Halton Borough Council

Halton Borough Council is the local authority for the Borough of Halton, incorporating the towns of Runcorn and Widnes and the parishes of Daresbury, Hale, Moore and Preston Brook. It is a constituent council of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.[1]

Halton Borough Council
Type
Type
History
Founded1 April 1974 (1974-04-01)
Leadership
Mayor of Halton
Cllr Margaret Horabin, Labour
since 17 May 2019
Leader of the Council
Cllr Rob Polhill, Labour
since 21 May 2010
Chief Executive
David Parr
since June 2004
Structure
Seats56 councillors
Political groups
Administration
  Labour Party (51)
Other Parties
  Liberal Democrats (3)
  Conservative Party (2)
Joint committees
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Elections
Plurality-at-large
Last election
3 May 2018
Motto
Latin: Industria Navem Implet
(Industry fills the ship)
Meeting place
Runcorn Town Hall
Website
www.halton.gov.uk

History

Although Halton dates back to the 12th century (and beyond) when land on both sides of the river belonged to the Barony of Halton, the origin of the District Council was the outcome of the local government commission's suggested reforms of England, in 1969, the Redcliffe-Maud Report. This proposed to create metropolitan counties constituted of metropolitan district councils in the most urbanised parts of England. The model was that of the London Boroughs and Greater London Council formed in 1965. Southern Lancashire and northern Cheshire were among these urban areas, and two new metropolitan Counties were to be formed around Liverpool (as Merseyside) and Manchester (as Greater Manchester). However, the towns of Widnes and Runcorn (and the County Borough of Warrington) which lay between these were reluctant to join either. The Commission agreed that Halton and Warrington would become districts within Cheshire, as they would be detached from Lancashire by the two new metropolitan counties controlling the territory to the north.

The district was formally established on 1 April 1974 from Runcorn urban district and part of Runcorn Rural District from Cheshire, and the borough of Widnes and the parish of Hale from the Whiston Rural District in Lancashire. On 1 April 1998 Halton became an independent unitary authority, though it is still served by Cheshire Police and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, and forms part of Cheshire for ceremonial purposes, such as the Lord Lieutenancy.

On 1 April 2014 Halton became part of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, joining the local authorities of Liverpool, Sefton, Wirral, Knowsley and St Helens, the five metropolitan district councils which constitute the county of Merseyside. This effectively reverses the position adopted in the 1970s which created it as an anomaly. As a unitary authority its status is similar to the metropolitan district councils.[2]

Political control

Elections to the council are by thirds. This means that a third of the 56 councillors are elected every year over a four-year cycle (with no elections in the fourth year). Elections are usually held on the first Thursday in May.

Since the creation of the council in 1974, political control of the council has been held by the following parties:[3][4]

YearOverall Control
1974–presentLabour Party

Arms

Coat of arms of Halton Borough Council
Notes
Granted 6th October 1983
Crest
On a Wreath Or and Gules four Roses set in square Gules barbed and seeded proper and standing within the same a Garb gold.
Escutcheon
Gules four Lozenges conjoined in pale Or between two Pallets wavy Azure fimbriated Argent.
Supporters
On the dexter side a Male Griffin reguardant azure beaked rayed and the forelegs Or langued and clawed Gules holding fesswise in the dexter claw an Alembic Gold and on the sinister side a Lion reguardant Sable armed Gules crowned Or supporting by the sinister paw an Abbatial Crozier with Sudarium proper all upon a Compartment comprising a Segment of Steel proper.
Motto
'INDUSTRIA NAVEM IMPLET' - Industry fills the ships [5]

References

  1. "Proposal to establish a combined authority for Greater Merseyside" (PDF). Department for Communities and Local Government. November 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  2. Clay, Oliver, Halton to become part of Liverpool city region, Runcorn & Widnes Weekly News, archived from the original on 27 July 2011, retrieved 15 January 2009
  3. Coligan, Nick (2007-04-25). "It's one fight that Labour cannot lose ; Lib Dems' mission impossible: Local elections 2007". Liverpool Echo. p. 15.
  4. "Halton". BBC News Online. 2008-04-19. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  5. "Halton (England)". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 25 June 2020.


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