Halton Borough Council
Coat of arms
Corporate logo
Type
Type	Unitary authority of Borough of Halton
History
Founded	1 April 1974 (1974-04-01)
Preceded by	4 councils Runcorn Rural District Runcorn Urban District Whiston Rural District Widnes Municipal Borough
Leadership
Mayor of Halton	Valerie Hill, Labour since 19 May 2023
Leader of the Council	Mike Wharton, Labour since 21 May 2021
Chief Executive	Stephen Young since 1 April 2022
Structure
Seats	54 councillors
Political groups	Administration   Labour Party (49) Other Parties   Liberal Democrats (3)   Conservative Party (2)
Committees	16 Appointments Audit and Governance Children, Young People and Families PPB Constitution Corporate PPB Council Development Management Employment, Learning and Skills and Community PPB Environment and Urban Renewal PPB Executive Health and Wellbeing Health PPB Mayoral Regulatory Safer PPB Standards
Joint committees	Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Cheshire Police and Crime Panel Cheshire Fire Authority
Length of term	Third of council elected three years out of four
Elections
Voting system	Plurality-at-large
Last election	4 May 2023
Motto
Latin: Industria Navem Implet, lit. 'Industry Fills the Ship'
Meeting place
Runcorn Town Hall
Website
www.halton.gov.uk
Footnotes
[1][2][3]

Halton Borough Council is the local authority for the Borough of Halton, incorporating the towns of Runcorn and Widnes and the parishes of Daresbury, Hale, Moore and Preston Brook. It is a constituent council of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.^[4]

History

Municipal Building in Widnes, the administrative headquarters for Halton Borough Council

Prior to 1974, the River Mersey marked the border between the counties of Lancashire to the north and Cheshire to the south. Widnes was administered by the Municipal Borough of Widnes in Lancashire, and Runcorn by Runcorn Urban District Council in Cheshire.

The 1969 Redcliffe-Maud Report recommended reforms to local government in England, including the abolition of all existing local government areas. They were to be replaced by mostly unitary authorities with the exception of three two-tier metropolitan areas to be called Merseyside, SELNEC and West Midlands. The report proposed that Runcorn and Widnes should form part of the new Merseyside Metropolitan Area under a district called 'St Helens-Widnes'.^[5]

The proposals were broadly accepted by the then Labour government but set aside by the incoming Conservative government following the 1970 general election which it had fought on a manifesto pledge to introduce a system of two-tier local government.^[6] The Local Government Act 1972 created new metropolitan counties around Liverpool (as Merseyside) and Manchester (as Greater Manchester) but Runcorn and Widnes would not be allocated to either. Instead, Widnes and Warrington would be moved into the non-metropolitan county of Cheshire, with Widnes joining Runcorn to create the new non-metropolitan district of Halton. The name of the new district was inspired by the ancient Barony of Halton which had possessed land on both sides of the river. The district was established on 1 April 1974. In addition to Runcorn Urban District and the Municipal Borough of Widnes, parts of Runcorn Rural District and the parish of Hale from Whiston Rural District were incorporated into Halton.

On 1 April 1998, Halton became a unitary authority, independent of Cheshire County Council. However, it continues to be served by Cheshire Police and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, and forms part of Cheshire for ceremonial purposes. On 1 April 2014, Halton became part of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, joining the local authorities of Liverpool, Sefton, Wirral, Knowsley and St Helens; the five metropolitan district councils which constitute the county of Merseyside. As a unitary authority, Halton's status is similar to the metropolitan district councils.^[7]

Political control

Elections to the council are by thirds. This means that a third of the 54 councillors are elected every year over a four-year cycle (with no elections in the fourth year). Elections are usually held on the first Thursday in May.

Since the creation of the council in 1974, political control of the council has been held by the following parties:^[8][9]

Coat of arms

Coat of arms of Halton Borough Council

Crest On a Wreath Or and Gules, four Roses set in square Gules barbed and seeded Proper and standing within the same a Garb gold. Escutcheon Gules, four lozenges conjoined in pale Or between two pallets wavy Azure fimbriated Argent. Supporters On the dexter side a Male Griffin reguardant Azure beaked rayed and the forelegs Or langued and clawed Gules holding fesswise in the dexter claw an alembic Gold and on the sinister side a Lion reguardant Sable armed Gules crowned Or supporting by the sinister paw an Abbatial Crozier with Sudarium Proper all upon a Compartment comprising a Segment of Steel Proper. Motto 'Industria Navem Implet'[10]

References