Borough of Melton#Electoral wards

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:{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|accessdate=22 August 2022}}

• Melton Mowbray Urban District
• Melton and Belvoir Rural District

The new district was named Melton after the area's only town, Melton Mowbray.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|number=551|accessdate=22 August 2022}} The district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.{{cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1974/mar/28/district-councils-and-boroughs#S5CV0871P0_19740328_CWA_145|title=District Councils and Boroughs|date=28 March 1974|work=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)|access-date=30 October 2023}}

{{Infobox legislature

|name=Melton Borough Council

|logo_pic = Melton Borough Council logo.svg

|logo_res = 220px

|foundation = 1 April 1974

|house_type = Non-metropolitan district

|leader1_type = Mayor

|leader1 = Tim Webster

|party1=
Conservative

|election1= 16 May 2024{{cite web |title=Melton Borough Council appoint new Mayor at the annual meeting of the Council |url=https://www.melton.gov.uk/your-council/news-and-awards/news/melton-borough-council-appoint-new-mayor-at-the-annual-meeting-of-the-council |website=Melton Borough Council |access-date=12 July 2024 |date=16 May 2024}}

|leader2_type = Leader

|leader2 = Pip Allnatt

|party2=
Labour

|election2= 24 May 2023{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 24 May 2023 |url=https://democracy.melton.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=133&MId=1358 |website=Melton Borough Council | date=24 May 2023 |access-date=31 October 2023}}

|leader3_type = Chief Executive

|leader3 = Edd de Coverly

|party3=

|election3= 28 August 2017{{cite web |title=Chief Executive |url=https://www.melton.gov.uk/your-council/how-the-council-works/chief-executive/ |website=Melton Borough Council |access-date=31 October 2023}}

|political_groups1 =

;Administration (15)

:{{Color box |{{party color|Independent politician}} |border=darkgray}} Independent (9)

:{{Color box |{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}} |border=darkgray}} Labour (6)

;Other parties (13)

:{{Color box |{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}} |border=darkgray}} Conservative (10)

:{{nowrap|{{Color box |{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} |border=darkgray}} Liberal Democrat (1)}}

:{{Color box |{{party color|Independent politician}} |border=darkgray}} Independent (2)

|seats= 28 councillors

|structure1 =

|structure1_res= 250

|term_length= 4 years

|last_election1 = 4 May 2023

|next_election1 = 6 May 2027

|session_room = New offices for Melton Borough Council - geograph.org.uk - 3448073.jpg

|session_res =

|meeting_place = Parkside, Station Approach, Burton Street, Melton Mowbray, LE13{{nbsp}}1GH

|website={{url|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.{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|access-date=31 May 2023}}{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=17 October 2023}}

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.{{cite web |title=Council sets new direction |url=https://www.melton.gov.uk/your-council/news-and-awards/news/council-sets-new-direction/ |website=Melton Borough Council |access-date=31 October 2023 |date=1 August 2023}}

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:{{cite web |title=Compositions calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/?page_id=3825 |website=The Elections Centre | date=4 March 2016 |access-date=10 August 2022}}

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:{{cite web |title=Council minutes |url=https://democracy.melton.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1 |website=Melton Borough Council |access-date=18 August 2022}}

Following the 2023 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to May 2024, the composition of the council was:{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2023/may/04/elections-2023-results-live-local-council-england#le-full-results|title=Local elections 2023: live council results for England|work=The Guardian}}{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2023/england/councils/E07000133 | title=Melton result - Local Elections 2023 | work=BBC News }}{{cite news |last1=Rennie |first1=Nick |title=Melton's only Green borough councillor resigns |url=https://www.meltontimes.co.uk/news/people/meltons-only-green-borough-councillor-resigns-4342404 |access-date=31 October 2023 |work=Melton Times |date=20 September 2023}}{{cite web |title=Melton |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=melton |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=12 July 2024}}

Of the eleven independent councillors, nine sit together as the "Independent Group" which forms the council's administration with Labour.{{cite web |title=Your councillors by political grouping |url=https://democracy.melton.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=GROUPING&VW=LIST&PIC=0 |website=Melton Borough Council |access-date=31 October 2023}} The next election is due in 2027.

{{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.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Borough of Melton (Electoral Changes) Order 2002|year=2002|number=2599|access-date=31 October 2023}}

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

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.{{cite news |title=Memories flood back 10 years on from devastating Melton Council offices blaze |url=https://www.meltontimes.co.uk/news/politics/memories-flood-back-10-years-on-from-devastating-melton-council-offices-blaze-2052175 |access-date=1 November 2023 |work=Melton Times |date=31 May 2018}}

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.{{London Gazette|issue=50667|page=12520|date=26 September 1986}} In 1986 the council moved to a new building called Council Offices on Nottingham Road.{{London Gazette|issue=50747|page=16227|date=16 December 1986}} The Nottingham Road building burnt down on 30 May 2008.{{cite web|url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/828926 |title=Melton Borough Council offices from the rear after the fire|publisher= Geograph|access-date=17 May 2019}}{{cite web|author=Photos: Melton Council HQ Fire |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/content/image_galleries/melton_mowbray_fire_30may08_gallery.shtml |title=Melton Borough Council offices burn down in May 2008 |publisher=BBC |access-date=2013-08-23}} 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.

East Midlands Councils is based at the Pera Business Park on Nottingham Road, opposite the former Melton borough offices.{{cite web |title=East Midlands Councils |url=https://www.emcouncils.gov.uk/Contact-Us |access-date=1 November 2023}} The former East Midlands Regional Assembly was based at the same site until it was abolished in 2010.

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.

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

• Ab Kettleby, Asfordby
• Barkestone-le-Vale, Plungar and Redmile, Belvoir, Bottesford, Buckminster
• Broughton and Old Dalby, Branston, Burton and Dalby
• Clawson, Hose and Harby, Croxton Kerrial
• Eaton, Eastwell
• Freeby, Frisby on the Wreake
• Gaddesby, Garthorpe, Goadby Marwood, Grimston
• Harby, Hoby with Rotherby
• Kirby Bellars, Knossington and Cold Overton
• Saxelbye, Scalford, Shoby, Somerby, Sproxton, Stathern
• Twyford and Thorpe
• Waltham and Thorpe Arnold, Wymondham

The borough is divided into 16 electoral wards:{{cite web|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/2599/made|title=The Borough of Melton (Electoral Changes) Order 2002|website=legislation.gov.uk|access-date=29 January 2025}}

• Asfordby - covering the parish of Asfordby
• Bottesford - covering the parish of Bottesford
• Croxton Kerrial - covering the parish of Croxton Kerrial
• Frisby-on-the-Wreake - covering the parishes of Frisby on the Wreake, Kirby Bellars, Grimston and Hoby with Rotherby
• Gaddesby - covering the parishes of Burton and Dalby and Gaddesby
• Long Clawson and Stathern - covering the parishes of Clawson, Hose and Harby, Redmile and Stathern
• Melton Craven - one of six wards covering Melton Mowbray
• Melton Dorian - one of six wards covering Melton Mowbray
• Melton Egerton - one of six wards covering Melton Mowbray
• Melton Newport - one of six wards covering Melton Mowbray
• Melton Sysonby - one of six wards covering Melton Mowbray
• Melton Warwick - one of six wards covering Melton Mowbray
• Old Dalby - covering the parishes of Ab Kettleby, and Broughton and Old Dalby
• Somerby - covering the parishes of Knossington and Cold Overton, Somerby, and Twyford and Thorpe
• Waltham-on-the-Wolds - covering the parishes of Scalford and Waltham on the Wolds and Thorpe Arnold
• Wymondham - covering the parish of Wymondham

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.

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

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. {{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Waltham|title= Full Freeview on the Waltham (Leicestershire, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=19 April 2024}}

Radio stations for the area are:

• BBC Radio Leicester on 104.9 FM
• Smooth East Midlands on 106.6 FM
• Capital Midlands on 96.2 FM
• Greatest Hits Radio Midlands on 106 FM
• The Eye, a community based station that serves Melton Mowbray and the Vale of Belvoir on 103 FM{{Cite web |url= http://www.103theeye.co.uk/|title=103 The Eye |access-date=19 April 2024}}

Local newspapers are Leicester Mercury and Melton Times{{Cite web |url=https://www.meltontimes.co.uk/ |title=Melton Times |access-date=19 April 2024}}

Image:Entering the Borough of Melton - geograph.org.uk - 519806.jpg 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.

File:Melton population pyramid.svg

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

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.{{cite web |author=Child Safety |url=http://www.rospa.com/news/releases/detail/default.aspx?id=1082 |title=New Injury Stats Show Burden Of Accidents And Regional Varia... |publisher=RoSPA |date=2012-03-26 |access-date=2013-08-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511175011/http://www.rospa.com/news/releases/detail/default.aspx?id=1082 |archive-date=11 May 2012 |df=dmy-all }}

{{Infobox COA wide

|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.

|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.

|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

|notes = Granted 17 December 1986{{cite web|url=http://civicheraldry.co.uk/east_midlands.html |title=East Midlands Region |publisher=Civic Heraldry of England |accessdate=5 March 2021}}}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Borough of Melton|Melton}}

• [http://www.leics.gov.uk/index/your_council/about_leicestershire/statistics/community_profiles/melton_community_profile.htm Community profile at Leicestershire County Council]
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/7671616.stm Council returns to Melton in October 2008]
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/7441740.stm Council office demolished in June 2008]
• [http://www.fsmr.org.uk Stapleford Miniature Railway]

{{Leicestershire}}

{{East_Midlands}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|52.8|-0.8|region:GB|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Melton, Borough of}}

Category:Non-metropolitan districts of Leicestershire

Category:Boroughs in England