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Borough of Melton

Coordinates: 52°48′N 0°48′W / 52.8°N 0.8°W / 52.8; -0.8
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(Redirected from Melton (district))
For other uses, see Melton (disambiguation).

Borough of Melton
Borough and non-metropolitan district
Melton Mowbray, best known for both the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie and St Mary's Church. It is the administrative centre of the borough.
Melton Mowbray, best known for both the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie and St Mary's Church. It is the administrative centre of the borough.
Shown within Leicestershire.
Shown within Leicestershire.
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionEast Midlands
Administrative countyLeicestershire
Founded1974
Admin. HQMelton Mowbray
Government
 • TypeMelton Borough Council
 • MPs:Alicia Kearns
Area
 • Total
186 sq mi (481 km2)
 • Rank79th
Population
 (2022)
 • Total
52,433
 • RankRanked 293rd
 • Density280/sq mi (110/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)
[1]
 • Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
[1]
 • Religion
List
Time zoneUTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (British Summer Time)
ONS code31UG (ONS)
E07000133 (GSS)
Ethnicity98.8% White
Websitemelton.gov.uk

Melton is a local government district with borough status in north-eastern Leicestershire, England. It is named after its only town, Melton Mowbray. The borough also includes numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. The north of the district includes part of the Vale of Belvoir. Melton is the least populous district of its type and the fourth least populous district in England overall.

The neighbouring districts are Harborough, Charnwood, Rushcliffe, Newark and Sherwood, South Kesteven and Rutland.

History

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The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the area of two former districts, which were both abolished at the same time:[2]

The new district was named Melton after the area's only town, Melton Mowbray.[3] The district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.[4]

Governance

[edit]
Melton Borough Council
Logo
Type
Type
History
Founded1 April 1974
Leadership
Tim Webster,
Conservative
since 16 May 2024[5]
Pip Allnatt,
Labour
since 24 May 2023[6]
Edd de Coverly
since 28 August 2017[7]
Structure
Seats28 councillors
Political groups
Administration (15)
  Independent (9)
  Labour (6)
Other parties (13)
  Conservative (10)
  Liberal Democrat (1)
  Independent (2)
Length of term
4 years
Elections
Last election
4 May 2023
Next election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
Parkside, Station Approach, Burton Street, Melton Mowbray, LE13 1GH
Website
www.melton.gov.uk

Melton Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Leicestershire County Council. Much of the borough is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[8][9]

Political control

[edit]

The council has been under no overall control since the 2023 election, being run by a joint administration of Labour and most of the independent councillors, led by Labour councillor Pip Allnatt.[10]

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Since 1974 political control of the council has been as follows:[11]

Party in control Years
Conservative 1974–1995
No overall control 1995–2003
Conservative 2003–2023
No overall control 2023–present

Leadership

[edit]

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Melton. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 2010 have been:[12]

Councillor Party From To
Malise Graham Conservative pre-2010 14 Dec 2011
Byron Rhodes Conservative 14 Dec 2011 17 May 2016
Pam Posnett Conservative 17 May 2016 16 May 2017
Joe Orson[13] Conservative 16 May 2017 10 May 2023
Pip Allnatt Labour 24 May 2023

Composition

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Following the 2023 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to May 2024, the composition of the council was:[14][15][16][17]

Party Councillors
Independent 11
Conservative 10
Labour 6
Liberal Democrats 1
Total 28

Of the eleven independent councillors, nine sit together as the "Independent Group" which forms the council's administration with Labour.[18] The next election is due in 2027.

Elections

[edit]
See also: Melton Borough Council elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2003 the council has comprised 28 councillors representing 16 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[19]

The borough is part of the Melton and Syston parliamentary constituency.

Premises

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The council is based at Parkside on Burton Street, adjoining Melton Mowbray railway station. The building was purpose-built for the council and opened in 2011.[20]

When first created in 1974 the council inherited offices at Egerton Lodge on Wilton Road from Melton Mowbray Urban District Council and at Warwick Lodge on Dalby Road from Melton and Belvoir Rural District Council.[21] In 1986 the council moved to a new building called Council Offices on Nottingham Road.[22] The Nottingham Road building burnt down on 30 May 2008.[23][24] The northern wing of the building was repaired and is now called Phoenix House, but the rest of the building was beyond repair and was demolished. The council instead chose to build new headquarters at Parkside, spending £5.6m on the new building.[20]

East Midlands Councils is based at the Pera Business Park on Nottingham Road, opposite the former Melton borough offices.[25] The former East Midlands Regional Assembly was based at the same site until it was abolished in 2010.

Geography

[edit]
Belvoir Castle

The district borders South Kesteven, in Lincolnshire, to the east, Rutland to the south, Charnwood to the west (along the A46 Fosse Way), and Rushcliffe and Newark and Sherwood in Nottinghamshire to the north. The north part of the district is known as the Vale of Belvoir.

Parishes

[edit]

The former Melton Mowbray Urban District is an unparished area. The rest of the borough is divided into civil parishes.[9]

Economy

[edit]

Farming and food production are the main industries with Pedigree Petfoods in Melton, and its Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition at Waltham on the Wolds. There is a large creamery (Long Clawson Dairy) at Long Clawson. Samworth Brothers are headquartered in Melton. The Royal Army Veterinary Corps and Defence Animal Training Regiment are also in Melton.

The Birmingham to Peterborough Line runs through the borough, and the borough is criss-crossed by the A607 (Leicester-Grantham) and the A606 (Nottingham-Oakham). Both these roads meet in the centre of Melton (outside Melton Brooksby College), with resulting congestion.

Food

[edit]

The borough is the home of Stilton Cheese and Melton Mowbray Pork Pies.

Media

[edit]

The area is served by BBC East Midlands and ITV Central with television signals received from the Waltham transmitter which is situated at Waltham-on-the-Wolds, 5 miles (8 km) north-east of Melton Mowbray. [26]

Radio stations for the area are:

Local newspapers are Leicester Mercury and Melton Times[28]

Education

[edit]
Entering the borough near Twyford on the B6047

Until September 2008, the district operated the three-tier education system, whereby there were three middle schools. All these schools fed into the same upper school in Melton from 14-18. At both GCSE and A level, the district's results are above the England average. From age 16 Students can attend either Melton Vale Post 16 Centre for academic sixth form courses, or Brooksby Melton College for vocational courses.

Demography

[edit]
Melton population pyramid

The Borough of Melton has experienced steady population growth in recent times albeit at a rate lower than the other districts within Leicestershire.

Population growth in the Borough of Melton
Year 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011 2016 2021 2031
Population 32,825 34,512 38,897 42,578 45,105 47,890 50,376 50,900 53,000 55,500
Census [29] ONS[30] ONS Projections [31]

Highest rate of accidental death in England in 2010/11

[edit]

In March 2012, Melton was identified as having the highest rate of accidental death by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, with statistics over the period from 2010/11 showing an average of 29 deaths for 100,000 people.[32]

Coat of arms

[edit]
Coat of arms of Borough of Melton
Notes
Granted 17 December 1986[33]
Crest
On a wreath Argent and Gules a lion rampant quarterly Argent and Gules holding in the dexter claw a Latin cross Or and in the sinister claw a roll of parchment Proper.
Escutcheon
Quarterly Gules and Vert in the first and fourth quarters a tower and in the second and third quarters a garb Or over all a lion rampant Argent.
Supporters
On the dexter side a bull Sable armed Or and gorged with a collar dancetty of two points upward Argent and on the sinister side a horse Argent gorged with a like collar Gules each resting the interior hoof on a tower Or the whole upon a grassy compartment divided per pale by furrows.
Motto
Unity With Diversity

References

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  1. ^ a b UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Melton Local Authority (E07000133)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 22 August 2022
  3. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 22 August 2022
  4. ^ "District Councils and Boroughs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 28 March 1974. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Melton Borough Council appoint new Mayor at the annual meeting of the Council". Melton Borough Council. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Council minutes, 24 May 2023". Melton Borough Council. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Chief Executive". Melton Borough Council. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
  9. ^ a b "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Council sets new direction". Melton Borough Council. 1 August 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  12. ^ "Council minutes". Melton Borough Council. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  13. ^ Rennie, Nick (10 May 2023). "Melton Borough Council leader resigns". Melton Times. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  14. ^ "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
  15. ^ "Melton result - Local Elections 2023". BBC News.
  16. ^ Rennie, Nick (20 September 2023). "Melton's only Green borough councillor resigns". Melton Times. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  17. ^ "Melton". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  18. ^ "Your councillors by political grouping". Melton Borough Council. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  19. ^ "The Borough of Melton (Electoral Changes) Order 2002", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2002/2599, retrieved 31 October 2023
  20. ^ a b "Memories flood back 10 years on from devastating Melton Council offices blaze". Melton Times. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  21. ^ "No. 50667". The London Gazette. 26 September 1986. p. 12520.
  22. ^ "No. 50747". The London Gazette. 16 December 1986. p. 16227.
  23. ^ "Melton Borough Council offices from the rear after the fire". Geograph. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  24. ^ Photos: Melton Council HQ Fire. "Melton Borough Council offices burn down in May 2008". BBC. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  25. ^ "East Midlands Councils". Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  26. ^ "Full Freeview on the Waltham (Leicestershire, England) transmitter". UK Free TV. 1 May 2004. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  27. ^ "103 The Eye". Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  28. ^ "Melton Times". Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  29. ^ Vision of Britain through time
  30. ^ mid year estimate
  31. ^ ONS population projections 2014 base / projections reduced by '21 - 500/'31 - 500 given an overestimation at 2016 - 600/
  32. ^ Child Safety (26 March 2012). "New Injury Stats Show Burden Of Accidents And Regional Varia..." RoSPA. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  33. ^ "East Midlands Region". Civic Heraldry of England. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Melton.

52°48′N 0°48′W / 52.8°N 0.8°W / 52.8; -0.8

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