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Borough of Boston

Coordinates: 52°57′N 0°09′W / 52.95°N 0.15°W / 52.95; -0.15
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Borough of Boston
Shown within the ceremonial county of Lincolnshire
Shown within the ceremonial county of Lincolnshire
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionEast Midlands
Administrative countyLincolnshire
Admin. HQBoston
Government
 • TypeBoston Borough Council
 • Leadership:Leader & Cabinet
 • Executive:Conservative
 • MPs:Matt Warman
Area
 • Total141 sq mi (364 km2)
 • Rank97th
Population
 (2022)
 • Total64,637
 • RankRanked 285th
 • Density460/sq mi (180/km2)
Time zoneUTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (British Summer Time)
ONS code32UB (ONS)
E07000136 (GSS)
Ethnicity98.4% White
Websitewww.mybostonuk.com
Wyberton, one of the many villages in the borough

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]

Kirton, one of the many villages of the borough

History

The borough was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of the former borough of Boston with Boston Rural District.

Swineshead, one of the many villages of the borough

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

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%
Borough of Boston referendum result (without spoiled ballots):
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

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

Coat of arms of Borough of Boston
Crest
On a wreath of the colours a demi-lion Or holding between the forepaws a woolsack Proper charged with a ram couchant Or.
Escutcheon
Or on a chevron Azure three coronets each composed of crosses paty and fleurs-de-lys Or on a chief Sable a garb between two pairs of windmill sails also Or.
Supporters
On either side a mermaid Proper crined and finned Or upon a compartment of waves barry wavy Azure and Argent.
Motto
Serve With Amnity[18]

References

  1. ^ "Boston (Local Authority): Key Figures for 2011 Census". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Ward Map 2015". Boston Borough Council. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Ward Map 2019" (PDF). Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Boston result - Local Elections 2023". BBC News Online. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  5. ^ "How the council works". Boston Borough Council. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  6. ^ Councillors by ward. Boston Borough Council. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  7. ^ legislation.gov.uk – The Boston (Electoral Changes) Order 2013. Retrieved on 10 September 2020.
  8. ^ "BBC News, 24 June 2016: England's most pro and anti-EU boroughs". BBC News. 10 September 2020.
  9. ^ Goodenough, Tom (10 September 2020). "Which Tory MPs back Brexit". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  10. ^ "Prof Van-Tam to be given freedom of Boston". BBC News. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  11. ^ "Professor Jonathan Van-Tam to be honoured with Freedom of Boston Borough". My Boston UK. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  12. ^ Whitelam, Paul (21 March 2022). "Jonathan Van-Tam deeply humbled and shocked to receive freedom of Boston accolade". Lincolnshire Live. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  13. ^ "Jonathan Van-Tam granted freedom of Boston in ceremony". BBC News Lincolnshire. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  14. ^ "David Medlock granted Freedom of Boston Borough at ceremony". Lincolnshire Today. 19 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  15. ^ "RAF website: Freedom of Boston Parade. Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  16. ^ "Lincolnshire Live". 11 June 2020.
  17. ^ Private Eye, Issue 1532, p.21
  18. ^ "East Midlands Region". Civic Heraldry of England. Retrieved 5 March 2021.

52°57′N 0°09′W / 52.95°N 0.15°W / 52.95; -0.15