City of Winchester explained

Winchester,[1] or the City of Winchester, is a local government district with city status in Hampshire, England.

The district is named after its main settlement of Winchester, which is where the council is based and is also the county town of Hampshire. The city boundaries also encompass a large surrounding rural area, including the towns of New Alresford and Whiteley and numerous villages.

Parts of the district lie within the South Downs National Park. The neighbouring districts are Basingstoke and Deane, East Hampshire, Havant, Portsmouth, Fareham, Eastleigh and Test Valley.

History

Winchester was an ancient borough, which had additionally held city status from time immemorial. The city traces its history to the Roman Era, developing from the town of Venta Belgarum. It saw historic significance from its reconstruction under Alfred the Great in the 9th century and grew in prominence, serving as capital city until London replaced it as capital. The office of Mayor of Winchester was created sometime between 1190 and 1200, making it the second oldest mayoralty in England, after London.[2] Winchester saw a decline after plague swept the country, but began to recover from the 19th century.

The borough was reformed to become a municipal borough in 1836 under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, which reformed most boroughs across the country. It had its territory enlarged at the same time to bring developing suburbs within the city boundary.[3] [4] The borough was significantly enlarged in 1932, absorbing Weeke and gaining territory from several other surrounding parishes.[5]

The modern district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the whole area of two former districts and parts of a third, which were all abolished at the same time:[6]

The new district was named Winchester after its largest settlement.[7] Winchester's borough status passed to the enlarged district from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor, continuing Winchester's series of mayors dating back to the twelfth century.[8] The city status formerly held by the municipal borough of Winchester was also transferred to the whole of the new district from its creation, allowing the council to call itself Winchester City Council.

Governance

Winchester City Council
Logo Pic:Winchester City Council.svg
Logo Res:200px
House Type:Non-metropolitan district
Leader1:Russell Gordon-Smith
Election1:15 May 2024[9]
Leader2:Martin Tod
Election2:18 May 2022
Leader3:Laura Taylor
Election3:January 2017
Members:45 councillors
Structure1:Winchester_City_Council_2024.svg
Structure1 Res:250px
Political Groups1:
Administration (33)
  • Other parties (12)
  • Conservative (8)
  • Green (3)
  • Next Election2:7 May 2026
    Session Room:The Guildhall Winchester (5699304062).jpg
    Meeting Place:Guildhall, The Broadway, High Street, Winchester, SO239GH

    Winchester City Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Hampshire County Council. Much of the district is covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[10] [11]

    In the parts of the district within the South Downs National Park, town planning is the responsibility of the South Downs National Park Authority. The district council appoints one of its councillors to serve on the 27-person National Park Authority.[12]

    Political control

    Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms has been as follows:[13] [14] [15]

    Party in control Years
    1974–1976
    1976–1979
    1979–1987
    1987–1995
    1995–2004
    2004–2006
    2006–2010
    2010–2011
    2011–2012
    2012–2014
    2014–2015
    2015–2019
    2019–present

    Leadership

    The role of mayor of Winchester is now largely ceremonial, with political leadership instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1979 have been:[16]

    Councillor Party From To
    Ken Penman[17] 1979 May 1987
    Georgie Busher[18] [19] May 1987 May 1990
    Allan Mitchell May 1994 May 1998
    John Steel May 1998 May 2001
    Rodney Sabine May 2001 5 May 2002
    Sheila Campbell May 2002 7 May 2006
    George Beckett 17 May 2006 19 May 2010
    Kelsey Learney 19 May 2010 18 May 2011
    George Beckett 18 May 2011 6 May 2012
    Keith Wood 16 May 2012 25 May 2014
    Rob Humby 4 Jun 2014 17 Feb 2015
    Frank Pearson 19 Feb 2015 20 May 2015
    Stephen Godfrey 20 May 2015 11 Jan 2017
    Caroline Horrill 11 Jan 2017 May 2019
    Lucille Thompson 15 May 2019 May 2022
    Martin Tod 18 May 2022

    Composition

    Following the 2024 election and a subsequent by-election in July 2024, the composition of the council was:[20] [21]

    PartyCouncillors
    33
    8
    3
    1
    Total 45

    The next election is due in May 2026.

    Elections

    Since the last boundary changes in 2016 the council has comprised 45 councillors representing 16 wards, with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with roughly a third of the council elected each time for a four year term of office. Hampshire County Council elections are held in the fourth year of the cycle when there are no city council elections.[22]

    WardPartyMemberElection
    Alresford & Itchen ValleyLiberal DemocratRussell Gordon-Smith2023
    Liberal DemocratMargot Power2022
    Liberal DemocratClare Pinniger2024
    Badger Farm & Oliver's BatteryLiberal DemocratAdrian Brophy2023
    Liberal DemocratBrian Laming2022
    ConservativeJan Warwick2024
    Bishops WalthamLiberal DemocratJonathan Williams2023
    ConservativeSteve Miller2022
    Liberal DemocratRitchie Latham2024
    Central Meon ValleyGreenDanny Lee2023
    GreenMalcolm Wallace2022
    GreenSuzanne White2024
    Colden Common and TwyfordLiberal DemocratHannah Greenberg2023
    Independent[23] Sue Cook2022
    DenmeadConservativePaula Langford-Smith2023
    ConservativeCaroline Brook2022
    Liberal DemocratMichael Bennett2024
    Southwick and WickhamLiberal DemocratChris Chamberlain2023
    Liberal DemocratNeil Cutler2022
    Liberal DemocratAngela Clear2024
    St BarnabasLiberal DemocratJonny Morris2023
    Liberal DemocratJames Batho2022
    Liberal DemocratKelsie Learney2024
    St BartholomewLiberal DemocratNathan Eve2023
    Liberal DemocratKathleen Becker2022
    Liberal DemocratJohn Tippett-Cooper2024
    St LukeLiberal DemocratCharlie Wise2023
    Liberal DemocratJamie Scott2024
    St MichaelLiberal DemocratRichard Murphy2024
    Liberal DemocratMark Reach2022
    Liberal DemocratRachel Aron2024
    St PaulLiberal DemocratMartin Tod2023
    Liberal DemocratLucille Thompson2022
    Liberal DemocratChris Westwood2024
    The WorthysLiberal DemocratJane Rutter2023
    Liberal DemocratJackie Porter2022
    Liberal DemocratsSteve Cramoysan2024
    Upper Meon ValleyLiberal DemocratJerry Pett2023
    ConservativeNeil Bolton2022
    Whiteley & ShedfieldLiberal DemocratsSudhakar Achwal2023
    Liberal DemocratsAnne Small2022
    Liberal DemocratsVivian Achwal2024
    Wonston & MicheldeverConservativeCaroline Horrill2023
    ConservativePartrick Cunningham2022
    ConservativeStephen Godfrey2024

    Since 2024, the City of Winchester has straddled three parliamentary constituencies. Winchester constituency covers most of the district area, including 13 of the 16 City Council wards of the district. Hamble Valley constituency lies mostly within the boroughs of Eastleigh and Fareham, but also includes Winchester's Whiteley and Shedfield ward. Fareham and Waterlooville constituency lies mostly in the Fareham and Havant districts, but also includes Winchester's Denmead and Southwick & Wickham wards.[24] Since the boundaries were introduced in 2024, Winchester constituency has been represented by Danny Chambers, Hamble Valley has been represented by Paul Holmes and Fareham and Waterlooville by Suella Braverman.

    Premises

    The council meets at Winchester Guildhall, on the section of High Street known as The Broadway. The main building was built between 1871 and 1875. The council's main offices are in an adjoining modern building called City Offices, to the rear of the Guildhall on Colebrook Street.[25]

    Demographics

    A Legatum Prosperity Index published by the Legatum Institute in October 2016 showed the City of Winchester as the third most prosperous council area in the United Kingdom, after the Borough of Waverley and Mole Valley.[26]

    Ethnicity

    Ethnic Group1991[27] 2001[28] 2011[29]
    Number%Number%Number%
    White

    Total

    95,42799%104,90797.8%111,57795.7%
    White: British101,68994.8%107,07091.8%
    White: Irish750733
    White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller263
    White: Other2,4683,511
    Asian or Asian British

    Total

    5630.6%1,0631%2,6392.3%
    Asian or Asian British: Indian144382665
    Asian or Asian British: Pakistani314492
    Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi80180222
    Asian or Asian British: Chinese142324745
    Asian or Asian British: Other Asian166133915
    Black or Black British

    Total

    1470.2%2700.3%4570.4%
    Black or Black British: Caribbean54118147
    Black or Black British: African41126250
    Black or Black British: Other Black522660
    Mixed or British Mixed

    Total

    7080.7%1,6261.4%
    Mixed: White and Black Caribbean142321
    Mixed: White and Black African86180
    Mixed: White and Asian283684
    Mixed: Other Mixed197441
    Other: Total2490.3%2740.3%2960.3%
    Other: Arab110
    Other: Any other ethnic group2490.3%2740.3%186
    Total96,386100%107,222100%116,595100%

    Parishes

    Much of the borough is covered by civil parishes. The main part of the Winchester urban area, roughly corresponding to the pre-1974 borough, is an unparished area.[24] The council runs a "Winchester Town Forum" for this area to discuss local matters in that area in the absence of a parish council.[30] The parish councils for New Alresford and Whiteley have declared their parishes to be towns, allowing them to take the style "town council". Some of the smaller parishes have a parish meeting rather than a parish council.[31]

    The parishes are:

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Local Authority Districts, Counties and Unitary Authorities (April 2021) Map in United Kingdom . 2023-08-01 . Office for National Statistics: Open Geography Portal . en-us.
    2. Web site: History of the Mayor . Winchester City Council . 17 November 2023.
    3. Book: Municipal Corporations Act . 1835 . 459 . 17 November 2023.
    4. Book: Parliamentary Boundaries Act 1832 . 1832 . 344 . 17 November 2023.
    5. Web site: Winchester Municipal Borough . A Vision of Britain through Time . GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth . 17 November 2023.
    6. si. The English Non-metropolitan District (Definition) Order 1972. 1972. 2039. 17 November 2023.
    7. si. The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973. 1973. 551. 31 May 2023.
    8. Web site: District Councils and Boroughs. 28 March 1974. Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 16 January 2012.
    9. News: Atkinson . Christopher . New Winchester mayor appointed in special ceremony . 6 July 2024 . Hampshire Chronicle . 16 May 2024.
    10. act. Local Government Act 1972. 1972. 70. 31 May 2023.
    11. Web site: Election Maps . Ordnance Survey . 21 September 2023.
    12. Web site: Members . South Downs National Park Authority . 21 September 2023.
    13. Web site: Compositions calculator . The Elections Centre . 26 May 2023.
    14. News: Winchester . 2010-05-07 . . 2009-04-19.
    15. News: Winchester Lib Dems win by-election in Oliver's Battery and Badger Farm. 28 January 2011. Hampshire Chronicle. 28 January 2011.
    16. Web site: Council minutes . Winchester City Council . 20 July 2022.
    17. Web site: Cabinet, Wednesday, 11th February, 2004 9.00 am - Minutes . . February 11, 2004 . Winchester City Council . Winchester City Council . December 22, 2023 . Mr Penman had been a Member of the Council from 1962 to 1987 and Leader from 1979 to 1987.
    18. Book: Macdonald, Jock . 2022 . Gibbon's Years . Part 2 Section 45 . Matador Books . 9781805146940 .
    19. Web site: Winchester City Council Election Results 1973-2012 . Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher . August 13, 2013 . The Elections Centre . The Elections Centre . December 23, 2023 .
    20. News: Local elections 2024: full mayoral and council results for England . 21 May 2024 . The Guardian . 4 May 2024.
    21. Web site: Election results . Winchester City Council . 6 July 2024.
    22. si. The Winchester (Electoral Changes) Order 2015. 2015. 2063. 17 November 2023.
    23. News: City councillor resigns from the Conservatives to better represent residents . 18 August 2023 . Hampshire Chronicle . 27 January 2023 . en.
    24. Web site: Election Maps . Ordnance Survey . 6 July 2024.
    25. Web site: Contact us . Winchester City Council . 17 November 2023.
    26. News: Braiden . Gerry . Scots authority named amongst UK's top 10 most prosperous – as neighbouring city props up table . 6 December 2010 . HeraldScotland . 13 October 2016.
    27. Data is taken from United Kingdom Casweb Data services of the United Kingdom 1991 Census on Ethnic Data for England, Scotland and Wales (Table 6)
    28. Web site: Office of National Statistics; 2001 Census Key Statistics . 2021-09-07 . webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk.
    29. Web site: 2011 Census: Ethnic Group, local authorities in England and Wales . 2021-12-15 . webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk.
    30. Web site: Winchester Town Forum . Winchester City Council . 17 November 2023.
    31. Web site: Parish council contact details . Winchester City Council . 17 November 2023.