Borough status is granted by royal charter to local government districts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The status is purely honorary, and does not give any additional powers to the council or inhabitants of the district. In Scotland, similarly chartered communities were known as royal burghs, although the status is no longer granted.
Origins of borough status
Until the local government reforms of 1973 and 1974, boroughs were towns possessing charters of incorporation conferring considerable powers, and were governed by a municipal corporation headed by a mayor. The corporations had been reformed by legislation beginning in 1835 (1840 in Ireland). By the time of their abolition there were three types:
- County boroughs
- Municipal or non-county boroughs
- Rural boroughs
Many of the older boroughs could trace their origin to medieval charters or were boroughs by prescription, with Saxon origins. Most of the boroughs created after 1835 were new industrial, resort or suburban towns that had grown up after the industrial revolution. Borough corporations could also have the status of a city.
For pre-1974 boroughs, see Municipal Corporations Act 1835, Boroughs incorporated in England and Wales 1835–1882, Unreformed boroughs in England and Wales 1835–1886, Boroughs incorporated in England and Wales 1882–1974, Municipal Corporations (Ireland) Act 1840
Modern borough status
England and Wales
Borough status no longer implies a town or urban area. Outside Greater London, borough status is granted to metropolitan and non-metropolitan districts under the provisions of section 245 of the Local Government Act 1972. This section allows the council of a district to petition the monarch for a charter granting borough status. The resolution must have the support of at least two-thirds of the councillors. Having received the petition the monarch may, on the advice of the Privy Council, grant a charter whereupon:
- The district becomes a borough
- The district council becomes the borough council
- The chairman and vice-chairman become entitled to the style mayor and deputy mayor of the borough, except in councils that have an elected mayor under the Local Government Act 2000.
Charters granted under the 1972 Act may allow the borough council to appoint "local officers of dignity" previously appointed by an abolished borough corporation. Examples include:
- Honorary recorder: some borough and city councils have the right to appoint a circuit judge or recorder appointed under the Courts Act 1971 as honorary recorder. Usually this is the senior judge in the council's area.
- Sheriff: These are appointed in a number of boroughs and cities that were formerly counties corporate.
- High steward: originally a judicial office, often held by a peer, now entirely ceremonial.
There is no obligation on the council to appoint persons to these positions.
In some boroughs the mayor has the additional title as "Admiral of the Port", recalling an historic jurisdiction. The lord mayors of Chester and Kingston-upon-Hull are admirals of the Dee and the Humber respectively, the Mayor of Medway is Admiral of the River Medway, and the mayors of Poole and Southampton are admirals of those ports.[1][2][3][4][5]
Privileges or rights belonging to citizens or burgesses of a former borough can be transferred to the inhabitants of the new borough.
Borough councils are permitted to pass a resolution admitting "persons of distinction" and persons who have "rendered eminent service" to be an honorary freeman of the borough. This power has been used to grant honorary freedom not only to individuals, but to units and ships of the armed forces.
England
Borough charters granted under section 245 of the Local Government Act 1972 to metropolitan and non-metropolitan districts of England
| District | Year of charter | Previous boroughs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allerdale | 4 June 1992[6] | Workington (1883) | Charter trustees for Workington had existed 1974 to 1982. Abolished 2023. |
| Amber Valley | 17 May 1989[7] | None | |
| Ashford | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Tenterden (reformed 1835) | Tenterden formed a town council in 1974 |
| Barnsley | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Barnsley (1869) | |
| Barrow-in-Furness | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Barrow-in-Furness (1867) | Abolished 2023 |
| Basildon | 26 October 2010[10][11] | None | |
| Basingstoke and Deane | 20 January 1978[12] | Basingstoke (reformed 1835) | Basingstoke had charter trustees 1974–1978 |
| Bath | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Bath (reformed 1835) | Abolished 1996 |
| Bedford | See North Bedfordshire | ||
| Berwick-upon-Tweed | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Berwick-upon-Tweed (reformed 1835) | Abolished in April 2009. Civic functions transferred to Berwick-upon-Tweed Town Council.[13] |
| Beverley | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Beverley (reformed 1835) | Renamed East Yorkshire Borough of Beverley 1981. Abolished 1996. |
| Birmingham | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Birmingham (1838), Sutton Coldfield (1885)[14] | |
| Blackburn | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Blackburn (1851), Darwen (1878) | Renamed Blackburn with Darwen 1997 |
| Blackpool | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Blackpool (1876) | |
| Blyth Valley | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Blyth (1922) | Abolished in April 2009.[13] |
| Bolton | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Bolton (1838) | |
| Boothferry | 28 April 1978[15] | Goole (1933) | Goole had charter trustees 1974–1978. Abolished 1996. |
| Boston | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Boston (reformed 1835) | |
| Bournemouth | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Bournemouth (1890) | Abolished April 2019 |
| Bracknell Forest | 27 April 1988[16] | None | |
| Bradford | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Bradford (1847) | |
| Brentwood | 10 March 1993[17] | None | |
| Brighton | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Brighton (1854) | Abolished 1997. |
| Brighton & Hove | 1 April 1997[18] (granted city status in 2000) | Formed from Brighton, Hove districts | |
| Bristol | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Bristol (reformed 1835) | |
| Broxbourne | 1 April 1974[8][9] | None | |
| Broxtowe | 10 November 1977[12] | None | |
| Burnley | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Burnley (1861) | |
| Bury | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Bury (1876) | |
| Calderdale | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Halifax (1848), Brighouse (1893), Todmorden (1896) | |
| Cambridge | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Cambridge (reformed 1835) | |
| Canterbury | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Canterbury (reformed 1835) | |
| Carlisle | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Carlisle (reformed 1835) | Abolished 2023 |
| Castle Morpeth | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Morpeth (reformed 1835) | Abolished in April 2009.[13][19] |
| Castle Point | 1992[20] | None | |
| Charnwood | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Loughborough (1888) | |
| Chelmsford | 10 November 1977[12] | Chelmsford (1888) | Chelmsford had charter trustees 1974–1977
Granted city status in 2012 |
| Cheltenham | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Cheltenham (1876) | |
| Cheshire East | 1 April 2009[21] [22] | Congleton, Crewe and Nantwich, Macclesfield | Created April 2009 |
| Cheshire West and Chester | 1 April 2009[21] [22] | Chester, Ellesmere Port and Neston, Vale Royal | Created April 2009 |
| Chester | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Chester (reformed 1835) | Abolished April 2009 |
| Chesterfield | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Chesterfield (reformed 1835) | |
| Chorley | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Chorley (1881) | |
| Christchurch | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Christchurch (reformed 1886) | Abolished April 2019 |
| Cleethorpes | 11 September 1975[23] | Cleethorpes (1936) | Cleethorpes had charter trustees 1974–1975. Borough abolished 1996 |
| Colchester | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Colchester (reformed 1835) | Granted city status in 2022 |
| Congleton | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Congleton (reformed 1835) | Abolished April 2009 |
| Copeland | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Whitehaven (1894) | Abolished 2023 |
| Corby | 28 October 1992[17] | None | Abolished April 2021 |
| Coventry | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Coventry (reformed 1835) | |
| Crawley | 1 April 1974[8][9] | None | |
| Crewe and Nantwich | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Crewe (1877) | Abolished April 2009 |
| Dacorum | 10 October 1984[24] | Hemel Hempstead (1898) | Hemel Hempstead had charter trustees 1974–1984 |
| Darlington | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Darlington (1867) | |
| Dartford | 22 April 1977[25] | Dartford (1933) | Dartford had charter trustees 1974–1977 |
| Derby | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status in 1977) | Derby (reformed 1835) | |
| Doncaster | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Doncaster (reformed 1835) | Granted city status in 2022 |
| Dudley | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Dudley (1865), Stourbridge (1914), Halesowen (1936) | |
| Durham | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Durham and Framwellgate (reformed 1835) | Abolished April 2009. Charter Trustees established.[26] |
| East Staffordshire | 11 May 1992[17] | Burton upon Trent (1878) | Charter trustees for Burton functioned 1974–1992. They were formally abolished in 2003. |
| East Yorkshire | See North Wolds | ||
| East Yorkshire Borough of Beverley | See Beverley | ||
| Eastbourne | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Eastbourne (1883) | |
| Eastleigh | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Eastleigh (1936) | |
| Ellesmere Port | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Ellesmere Port (1955) | renamed Ellesmere Port and Neston 1976. Abolished April 2009. |
| Elmbridge | 1 April 1974[8][9] | None | |
| Epsom and Ewell | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Epsom and Ewell (1937) | |
| Erewash | 28 June 1974[27] | Ilkeston (1887) | Ilkeston had charter trustees April–June 1974 |
| Exeter | 1 April 1974[8][9](and city status) | Exeter (reformed 1835) | |
| Fareham | 1 April 1974[8][9] | None | |
| Fylde | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Lytham St. Annes (1922) | |
| Gateshead | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Gateshead (reformed 1835) | |
| Gedling | 1 April 1974[8][9] | None | |
| Gillingham | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Gillingham (1903) | Abolished 1996 |
| Glanford | 1 April 1974[8][9] | None | Abolished 1996 |
| Gloucester | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Gloucester (reformed 1835) | |
| Gosport | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Gosport (1922) | |
| Gravesham | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Gravesend (reformed 1835) | |
| Great Yarmouth | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Great Yarmouth (reformed 1835) | |
| Grimsby | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Grimsby (reformed 1835) | Renamed Great Grimsby 1979, abolished 1996. |
| Guildford | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Guildford (reformed 1835) | |
| Halton | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Widnes (1892) | |
| Harrogate | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Harrogate (1884) | Abolished 2023 |
| Hartlepool | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Hartlepool formed 1967 from Hartlepool (1850), West Hartlepool (1887) | |
| Hastings | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Hastings (reformed 1835) | |
| Havant | 1 April 1974[8][9] | None | |
| Hereford | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Hereford (reformed 1835) | Abolished 1998 |
| Hertsmere | 15 April 1977[25] | None | |
| High Peak | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Glossop (1866), Buxton (1917) | |
| Hinckley and Bosworth | 1 April 1974[8][9] | None | |
| Holderness | 21 June 1977[28] | Hedon (1861) (formed a town council in 1974) | Abolished 1996 |
| Hove | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Hove (1898) | Abolished 1997 |
| Hyndburn | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Accrington (1878) | |
| Ipswich | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Ipswich (reformed 1835) | |
| Kettering | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Kettering (1938) | Abolished April 2021 |
| King's Lynn and West Norfolk | See West Norfolk | ||
| Kingston upon Hull | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Kingston upon Hull (reformed 1835) | |
| Kingswood | 20 May 1987[7] | None | Abolished 1996 |
| Kirklees | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Dewsbury (1862), Huddersfield (1868), Batley (1868), Spenborough (1955) | |
| Knowsley | 1 April 1974[8][9] | None | |
| Lancaster | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Lancaster (reformed 1835) | |
| Langbaurgh | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Formed from part of Teesside county borough, created in 1967, and including Redcar (incorporated in 1921) | Renamed Langbaurgh on Tees 1988 Renamed Redcar and Cleveland 1996 |
| Leeds | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Leeds (reformed 1835), Pudsey (1889) | |
| Leicester | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Leicester (reformed 1835) | |
| Lincoln | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Lincoln (reformed 1835) | |
| Liverpool | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Liverpool (reformed 1835) | |
| Luton | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Luton (1876) | |
| Macclesfield | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Macclesfield (reformed 1835) | Abolished April 2009 |
| Maidstone | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Maidstone (reformed 1835) | |
| Manchester | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Manchester (1838) | |
| Medina | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Newport (reformed 1835), Ryde (1868) | Abolished 1995 |
| Medway (1) | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Rochester (reformed 1835), Chatham (1890) | Renamed Rochester-upon-Medway 1979, and awarded city status. Abolished 1998 |
| Medway (2) | 1998 | From Rochester upon Medway, Gillingham boroughs (q.v.) | |
| Melton | 1 April 1974[8][9] | None | |
| Middlesbrough | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Formed from part of Teesside county borough, created in 1967, and including Middlesbrough (incorporated in 1853) | |
| Milton Keynes | 1 April 1974[8][9] | None | Granted city status in 2022 |
| Newcastle-under-Lyme | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Newcastle-under-Lyme (reformed 1835) | |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Newcastle upon Tyne (reformed 1835) | |
| Northampton[29] | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Northampton (reformed 1835) | Abolished April 2021. Mayoralty continued by Northampton Town Council |
| North Bedfordshire | 1975 | Bedford (reformed 1835) | Renamed Bedford 1992 |
| North East Lincolnshire | 23 August 1996[30] | From Cleethorpes, Great Grimsby boroughs (q.v.) | Both former boroughs formed charter trustees |
| North Lincolnshire | 16 December 1996[30] | Formed from Boothferry, Glanford, and Scunthorpe boroughs (q.v.) | Scunthorpe's mayoralty is continued by charter trustees |
| North Tyneside | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Tynemouth (1849), Wallsend (1901) | |
| North Warwickshire | 1 April 1974[8][9] | None | |
| North Wolds | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Bridlington (1899) | Renamed East Yorkshire 1981. Abolished 1996 |
| Norwich | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Norwich (reformed 1835) | |
| Nottingham | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Nottingham (reformed 1835) | |
| Nuneaton | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Nuneaton (1907) | Renamed Nuneaton and Bedworth 1980 |
| Oadby and Wigston | 1 April 1974[8][9] | None | |
| Oldham | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Oldham (1849) | |
| Oswestry | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Oswestry Rural Borough (reformed 1835) | Abolished in April 2009. |
| Oxford | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Oxford (reformed 1835) | |
| Pendle | 15 September 1976[23] | Nelson (1890), Colne (1895) | |
| Peterborough | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Peterborough (1874) | |
| Plymouth | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Plymouth (reformed 1835) | |
| Poole | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Poole (reformed 1835) | Abolished April 2019 |
| Portsmouth | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Portsmouth (reformed 1835) | |
| Preston | 1 April 1974[8][9] (granted city status in 2002) | Preston (reformed 1835) | |
| Reading | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Reading (reformed 1835) | |
| Redcar and Cleveland | See Langbaurgh | ||
| Redditch | 15 May 1980[31] | None | |
| Reigate and Banstead | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Reigate (reformed (1863) | |
| Restormel | 1 April 1974[8][9] | St. Austell with Fowey (formed 1968, including Fowey 1913) | Abolished in April 2009. |
| Ribble Valley | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Clitheroe (reformed 1835) | |
| Rochdale | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Rochdale (1856), Heywood (1881), Middleton (1886) | |
| Rochester upon Medway | See Medway (1) | ||
| Rossendale | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Bacup (1882), Haslingden (1891), Rawtenstall (1891) | |
| Rotherham | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Rotherham, (1871) | |
| Rugby | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Rugby (1932) | |
| Runnymede | 20 January 1978[12] | None | |
| Rushcliffe | 1 April 1974[8][9] | None | |
| Rushmoor | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Aldershot (1922) | |
| St Albans | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | St Albans (reformed 1835) | |
| St Edmundsbury | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Bury St Edmunds (reformed 1835) | Abolished April 2019 |
| St Helens | 1 April 1974[8][9] | St Helens (1868) | |
| Salford | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Salford (1844), Eccles (1892), Swinton and Pendlebury (1934) | |
| Sandwell | 1 April 1974[8][9] | West Bromwich (1882), including since 1966 the former boroughs of Tipton (1938) and Wednesbury (1886);[32] Warley (1966), including the former boroughs of Smethwick (1899), Rowley Regis (1933), and Oldbury (1935) | |
| Scarborough | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Scarborough (reformed 1835) | Abolished 2023 |
| Scunthorpe | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Scunthorpe (1936) | Abolished 1996 |
| Sedgefield | 17 October 1996[30] | None | Abolished April 2009. Mayoralty continued by Sedgefield Town Council[26] |
| Sefton | 17 April 1975 | Southport (1866), Bootle (1868), Crosby (1937) | All three towns formed charter trustees 1974–1975 |
| Sheffield | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Sheffield (1843) | |
| Shrewsbury and Atcham | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Shrewsbury (reformed 1835) | Abolished in April 2009.[33] |
| Slough | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Slough (1938) | |
| Solihull | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Solihull (1954) | |
| Southampton | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Southampton (reformed 1835) | |
| Southend-on-Sea | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Southend-on-Sea (1892) | Granted city status in 2022 |
| South Ribble | 1 April 1974[8][9] | None | |
| South Tyneside | 1 April 1974[8][9] | South Shields (1850), Jarrow (1875) | |
| South Wight | 1974? | None | Abolished 1995 |
| Spelthorne | 1 April 1974[8][9] | None | |
| Stafford | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Stafford (reformed 1835) | |
| Stevenage | 1 April 1974[8][9] | None | |
| Stockport | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Stockport (reformed 1835) | |
| Stockton-on-Tees | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Formed from part of Teesside county borough, created in 1967, and including Stockton-on-Tees (reformed 1835) and Thornaby-on-Tees (incorporated in 1892) | |
| Stoke-on-Trent | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Stoke-on-Trent formed 1910, including boroughs of Hanley (incorporated in 1857), Longton (1865), Burslem (1878), Stoke-upon-Trent (1874). | |
| Sunderland | 1 April 1974[8][9] (granted city status in 1992) | Sunderland (reformed 1835) | |
| Surrey Heath | 1 April 1974[8][9] | None | |
| Swale | 20 January 1978[12] | Faversham (reformed 1835), Queenborough-in-Sheppey (created 1968, including borough of Queenborough, reformed in 1885) | Queenborough-in-Sheppey formed charter trustees 1974–1977 |
| Swindon | See Thamesdown | ||
| Tameside | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Ashton-under-Lyne (1847), Stalybridge (1857), Hyde (1881), Mossley (1885), Dukinfield (1899) | |
| Tamworth | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Tamworth (reformed 1835) | |
| Taunton Deane | 1975 | Taunton (1885) | Taunton had charter trustees 1974–1975, Abolished April 2019 |
| Telford and Wrekin | 2002 | None | |
| Test Valley | 22 October 1976[23] | Andover, Romsey, both reformed 1835 | Andover had charter trustees 1974–1976. Romsey formed a town council. |
| Tewkesbury | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Tewkesbury (reformed 1835) | |
| Thamesdown | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Swindon (1900) | Renamed Swindon 1997 |
| Thurrock | 1 April 1974[8][9] | None | |
| Tonbridge and Malling | 12 December 1983[34] | None | |
| Torbay | 1 April 1974[8][9] | County borough of Torbay – created 1968, and including the borough of Torquay incorporated in 1892 | |
| Trafford | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Stretford (1933), Sale (1935), Altrincham (1937) | |
| Tunbridge Wells | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Royal Tunbridge Wells (1888) | Charter trustees for Royal Tunbridge Wells existed from 1 April to 20 December 1974 |
| Vale Royal | 5 May 1988[16] | None | Abolished April 2009 |
| Wakefield | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Pontefract (reformed 1835), Wakefield (1848), Ossett (1890), Castleford (1955) | |
| Walsall | 1 April 1974[8][9][35] | Walsall (reformed 1835) | |
| Warrington | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Warrington (1847) | |
| Watford | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Watford (1922) | |
| Waverley | 21 February 1984[34] | Godalming (reformed 1835) | Godalming formed a town council in 1974 |
| Wellingborough | 1 April 1974[8][9] | None | Abolished April 2021 |
| Welwyn Hatfield | 2006 | None | |
| West Devon | 27 April 1982[36] | Okehampton (reformed 1885) | Okehampton formed a town council in 1974 |
| West Norfolk | 30 June 1981[31] | King's Lynn (reformed 1835) | Renamed King's Lynn and West Norfolk 14 May 1981[31] |
| West Lancashire | 1 April 2009[21] [37] | None | |
| Weymouth and Portland | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Weymouth and Melcombe Regis (reformed 1835) | Abolished April 2019 |
| Wigan | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Wigan (reformed 1835), Leigh (1899) | Leigh Abolished 1972 |
| Winchester | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Winchester (reformed 1835) | |
| Windsor and Maidenhead | 1 April 1974[8][9] (Royal Borough) | Windsor, Maidenhead, both reformed 1835 | |
| Wirral | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Birkenhead (1877), Wallasey (1910), Bebington (1937) | |
| Woking | 1 April 1974[8][9] | none | |
| Wokingham | 2007[38] | Wokingham (reformed 1883) | Wokingham formed a town council in 1974 |
| Wolverhampton | 1 April 1974.[8][9] Granted city status 2000 | Wolverhampton (1848). Had absorbed the borough of Bilston in 1967 (incorporated in 1938). | |
| Worcester | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | Worcester (reformed 1835) | |
| Worthing | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Worthing, 1890 | |
| Wyre | 1 April 1974[8][9] | Fleetwood (1933) | |
| York (1) | 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) | York (reformed 1835) | The District was abolished and replaced with a larger unitary authority in 1996 |
| York (2) | 1 April 1996[30] (and city status) | Created in 1996. Inherited traditions from the smaller York district. | |
Greater London is divided into thirty-two London boroughs. Their borough status dates from 1965, although each of them had previously included municipal, county or metropolitan boroughs:
Wales
Borough charters granted under section 245 of the Local Government Act 1972 to Welsh districts
| District | Year of charter | Previous boroughs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberconwy | 1974 | Conway (1885) | |
| Afan | 1974 | Port Talbot (formed 1921, including borough of Aberavon, reformed 1861) | Renamed Port Talbot 1986 |
| Arfon | 1974 | Caernarvon (reformed 1835), Bangor (reformed 1883) | Bangor and Caernarfon formed town councils |
| Blaenau Gwent | 1975 | None | |
| Brecknock | 1974 | Brecon (reformed 1835) | Brecon formed a town council |
| Cardiff | 1974 (and city status) | Cardiff (reformed 1835) | |
| Colwyn | 1974 | Colwyn Bay (1934) | |
| Cynon Valley | By November 1974 | None | |
| Delyn | 1974 | Flint (reformed 1835) | Flint formed a town council |
| Dinefwr | 1974 | Llandovery (reformed 1835) | Llandovery formed a town council |
| Islwyn | 1974 | None | |
| Llanelli | 1974 | Kidwelly (reformed 1885), Llanelli (1913) | Kidwelly and Llanelli formed town councils |
| Lliw Valley | 1974 | None | |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 1974 | Merthyr Tydfil (1905) | |
| Monmouth | 1988 | Monmouth (reformed 1835), Abergavenny (1899) | Abergavenny and Monmouth formed town councils |
| Neath | 1974 | Neath (reformed 1835) | Neath formed a town council |
| Newport | 1974 (granted city
status in 2002) |
Newport (reformed 1835) | |
| Ogwr | 1974 | None | |
| Port Talbot | See Afan | ||
| Rhondda | 1974 | Rhondda (1955) | |
| Rhuddlan | 1974 | None | |
| Swansea | 1974 (and city status) | Swansea (reformed 1835) | |
| Taff-Ely | 1974 | None | |
| Torfaen | 1974 | None | |
| Vale of Glamorgan | 1974 | Cowbridge (1887), Barry (1938) | Cowbridge and Barry formed town councils |
| Wrexham Maelor | 1974 | Wrexham (1857) | |
| Ynys Mon – Isle of Anglesey | 1974 | Beaumaris (reformed 1835) | Beaumaris formed a town council |
The districts created in 1974 were abolished in 1996 by the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994. The 1994 Act amended section 245 of the Local Government Act 1972, allowing for the new unitary county councils established by the Act to apply for a charter in a similar manner to the old district councils. On receiving a charter a county became a "county borough".
Welsh unitary authorities granted a charter in 1996 bestowing county borough status
| County borough | Previous boroughs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aberconwy and Colwyn | Aberconwy, Colwyn | Renamed Conwy 1996 |
| Blaenau Gwent | Blaenau Gwent | |
| Bridgend | Ogwr | |
| Caerphilly | Islwyn | |
| Cardiff | Cardiff has the status of a "city and county" by letters patent | |
| Conwy | See Aberconwy and Colwyn | |
| Merthyr Tydfil | Merthyr Tydfil | |
| Neath and Port Talbot | Neath, Port Talbot | Renamed Neath Port Talbot 1996 |
| Newport | Newport | Became "city and county" in 2002 |
| Rhondda Cynon Taff | Cynon Valley, Rhondda, Taff-Ely | |
| Swansea | Swansea has the status of a "city and county" by letters patent | |
| Torfaen | Torfaen | |
| Vale of Glamorgan | Vale of Glamorgan | |
| Wrexham | Wrexham Maelor | |
Northern Ireland
The privileges of borough status are that the council chairperson is called "mayor" and up to one quarter of councillors can be called "alderman", and the council can award freedom of the borough.[39][40] The Municipal Corporations (Ireland) Act 1840 extinguished all the boroughs in Ireland except for ten. In what would in 1921 become Northern Ireland, there were two remaining municipal boroughs in 1840: Belfast (made a city in 1888) and Derry (officially Londonderry, and a city since 1604). Five towns with abolished corporations remained parliamentary boroughs until 1885 (Armagh, Carrickfergus, Coleraine, Dungannon, and Enniskillen) as did three (Downpatrick, Lisburn, and Newry)[41] where any corporation was defunct by 1801. Several of the urban districts in Northern Ireland created under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 later received charters granting borough status. The Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 replaced the multi-tier local government system with 26 unitary districts whose councils could retain the charter of a borough within the district; other districts later received borough charters in their own right. The 2015 local government reforms replaced the 26 districts with 11 larger districts. The "statutory transition committee" handling each council merger had the right to request transfer of borough status as in 1972,[42][43][44] and unionist-majority councils did so, while nationalist-majority councils chose not to apply.[45] There were complications where places had city status;[46][47] therefore Belfast, Derry and Lisburn's borough charters carried over automatically, without the need for the council to pass a resolution.[48] Although Newry received city status in 2002, Newry and Mourne District Council did not receive borough status. In 2015 its successor Newry, Mourne and Down District Council voted not to request borough status, the required two-thirds majority failing after opposition from Sinn Féin.[49]
| 2015 borough | 1972–2015 borough | pre-1972 borough | Year of charter | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antrim and Newtownabbey[50] | Antrim | 1977 | Antrim town's borough status was extinguished in 1840. It was Antrim's borough charter which the merged council opted to preserve in 2015.[50] | |
| Antrim and Newtownabbey | Newtownabbey | 1977 | ||
| Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon[51] | Armagh | 1997[52] | Armagh town already had city status granted by letters patent in 1994. Its previous borough status was extinguished in 1840. It was Armagh's borough charter which the merged council opted to preserve in 2015.[51] | |
| Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon | Craigavon | Portadown, Lurgan | 1947,[53] 1949 | |
| Belfast[48] | Belfast | Belfast | 1613[54] | Charter reformed 1840. City status by letters patent of 1888. |
| Causeway Coast and Glens[55] | Ballymoney | 1977 | ||
| Causeway Coast and Glens | Coleraine | Coleraine | 1928 | Coleraine's previous borough status was extinguished in 1840. It was Coleraine's borough charter which the merged council opted to preserve in 2015.[55] |
| Causeway Coast and Glens | Limavady | 1989 | ||
| Derry and Strabane[48] | Derry | Londonderry | 1604[56] | Charter reformed 1840. District and borough renamed Derry 1984; name of city remains Londonderry (see Derry/Londonderry name dispute).[57] |
| Lisburn and Castlereagh[48] | Castlereagh | 1977 | The new district council is called Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council.[58] | |
| Lisburn and Castlereagh | Lisburn | Lisburn | 1964. | Lisburn was granted city status by letters patent in 2002. |
| Mid and East Antrim[59] | Ballymena | Ballymena | 1937 | |
| Mid and East Antrim | Carrickfergus | Carrickfergus | 1939 | Carrickfergus's previous borough status was extinguished in 1840. It was Carrickfergus's borough charter which the merged council opted to preserve in 2015.[59] |
| Mid and East Antrim | Larne | Larne | 1938 | |
| Ards and North Down | Ards | Newtownards | 1927 | Newtownards' previous borough status was extinguished in 1840. The "North Down and Ards" statutory transition committee voted in 2014 to apply for borough status for the merged district council under the name "East Coast Borough Council",[60] but negative public reaction prompted a rethink,[61] and the name "Ards and North Down" was not finalised until 2016.[62] The charter transfer was delayed until after this.[63] |
| Ards and North Down | North Down | Bangor | 1927 | Bangor's previous borough status was extinguished in 1840. It was North Down's borough charter which the merged council opted to preserve in 2016.[63] |
| Dungannon and South Tyrone | 1999 | Borough status was simultaneous with 1999 renaming the district from "Dungannon".[64][65] Dungannon town's borough status was extinguished in 1840. Now in Mid-Ulster District. | ||
| Enniskillen | 1949[66] | Previous borough status was extinguished in 1840. In 1967, Enniskillen Borough Council lost its administrative functions to Fermanagh County Council, but retained its ceremonial role.[67] The post-1972 Fermanagh District Council did not inherit Enniskillen's borough status. Since 2015 in Fermanagh and Omagh District. |
See also
References
Citations
- ↑ "History Facts". Chester City Council. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
- ↑ "Lord Mayor of Hull". Hull City Council. Archived from the original on 18 March 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
- ↑ "About Medway Council". City Ark. Medway Council. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
- ↑ "Mayoral History – The Mayor". Borough of Poole. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
- ↑ "Civic and Ceremonial Protocol" (PDF). Southampton City Council. 14 May 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 October 2007. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
- ↑ Candidate Information Pack (PDF). Allerdale Borough Council. April 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 May 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
- 1 2 "Bulletin of Changes of Local Authority Status, Names and Areas 1st April 1988–31st March 1989" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 December 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 "District Councils and Boroughs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 28 March 1974. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 "Table III(a)". Local Government in England and wales. a Guide to the New System. London: HMSO. 1974. pp. 15–109. ISBN 0117508470.
- ↑ "Orders approved at the Privy Council held by the Queen at Buckingham Palace on 21 July 2010". Orders in Council. Privy Council. 2010. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
- ↑ "Freedom of the Borough". Basildon Council. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Department of the Environment (30 January 1978). "Alteration of Status of Local Authorities 1975–1978" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 June 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- 1 2 3 "Ceremonial Rights and Privileges". Joint Transition Forum, Northumberland County Council. 30 June 2008. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
- ↑ "Sutton Coldfield MB through time". Vision of Britain. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
- ↑ "Alteration in Status and Areas of Local Authorities for Period February 1978 – September 1978" (PDF). Department of the Environment. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 June 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- 1 2 "Bulletin of Changes of Local Authority Status, Names and Areas 1st April 1987–31st March 1988" (PDF). Department of the Environment. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- 1 2 3 "Bulletin of Changes of Local Authority Status, Names and Areas 1 April 1992 – 31 March 1993" (PDF). Department of The Environment. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 December 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ↑ "Past Mayors" (PDF). Brighton and Hove Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 September 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
- ↑ "Minutes, meeting of June 26, 2008". Castle Morpeth Borough Council. 2 July 2008. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
- ↑ "The Civic Insignia". Castle Point Council. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- 1 2 3 "Orders and changes made by the Government and Councils between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009" (PDF). Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- 1 2 "Orders approved at the Privy Council held by the Queen at Buckingham Palace on 10th December 2008". Orders in Council. Privy Council. 2008. Archived from the original on 27 March 2009. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
- 1 2 3 "Alteration of Areas and Status May 1976 – November 1976" (PDF). Department of the Environment. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 June 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ↑ "Alteration of Areas and Status of Local Authorities 1 April 1984 – 31 March 1985" (PDF). Department of the Environment. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- 1 2 "Alterations of Area and Status of Local Authorities December 1976 – May 1977" (PDF). Department of the Environment. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 June 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- 1 2 "Ceremonial Issues arising from Local Government Review". Durham County Council. 28 August 2008. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
- ↑ "Erewash gets its status as borough". Long Eaton Advertiser. 5 July 1974. p. 1. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
...the new status... effective from June 28...
- ↑ Department of the Environment (10 August 1977). "Alteration of Status" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 December 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ↑ "Northampton Charter". The Times. 29 November 1973. p. 4.
- 1 2 3 4 "Bulletin of Changes of Local Authority Status, Names and Areas, 1 April 1994 - 31 March 1997" (PDF). Department of the Environment. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- 1 2 3 "Bulletin of Changes in Local Authority Areas, Names andStatus 1980–1982" (PDF). Department of the Environment. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ↑ "Wednesbury MB through time". Vision of Britain. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
- ↑ "Parishing of Shrewsbury". Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
- 1 2 "Alteration of Areas and Status of Local Authorities 1 April 1983 – 31 March 1984" (PDF). Department of the Environment. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ↑ "Walsall Council:Walsall Borough Charter". Black Country History. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ↑ "Alteration of Areas and Status of Local Authorities 1 April 1982 – 30 September 1982" (PDF). Department of the Environment. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ↑ "The Royal Charter". West Lancashire District Council. 13 May 2009. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
- ↑ "Borough status signed, sealed and delivered!". Press Release Archive. Wokingham Council. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
- ↑ DOENI 2014, p.4 §5
- ↑ "Councillor's Guide" (PDF). Local Government Staff Commission for Northern Ireland. May 2011. p. 46. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ↑ Commissioners of Municipal Corporations in Ireland (1835). "Lisburne". First Report. p. 6.
- ↑ DOENI 2014, pp.4–6 §§5,9,10
- ↑ "The Local Government (Transitional, Incidental, Consequential and Supplemental Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015". legislation.gov.uk. 5 March 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- ↑ "Borough Status (AQW 1376/09)". Written Answers to Questions. NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY. 24 October 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ↑ "Naming the new councils". agendaNi. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- ↑ COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT (1 October 2009). "Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill". Hansard. Northern Ireland Assembly. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
Our difficulty is in relation to the cities. Some of the city statuses that have been awarded in the past refer to the borough, and some refer to the previous town. We are having a little difficulty in sorting out the legal implications of that.
- ↑ "Local Government Bill: Informal Clause-by-clause Scrutiny". Hansard. NI Assembly. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
While in some cases it is not going to have a major effect, in the case of, for example, the cities, particularly Lisburn, it could have a major effect on their status.
- 1 2 3 4 "The Local Government (Transitional, Incidental, Consequential and Supplemental Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015". legislation.gov.uk. pp. sec. 3(3)(a, b). Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- ↑ "Borough Status Proposal For Newry Mourne And Down Council Collapses". Down News. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- 1 2 "The adoption of Borough Status by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council". Belfast Gazette. 17 April 2015.
- 1 2 "Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council". Belfast Gazette. 27 March 2015.
- ↑ "Armagh granted borough status". The Irish Times. 16 January 1997. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- ↑ "Crown Office". Belfast Gazette (1361): 179. 25 July 1947. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- ↑ Commissioners on Municipal Corporations in Ireland (1835). Appendix to the First Report ...: Southern, midland, western and south-eastern circuits, and part of the north-eastern circuit. p. 697. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- 1 2 "Causeway Coast and Glens Council". Belfast Gazette. 10 April 2015.
- ↑ Commissioners appointed to inquire into the municipal corporations in Ireland (1836). "Londonderry". Appendix: Part III: Conclusion of the North-Western Circuit. Command papers. Vol. XXIV. HMSO. p. 1117, §§9,10. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
- ↑ "Application by Derry City Council for Judicial Review". NIQB. 25 January 2007. p. WEAF5707. Archived from the original on 14 June 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
The 1984 Order made under the 1972 Act had the effect of changing the name of the administrative district from Londonderry to Derry ... the name of the local government district (and the consequential changes to the names of the borough and the council) were affected by the Order in 1984.
- ↑ Hughes, Brendan (24 June 2015). "The new city of 'Lisburn and Castlereagh'". The Irish News. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- 1 2 "Notice of resolution of borough status". The Belfast Gazette. 13 March 2015.
- ↑ "New name signifies a new beginning for local Council". Ards and North Down Borough Council. 17 December 2014. Archived from the original on 12 January 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
In the New Year the Council will formally apply for Borough status and will submit an application to the DoE to change the name to East Coast Borough Council with effect from 1 April 2015; until then the Council will be known as North Down and Ards District Council
- ↑ Glynn, Niall (15 January 2015). "Northern Ireland super council names spark controversy". BBC News NI. BBC. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- ↑ "Change of District Name (North Down and Ards) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016". STATUTORY RULES OF NORTHERN IRELAND 2016 No.10. Legislation.gov.uk. 18 January 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- 1 2 "Ards and North Down Borough Council". The Belfast Gazette (7794): 33, notice ID 2462059. 15 January 2016.
- ↑ "Visits to District Councils (AQW 712/99)". Written Answers to Questions. Northern Ireland Assembly. 30 June 2000. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ↑ "Change of District Name (Dungannon) Order (Northern Ireland) 1999 No. 426". legislation.data.gov.uk. 14 October 1999. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ↑ "Crown Office". Belfast Gazette (1454): 99. 6 May 1949. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- ↑ County Fermanagh (Transfer of Functions) Order (Northern Ireland) 1967 (S.R. & O. (Northern Ireland) 1967 No. 60); see Stormont (15 March 1967). "County Fermanagh (Transfer of Functions) Order". Hansard. Parliament of Northern Ireland. pp. Vol.86 p.68. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
The order provides for the transfer on 2nd June, 1967, of the functions, liabilities, property and staff of the borough and rural district councils to a reconstituted county council. ... The rural district councils will, in fact, be abolished. But the borough council, consisting in future of the 12 county councillors representing the area of the borough, will remain to exercise the ceremonial functions of the borough.
Sources
- DOENI (Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland)) (20 October 2014). "Draft Local Government (Transitional, Incidental, Consequential and Supplemental Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014: Charters and Status: Consultation Document" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 April 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- Local Government Act 1972
- Local Government (Wales) Act 1994
- Whitaker's Almanac 1975, 1986, 1995 editions
- Local Government in England and Wales : A guide to the New System, HMSO, London 1974
External links
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