshire in the West Midlands of England. It has existed continuously since its creation by the Representation of the People Act 1918, and is named after a prominent landmark hill in the area, The Wrekin. It has been represented by the Labour and Conservative parties since the 1920s, a post held since 2005 by Conservative MP Mark Pritchard.

Telford and Wrekin Council elections are held every four years. Telford and Wrekin Council is the local authority for the unitary authority of Telford and Wrekin in the ceremonial county of Shropshire, England. Until 1 April 1998 it was a non-metropolitan district. Since the last boundary changes in 2023, 54 councillors have been elected from 32 wards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lancashire County Council</span> British administrative authority

Lancashire County Council is the upper-tier local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Lancashire, England. The non-metropolitan county of Lancashire is smaller than the ceremonial county, which additionally includes Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool. The council is based in County Hall, Preston, and consists of 84 councillors.

<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">Herefordshire Council</span> Unitary local government authority for the county of Herefordshire in England

Herefordshire Council is the local authority for the county of Herefordshire in England. It is a unitary authority, combining the powers of a district and county council.

<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">Unitary authorities of England</span> Local government in some parts of England

The unitary authorities of England are a type of local authority responsible for all local government services in an area. They combine the functions of a non-metropolitan county council and a non-metropolitan district council, which elsewhere in England provide two tiers of local government.

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

Wiltshire Council, known between 1889 and 2009 as Wiltshire County Council, is the local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Wiltshire in South West England. Since 2009 it has been a unitary authority, being a county council which also performs the functions of a district council. The non-metropolitan county is smaller than the ceremonial county, the latter additionally including Swindon. Wiltshire Council has been controlled by the Conservative Party since 2000, and has its headquarters at County Hall in Trowbridge.

Shropshire Council elections are held every four years, and since 2009 74 councillors have been elected from 63 electoral divisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telford and Wrekin Council</span> English unitary authority council in the West Midlands

Telford and Wrekin Council is the local authority of Telford and Wrekin in the ceremonial county of Shropshire, England. It was founded in 1974 as The Wrekin District Council, and was a lower-tier district council until 1998. The district was renamed Telford and Wrekin in 1998 when the council became a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council. It is independent from Shropshire Council, the unitary authority which administers the rest of the county.

References

  1. 1 2 "Council minutes, 20 May 2021" (PDF). Shropshire Council. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  2. ↑ Robertson, Dominic (24 September 2020). "New council chief 'humbled' to take on role". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  3. ↑ "Your Councillors". shropshire.gov.uk. 14 June 2021.
  4. ↑ "Shropshire County Council". Shrewsbury Chronicle. 5 April 1889. p. 6. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  5. ↑ "Death of Mr A. Salwey, J.P., first chairman of the Salop County Council". Wellington Journal and Shrewsbury News. 16 August 1902. p. 12. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  6. ↑ "No. 26023". The London Gazette . 14 February 1890. p. 807.
  7. ↑ "No. 27197". The London Gazette . 29 May 1900. p. 3437.
  8. ↑ "Seal of the Shropshire County Council". Wellington Journal and Shrewsbury News. 23 March 1889. p. 5. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  9. ↑ "Local Government Act 1933", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1933 c. 51, retrieved 18 July 2024
  10. ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 18 July 2024
  11. 1 2 "The County". Shropshire History. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  12. ↑ Alteration of Areas and Status of Local Authorities 1980–1982 (PDF). London: Department of the Environment. 1982. p. 17. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  13. ↑ "Strong and prosperous communities: The Local Government white paper" (PDF). gov.uk. Department for Communities and Local Government. October 2006. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  14. ↑ "Councils lose unitary appeal". Shropshire Star. 4 March 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  15. ↑ "The Local Government (Structural Changes) (Miscellaneous Amendments and Other Provision) Order 2009: Article 5", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2009/837 (art. 5), retrieved 18 July 2024
  16. ↑ "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  17. ↑ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  18. ↑ "Local election results: Shropshire". BBC Online . Retrieved 8 June 2008.
  19. ↑ "Shropshire". BBC News Online . 19 April 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  20. ↑ "Council minutes". Shropshire Council. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  21. ↑ "Keith Barrow quits as leader of Shropshire Council". Shropshire Star. 4 December 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  22. ↑ "Your councillors by party". Shropshire Council. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  23. ↑ "Shropshire". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  24. ↑ "The County of Shropshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2009", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2009/529, retrieved 18 July 2024
  25. ↑ "The Shropshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2024", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2024/123, retrieved 18 July 2024
  26. ↑ Newman, John; Pevsner, Nikolaus; Watson, Gavin (1958). Shropshire. Yale University Press. p. 77. ISBN   978-0300096422.
  27. ↑ Sheridan, Mike (25 March 2024). "Running costs revealed for 'failed' 60s council HQ". BBC News. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
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.