Metropolitan Borough of St Helens explained

Borough of St Helens
Settlement Type:Metropolitan borough
Shield Link:Metropolitan Borough of St Helens#Coat of arms
Motto:Latin: Ex Terra Lucem |translation=From the Earth, Light[1]
Coordinates:53.454°N -2.746°W
Subdivision Type:Sovereign state
Subdivision Name:United Kingdom
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Name1:England
Subdivision Type2:Region
Subdivision Name2:North West
Subdivision Type3:Ceremonial county
Subdivision Name3:Merseyside
Subdivision Type4:City region
Subdivision Name4:Liverpool
Established Title:Incorporated
Established Date:1 April 1974
Named For:St Helens
Seat Type:Administrative HQ
Seat:St Helens Town Hall
Government Footnotes:[2]
Government Type:Metropolitan borough
Governing Body:St Helens Borough Council
Leader Title:Executive
Leader Name:Leader and cabinet
Leader Title1:Control
Leader Title2:Leader
Leader Name2:Anthony Burns (L)
Leader Title3:Mayor
Leader Name3:Jeannette Banks (2024/2025)
Leader Title4:MPs
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Rank:
Population Rank:
Demographics Type1:Ethnicity (2021)
Demographics1 Title1:Ethnic groups
Demographics Type2:Religion (2021)
Demographics2 Title1:Religion
Timezone1:GMT
Utc Offset1:+0
Timezone1 Dst:BST
Utc Offset1 Dst:+1
Postal Code Type:Postcode areas
Area Code Type:Dialling codes
Iso Code:GB-SHN
Blank1 Name:GSS code
Blank1 Info:E08000013

The Metropolitan Borough of St Helens is a local government district with borough status in Merseyside, North West England. The borough is named after its largest settlement, St Helens, but also includes neighbouring towns and villages such as Earlestown, Rainhill, Eccleston, Clock Face, Haydock, Billinge, Garswood, Rainford and Newton-le-Willows.

The Metropolitan Borough Council is made up of 48 councillors, three representing each of the 16 wards.[3]

History

The Metropolitan Borough was formed on 1 April 1974 as a merger of the former County Borough of St Helens, along with the urban districts of Haydock, Newton-le-Willows and Rainford, and parts of Billinge-and-Winstanley and Ashton-in-Makerfield urban districts, along with part of Whiston Rural District, all from the administrative county of Lancashire.

Between 1974 and 1986 (when it was abolished), the borough council shared functions with Merseyside County Council. After abolition, the functions of this body were in part devolved to the boroughs and in part transferred to ad hoc agencies.

Governance

St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council composition

See main article: St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council elections. Elections to St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council are held in three out of every four years, with one-third of the 48 seats on the council being elected at each election.

The Labour Party has had a majority on the council since the first election in 1973, except for a period between the 2004 election and the 2010 election when no party had a majority. This allowed an alliance between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives to take control after the 2006 election until Labour regained control in 2010.

Since then Labour has strengthened its position on the council, and following the 2022 election the council is composed of the following councillors:[4]

PartyCouncillors
29
7
6
4
2
Total48

Parliamentary constituencies

The members of parliament who represent St Helens are:

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

The Metropolitan Borough of St Helens is one of the six constituent local government districts of the Liverpool City Region. Since 1 April 2014, some of the borough's responsibilities have been pooled with neighbouring authorities and subsumed into the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

The combined authority has effectively become the top-tier administrative body for the local governance of the city region, and the leader of St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council, along with the five other leaders from neighbouring local government districts, takes strategic decisions over economic development, transport, employment and skills, tourism, culture, housing and physical infrastructure.

Mayor of the Liverpool City Region

As a district of the Liverpool City Region it is also governed by the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region who serves as the mayor of the region.

the incumbent mayor is Steve Rotheram of the labour party

Geography

The borough borders the borough of Knowsley, in the south-west, the district of West Lancashire in the north, the Borough of Wigan in the north-east, and to the south the boroughs of Warrington and Halton.

The St Helens Borough covers roughly 30 km2 over an area of soft rolling hills used primarily for agricultural purposes, mainly arable. The highest point in the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, and the whole of Merseyside, is Billinge Hill, 4.5 miles (7.2 km) north from St. Helens centre. The borough is landlocked with a stream running through, Mill Brook/Windle Brook running through Eccleston and connecting with the (disused) St. Helens Branch/Section of the Sankey Canal in the town centre. The centre of St Helens is around 160 feet (50 m) above sea level.

From the top of Billinge Hill the cities of Manchester and Liverpool are visible on a clear day as well as the towns of Bolton and Warrington.

Carr Mill Dam is Merseyside's largest body of inland water, offering picturesque lakeside trails and walks as well as national competitive powerboating and angling events.

The Burgies are two tailings on the site of the old Rushy Park coal mine. They were created by the dumping of toxic chemical waste from the manufacture of glass, they have since been covered with tall grass and woodland.

Demography

St Helens Population using 2011 Data, 2008 Wards
2001 UK CensusPopulationHouseholds
Billinge and Seneley Green 12,717 4985
Blackbrook 9,128 3,604
Bold 9,040 3,586
Earlestown 10,274 4,420
Eccleston 10,528 4,218
Haydock 11,962 4,817
Moss Bank 10,276 4,337
Newton 22,144 4,506
Parr 18,082 3,541
7,779 3,484
11,913 4,762
Sutton 12,622 5,075
Thatto Heath 9,393 3,852
Town Centre 13,795 4,958
West Park 4,558 4,947
Windle 6,621 3,607
Total 176,843 72,697

Ethnicity

Ethnic Group2001[5] 2011[6] 2021[7]
Number%Number%Number%
White: British 172,85397.74% 169,34696.59% 171,54693.61%
White: Irish 1,0540.60% 8870.50%9450.52%
White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller 690.04%1450.08%
White: Roma 67 0.04%
White: Other 8800.50% 1,5750.90%4,1852.28%
White: Total 174,787 98.84% 171,887 98.05%176,888 96.53%
Asian or Asian British: Indian 4090.23% 5040.29%5570.30%
Asian or Asian British: Pakistani 1090.06% 1330.08%2380.13%
Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi 790.04% 1220.07%1720.09%
Asian or Asian British: Chinese 3980.23% 5120.29%6600.36%
Asian or Asian British: Other Asian 850.05% 4930.28%9520.52%
Asian or Asian British: Total 1,080 0.61% 1,764 1.01%2,579 1.41%
Black or Black British: African 730.04% 1520.09%5580.30%
Black or Black British: Caribbean 590.03% 600.03%1030.06%
Black or Black British: Other Black 370.02% 360.02%1150.06%
Black or Black British: Total 169 0.10% 248 0.14%776 0.42%
Mixed: White and Black Caribbean 2280.13% 4450.25%4660.25%
Mixed: White and Black African 770.04% 1670.10%4170.23%
Mixed: White and Asian 2000.11% 2710.15%5970.33%
Mixed: Other Mixed 1690.10% 2960.17%4910.27%
Mixed: Total 674 0.38% 1,179 0.67%1,971 1.08%
Other: Arab 1170.07%3770.21%
Other: Any other ethnic group 1230.07%6570.36%
Other: Total 133 0.08% 240 0.14%1,034 0.56%
Black, Asian, and minority ethnic: Total 2,056 1.16% 3,431 1.96%6,360 3.47%
Total 176,843 100.00% 175,308 100.00%183,248 100.00%

Education

See main article: Education services in St Helens, Merseyside.

See also: List of schools in St Helens.

Coat of arms

Escutcheon:Argent two bars Azure overall a cross Sable in the first quarter a saltire couped Gules in the second quarter a griffin segreant Sable beaked and armed Or in the third quarter a cross flory Gules voided and in the fourth quarter a cross crosslet fitchy also Gules.
Crest:Issuing from an ancient crown Or a ram's head Argent armed Or charged on the neck with two fleur de lys Gules and holding in the mouth a slip of laurel Proper; mantled Azure doubled Argent.
Supporters:On the dexter a lion guardant Or charged with seven fleur de lys Gules and on the sinister a griffin Sable armed Or the wings barry of seven Sable and Or.[8]
Motto:'Ex Terra Lucem'

The coat of arms of St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council was adopted in 1974. The crest above the helmet is that of Lord Newton representing Newton U.D.C. and Haydock U.D.C. The crest is suitably differenced by the inclusion of two red (gules) fleur-de-lys on the body of the ram.[9]

The escutcheon is split into quarters by the Black (sable) Cross of Haydock & Eccleston and the Blue (azure) Bars of Parr.Each quarter contains a different charge:

Beneath the escutcheon is a scroll bearing the motto ' Ex Terra Lucem ' meaning 'From the Earth, Light'.

Twin Town

St Helens is twinned with:[10]

Freedom of the Borough

The following people, military units and Organisations and Groups have received the Freedom of the Borough of St Helens.

Individuals

[14]

Military Units

Organisations and Groups

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: . 18 April 2013 . Ex Terra Lucem restored as motto of St Helens . St Helens Star . 15 December 2023.
  2. Web site: The Council and democracy . St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council . 15 December 2023.
  3. Web site: Find your councillor. St Helens Borough Council. 10 January 2013.
  4. News: St Helens result - Local Elections 2022 . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-09-11.
  5. Web site: UV009 - Ethnic group . NOMIS . 2 September 2022.
  6. Web site: KS201EW - Ethnic group . NOMIS . 2 September 2022.
  7. Web site: TS021 - Ethnic group . NOMIS . 16 December 2022.
  8. Web site: Saint Helens. Heraldry of the World . 9 January 2023 .
  9. Web site: Saint Helens. Heraldry of the World . 9 January 2023 .
  10. https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/news/2018/july/04/stuttgart-st-helens-celebrating-70-years/ St Helen's Council, Stuttgart visits St Helens
  11. Web site: Nominating Freemen for the Millennium . The Lancashire Telegraph . 30 July 1999 . 13 May 2022 . en.
  12. Web site: David Watts and NHS staff granted 'Freedom of the Borough' in St Helens . Cunningham . Conal . 13 May 2022 . The St Helens Star . 13 May 2022 .
  13. Web site: James Roby to receive Freedom of the Borough . Saints Rugby League Football Club . 12 March 2023 . 12 March 2023 . en.
  14. Web site: Sporting legends, MP and army regiment awarded Freedom of the Borough . Maxwell . Kelsey . 1 December 2021 . The St Helens Star . 5 December 2023 .
  15. Web site: Civic Honours Granted to The Adjutant-General's Corps (Royal Military Police), Its Units/sub-Units, Association and Antecedent Corps . The Royal Military Police . 13 May 2022 . en.
  16. Web site: Sporting legends, MP and army regiment awarded Freedom of the Borough . Maxwell . Kelsey . 1 December 2021 . The St Helens Star . 5 December 2023 .
  17. Web site: Hospital Trust and former St Helens MP presented with Freedom of the Borough scrolls . St Helens Borough Council . 13 May 2022 . en.