Borough of Boston
Borough of Boston | |
---|---|
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Constituent country | England |
Region | East Midlands |
Administrative county | Lincolnshire |
Admin. HQ | Boston |
Government | |
• Type | Boston Borough Council |
• Leadership: | Leader & Cabinet |
• Executive: | Conservative |
• MPs: | Matt Warman |
Area | |
• Total | 141 sq mi (364 km2) |
• Rank | 97th |
Population (2022) | |
• Total | 64,637 |
• Rank | Ranked 285th |
• Density | 460/sq mi (180/km2) |
Time zone | UTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (British Summer Time) |
ONS code | 32UB (ONS) E07000136 (GSS) |
Ethnicity | 98.4% White |
Website | www |
The Borough of Boston is a local government district with borough status in Lincolnshire, England. Its council is based in the town of Boston. The borough covers a wider area that includes villages such as Wyberton, Butterwick, Kirton-in-Holland, Langrick Bridge, Sutterton, Swineshead, Old Leake, Fosdyke, Kirton Holme and Hubberts Bridge.
The borough borders East Lindsey to the north, North Kesteven to the west and South Holland to the south. To the east is The Wash.
At the 2011 census, the population of the borough was 64,637.[1]
History
The borough was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of the former borough of Boston with Boston Rural District.
Until 1974, Lincolnshire comprised three Parts, somewhat like the Ridings of Yorkshire. These were the Parts of Lindsey, Kesteven and Holland. In their final form, they were each, in effect, an administrative county. The 1974 changes divided the Parts of Holland into two districts; the Borough of Boston is the northern one.
Management
- Summary of the Council's organisation.
- Day to day management
- Key to descriptions of council services.
Political composition
The political composition of the council following the elections in May 2015,[2] May 2019[3] and May 2023[4] are as follows. Highlighted cells indicate largest groups but not necessarily control of the council.
Party | 2015 | 2019 | 2023 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | 13 | 16 | 5 | |
Independent | 3 | 12 | 24 | |
Labour | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
Liberal Democrats | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
UKIP | 12 | 1 | 0 |
In 2015 no party had a majority, but the Conservatives had minority control.[5] In 2019 the Conservatives won a clear majority of seats.[3] Before the 2023 election, the Conservatives no longer had control of the council, whereas independents gained control of the council as a result of the election.[4]
Election results
For full election results see: Boston local elections.
Electoral arrangements
The Borough is divided into fifteen electoral wards covering both the town of Boston and surrounding rural areas.[6] The boundaries were redrawn in 2013 and used in borough elections since 2015. The wards are listed below, showing the number of councillors elected by each:[7]
- Coastal: 2;
- Fenside: 2;
- Fishtoft: 3;
- Five Villages: 2;
- Kirton and Frampton: 3;
- Old Leake and Wrangle: 2;
- Skirbeck: 3;
- St Thomas': 1;
- Staniland: 2;
- Station: 1;
- Swineshead and Holland Fen: 2;
- Trinity: 2;
- West: 1;
- Witham: 2;
- Wyberton: 2.
2016 EU referendum
On 23 June 2016 the Borough of Boston voted in the UK-wide Referendum on membership of the European Union (EU) under the provisions of the European Union Referendum Act 2015. In a turnout of 77%, over 75% voted to leave the EU, the highest leave majority of the 382 UK voting areas.[8] The local MP Matt Warman, a Conservative, had campaigned for a "Remain" vote.[9]
United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, 2016 Borough of Boston | |||
Choice | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|
Leave the European Union | 22,974 | 75.56% | |
Remain a member of the European Union | 7,430 | 24.44% | |
Valid votes | 30,404 | 99.96% | |
Invalid or blank votes | 12 | 0.04% | |
Total votes | 30,416 | 100.00% | |
Registered voters and turnout | 39,963 | 77.27% |
Leave: 22,974 (75.6%) |
Remain: 7,430 (24.4%) | ||
▲ |
Freedom of the Borough
The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the Borough of Boston.
Individuals
Military Units
- RAF Coningsby: 16 May 1963.[15]
In the media
In May 2020, East Lindsey district council and Boston borough council announced proposals to merge gradually over 10 years, with the intention of saving taxpayers £15.4m. However, in June 2020, Lincolnshire Live newspaper reported the "anger" after a vote on the proposals due to be put to councillors was cancelled as Boston borough council leader, Paul Skinner, expected the plans would likely be rejected. He told the newspaper "The motion was withdrawn because some people were making it known that they might vote against it".[16]
In October 2020, Private Eye reported the outgoing chief executive, Phil Drury, received a £443,998 exit payment and compared it to a £440,000 payment made to the London Borough of Croydon's then new chief executive, Jo Negrini.[17]
Arms
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References
- ^ "Boston (Local Authority): Key Figures for 2011 Census". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
- ^ "Ward Map 2015". Boston Borough Council. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
- ^ a b "Ward Map 2019" (PDF). Retrieved 10 September 2020.
- ^ a b "Boston result - Local Elections 2023". BBC News Online. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "How the council works". Boston Borough Council. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
- ^ Councillors by ward. Boston Borough Council. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
- ^ legislation.gov.uk – The Boston (Electoral Changes) Order 2013. Retrieved on 10 September 2020.
- ^ "BBC News, 24 June 2016: England's most pro and anti-EU boroughs". BBC News. 10 September 2020.
- ^ Goodenough, Tom (10 September 2020). "Which Tory MPs back Brexit". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
- ^ "Prof Van-Tam to be given freedom of Boston". BBC News. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
- ^ "Professor Jonathan Van-Tam to be honoured with Freedom of Boston Borough". My Boston UK. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
- ^ Whitelam, Paul (21 March 2022). "Jonathan Van-Tam deeply humbled and shocked to receive freedom of Boston accolade". Lincolnshire Live. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
- ^ "Jonathan Van-Tam granted freedom of Boston in ceremony". BBC News Lincolnshire. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ "David Medlock granted Freedom of Boston Borough at ceremony". Lincolnshire Today. 19 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ "RAF website: Freedom of Boston Parade. Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
- ^ "Lincolnshire Live". 11 June 2020.
- ^ Private Eye, Issue 1532, p.21
- ^ "East Midlands Region". Civic Heraldry of England. Retrieved 5 March 2021.