Slough Borough Council

Last updated

Slough Borough Council
Slough Borough Council.svg
Type
Type
Leadership
Balwinder Dhillon,
Conservative
since 16 May 2024 [1]
Dexter Smith,
Conservative
since 18 May 2023
Chief Executive (interim)
Will Tuckley
since 15 April 2024 [2]
Structure
Seats42 councillors
Political groups
Administration (20)
  Conservative (20)
Other parties (22)
  Labour (11)
  Independent (8)
  Liberal Democrats (3)
Length of term
Whole council elected every four years
Elections
Plurality-at-large
Last election
 4 May 2023
Next election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
Observatory House, 25 Windsor Road, Slough.jpg
Observatory House, 25 Winsdor Road, Slough, SL1 2EL
Website
www.slough.gov.uk

Slough Borough Council is the local authority for the Borough of Slough in Berkshire, England. Slough has had an elected council since 1863, 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.

Contents

The council has been under no overall control since 2023, being led by a Conservative minority administration. It is based at Observatory House in the town centre.

History

Slough's first local authority was a local board, established in 1863. [3] Such boards were reconstituted as urban district councils in 1894. The urban district boundaries were enlarged several times, notably in 1930 when it absorbed areas including Langley and Cippenham. [4]

Slough Town Hall, Bath Road: Council's headquarters 1937-2011 Old Town Hall, 19 Bath Road, Slough.jpg
Slough Town Hall, Bath Road: Council's headquarters 1937–2011

In 1938 the urban district was incorporated to become a municipal borough. It was then governed by a body formally called the 'mayor, aldermen and burgesses of the borough of Slough', generally known as the corporation, town council or borough council. [5]

The municipal borough was abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. It was replaced by a slightly larger non-metropolitan district of Slough, which covered the old borough plus the Britwell and Wexham Court areas, and was transferred from Buckinghamshire to Berkshire. [6] Slough's borough status was transferred to the new district, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor, continuing Slough's series of mayors dating back to 1938. [7]

From 1974 until 1998, Slough Borough Council was a lower-tier authority, with Berkshire County Council providing county-level services in the borough. The borough was enlarged in 1995 to take in Colnbrook with Poyle. [8]

Berkshire County Council was abolished in 1998. Slough Borough Council then became a unitary authority, taking over the former county council's functions in the borough. [9]

Governance

As a unitary authority, Slough Borough Council provides both district-level and county-level functions. There are three civil parishes in the borough at Britwell, Colnbrook with Poyle, and Wexham Court, which form an additional tier of local government for their area. The rest of the borough is unparished. [10]

Political control

Since the 2023 election the council has been under no overall control, being led by the Conservatives with support from the Liberal Democrats. [11]

Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms has been as follows: [12]

Lower-tier non-metropolitan district

Party in controlYears
Labour 1974–1976
Conservative 1976–1983
Labour 1983–1998

Unitary authority

Party in controlYears
Labour 1998–2004
No overall control 2004–2008
Labour 2008–2023
No overall control 2023–present

Leadership

The role of Mayor of Slough is largely ceremonial. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1997 have been: [13]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Geoff Cutting Labour 17 May 1997
John Connolly Labour 20 May 1999Jun 2001
Rob Anderson [14] Labour Jun 2001Jun 2004
Richard Stokes Liberal 6 Jul 200415 May 2008
Rob Anderson [15] Labour 15 May 20086 Jun 2016
Sohail Munawar [16] Labour 6 Jun 201628 Nov 2017
James Swindlehurst Labour 28 Nov 20177 May 2023
Dexter Smith Conservative 18 May 2023

Composition

Following the 2023 election and subsequent changes of allegiance up to June 2024, the composition of the council was: [17] [18]

PartyCouncillors
Conservative 20
Labour 11
Independent 8
Liberal Democrats 3
Green 1
Total27

Of the eight independent councillors, seven sit together as the 'Slough Independent Group'. The next election is due in May 2027. [18]

Bankruptcy (2021)

On 2 July 2021, Slough Borough Council issued a notice under Section 114 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, having the effect of preventing any new expenditure on non-statutory services, after serious financial problems had been identified. [19] In October 2021, the government announced plans to appoint external commissioners to help run the council after a series of reports highlighted major problems at the local authority. [20] [21] [22]

Elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2023, the council has comprised 42 councillors representing 21 wards, with each ward electing two councillors. Elections are held every four years. [23]

Premises

The council is based at Observatory House at 25 Windsor Road in the town centre. It was built in the 1990s as commercial offices. The council bought the building in July 2018 for a reported £41.3 million and converted it to become their offices and meeting place, with the first council meetings in the building being held in September 2019. [24] [25]

The council was previously based at Slough Town Hall at 19 Bath Road, which was built in 1937 and served as the council's headquarters until 2011. The council was then temporarily based at St Martin's Place at 51 Bath Road from 2011 to 2019, holding meetings at various venues in the town whilst looking for a new home closer to the town centre. [26] [27]

Related Research Articles

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

Slough is a town in Berkshire, England, in the Thames Valley 20 miles (32 km) west of central London and 19 miles (31 km) north-east of Reading, at the intersection of the M4, M40 and M25 motorways. It is part of the historic county of Buckinghamshire. In 2021 Census, the population of the town was 143,184. In 2021, the wider Borough of Slough had a population of 158,500. Slough borders the ceremonial counties of Greater London and Buckinghamshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Britwell</span> Human settlement in England

Britwell is a residential housing estate and civil parish in the north west of Slough, Berkshire, South East England. It is about 23 miles (37 km) west of Charing Cross, the centremost point of London.

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

Colnbrook is a village in the Slough district in Berkshire, England. It lies within the historic boundaries of Buckinghamshire, and straddles two distributaries of the Colne, the Colne Brook and Wraysbury River. These two streams have their confluence just to the southeast of the village. Colnbrook is centred 3 miles (4.8 km) southeast of the Slough town centre, 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Windsor, and 19 miles (31 km) west of central London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead</span> Borough and unitary authority in Berkshire, England

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is a royal borough and unitary authority in Berkshire, South East England. While it is named after both the towns of Maidenhead and Windsor, the borough also covers the nearby towns of Ascot and Eton. It is home to Windsor Castle, Eton College, Legoland Windsor and Ascot Racecourse. It is one of four boroughs entitled to be prefixed Royal and is one of six unitary authorities in the county, which has historic and ceremonial status.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poyle</span> Human settlement in England

Poyle is a largely industrial and agricultural area in the unitary authority of Slough, in the ceremonial county of Berkshire, England. It is located 18.5 miles (30 km) west of Charing Cross in London and immediately west of the M25 motorway, near Heathrow Airport; it also adjoins the Colne Valley regional park.

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

Slough is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament by Tan Dhesi, a member of the Labour Party, since the 2017 UK general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windsor (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliament constituency in the United Kingdom 1801–1974 and 1997 onwards

Windsor (/ˈwɪnzə/) is a constituency in Berkshire, currently represented by Jack Rankin of the Conservative Party. It was re-created for the 1997 general election after it was abolished following the 1970 general election and replaced by the Windsor and Maidenhead constituency.

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

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.

Colnbrook with Poyle is a civil parish in the borough of Slough in Berkshire, England. Located approximately 17 miles (27 km) west of central London and adjacent to the Greater London boundary, it is an urbanised parish with some industrial development and open land. The local council is Colnbrook with Poyle Parish Council. The parish was created on 1 April 1995 as an amalgamation of Colnbrook from the parish of Iver with Poyle from an unparished area. At the 2001 census it had a population of 5,426.

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

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.

Elections to Slough Borough Council were held on 4 May 2006. One third of the council was up for election. This was the 121st Slough general local authority election since Slough became a local government unit in 1863.

Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council is the local authority for the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, which is a unitary authority in Berkshire, England. Until 1 April 1998 it was a non-metropolitan district. Elections are held every four years. Since the last boundary changes in 2019 there have been 41 councillors elected from 19 wards.

An election to Slough Borough Council was held on 10 June 2004. The whole council was up for election. This was the 120th Slough general local authority election, since Slough became a local government unit in 1863, including both whole Council elections and elections by thirds.

Elections to the Borough Council in Slough, England, were held on 3 May 2007. One third of the council was up for election. This was the 122nd Slough general local authority election since Slough became a local government unit in 1863.

Slough is a town and unitary authority in the English county of Berkshire, just to the west of Greater London. Until 1974 the town was in Buckinghamshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wokingham Borough Council</span> Local authority of the Borough of Wokingham

Wokingham Borough Council is the local authority of the Borough of Wokingham in Berkshire, England. 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">Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council</span>

Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council is the local authority of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is a unitary authority, having the powers of a non-metropolitan county and district council combined. Windsor and Maidenhead is divided into 19 wards, electing 41 councillors. The council was created by the Local Government Act 1972 and replaced six local authorities: Cookham Rural District Council, Eton Urban District Council, Eton Rural District Council, Maidenhead Borough Council, New Windsor Borough Council and Windsor Rural District Council. Since 1 April 1998 it has been a unitary authority, assuming the powers and functions of Berkshire County Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borough of Slough</span> Borough and unitary authority in England

The Borough of Slough is a unitary authority with borough status in the ceremonial county of Berkshire, Southern England. The borough is centred around the town of Slough and includes Langley. It forms an urban area with parts of Buckinghamshire and extends to the villages of Burnham, Farnham Royal, George Green, and Iver. Part of the district's area was in Buckinghamshire prior to the district's formation and in Middlesex until 1965.

References

  1. ↑ Clark, Nick; Gudge, Ethan (21 May 2024). "Town elects new mayor despite behaviour concerns". BBC News. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  2. ↑ Kidd, Jade (25 March 2024). "Slough council announces appointment of interim chief executive". Maidenhead Advertiser. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  3. ↑ "No. 22753". The London Gazette . 14 July 1863. p. 3517.
  4. ↑ "Slough Civil Parish". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  5. ↑ "Slough Urban District / Municipal Borough". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  6. ↑ "The English Non-Metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 18 July 2024
  7. ↑ "District Councils and Boroughs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . 28 March 1974. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  8. ↑ "The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Surrey (County Boundaries) Order 1994", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1994/330
  9. ↑ "The Berkshire (Structural Change) Order 1996", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1996/1879, retrieved 31 May 2023
  10. ↑ "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  11. ↑ Waites, Daisy (25 May 2023). "Slough: Labour slam 'chaotic' coalition after all male leaders elected". Slough Observer. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  12. ↑ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  13. ↑ "Council minutes". Slough Borough Council. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  14. ↑ "Councillor Robert Anderson". Slough Borough Council. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  15. ↑ "Slough Borough Council leader Rob Anderson resigns". BBC News. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  16. ↑ Hockaday, James (29 November 2017). "New leader of Slough Borough Council chosen after Sohail Munawar reigns". Maidenhead Advetiser. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  17. ↑ "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
  18. 1 2 "Slough". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  19. ↑ Bottomley, Shay (2 July 2021). "Slough Borough Council bans new spending after Section 114 notice". Slough Express. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  20. ↑ "'Dysfunctional' Slough council placed under government supervision". BBC News. 26 October 2021.
  21. ↑ Rees, Tom (26 October 2021). "Labour-controlled council taken over after property bets leave £100m black hole". The Telegraph.
  22. ↑ "LocalGov.co.uk - Your authority on UK local government - Commissioners to monitor Slough improvement plan". 26 October 2021.
  23. ↑ "The Slough (Electoral Changes) Order 2023", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2023/203, retrieved 18 July 2024
  24. ↑ Hockaday, James (2 November 2018). "More than £41m spent on new Slough Borough Council headquarters". Maidenhead Advetiser. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  25. ↑ "Health Scrutiny Panel, 10 September 2019". Slough Borough Council. 10 September 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  26. ↑ "Slough Town Hall: Official opening ceremony by Mrs A. G. Trevener". Middlesex Advertiser and County Gazette. Uxbridge. 2 April 1937. p. 4. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  27. ↑ "School chosen for Slough Town Hall site". BBC. 17 March 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
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