borough of Spelthorne

The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering two former districts which were both abolished at the same time:{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan District (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|access-date=17 November 2023}}

• Staines Urban District
• Sunbury-on-Thames Urban District

These two urban districts had been part of Middlesex prior to 1965, when they had been transferred to Surrey on the creation of Greater London.London Government Act 1963 The new district was named after the medieval hundred of Spelthorne, which had covered the area plus adjoining parts of modern Greater London.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|number=551|access-date=3 January 2024}}{{cite web |title=Hundred of Spelthorne {{!}} Domesday Book |url=https://opendomesday.org/hundred/spelthorne/ |website=opendomesday.org |publisher=Anna Powell-Smith |access-date=10 June 2021}} The district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.{{cite web |title=District Councils and Boroughs |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1974/mar/28/district-councils-and-boroughs#S5CV0871P0_19740328_CWA_145 |website=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) |access-date=4 December 2021 |date=28 March 1974}}

The borough ceded a small amount of land in 1995, when Poyle was transferred to Slough.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Surrey (County Boundaries) Order 1994|year=1994|number=330|access-date=17 January 2024}} The Spelthorne area was included in the Metropolitan Police District from 1840 until 2000, when it passed to Surrey Police.{{London Gazette|issue=19904|page=2250|date=13 October 1840}}{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Greater London Act 1999|year=1999|chapter=29|section=323|access-date=10 January 2024}}

Spelthorne remains part of the Church of England Diocese of London and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster. The rest of Surrey falls into the Anglican dioceses of Guildford and Southwark, and the Roman Catholic diocese of Arundel and Brighton.

Floods in 2014 caused internal damage to 891 (or 2.2%) of homes in Spelthorne due to record rainfall causing Thames flooding. This compared to internal damage to more than 30% of homes in the neighbouring settlement of Wraysbury in the borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.[http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/no-flood-defence-work-staines-7010662 "No flood defence work for worst hit towns"] Chris Caulfield. Surrey Advertiser/Surrey Herald newspaper group. 20 April 2014. Retrieved 2014-11-02

In 2014 a campaign group of local business leaders called for the borough – along with others close to the capital – to be transferred from the county of Surrey to Greater London. The proposal was generally opposed by the public and was not pursued.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-28865196 "Calls for Surrey towns to be part of London"]. BBC News. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2014

{{infobox legislature

| name = Spelthorne Borough Council

| logo_pic = Spelthorne Borough Council logo.svg

| logo_res = 200px

| house_type = Non-metropolitan district

| leader1_type = Mayor

| leader1 = Med Buck

| party1 =
Labour

| election1 = 23 May 2024{{cite web |title=Mayor of Spelthorne |url=https://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/article/16519/Mayor-of-Spelthorne |website=Spelthorne Borough Council |access-date=22 July 2024}}

| leader2_type = Leader

| leader2 = Joanne Sexton

| party2 =
Independent

| election2 = 25 May 2023

| leader3_type = Chief Executive

| leader3 = Daniel Mouawad

| party3 =

| election3 = 8 September 2017

| seats = 39 councillors

| structure1 = Spelthorne_Council_2023.svg

| structure1_res = 250px

| political_groups1 =

: {{Color box|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} Conservative (15)

: {{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} Liberal Democrats (9)

: {{Color box|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} Labour (7)

: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}|border=darkgray}} Independents (6)}}

: {{Color box|{{party color|Green Party of England and Wales}}|border=darkgray}} Green (2)

| term_length = 4 years

| voting_system1 = First past the post

| last_election1 = 4 May 2023

| next_election1 = 6 May 2027

| meeting_place = 280px
Council Offices, Knowle Green, Staines-upon-Thames, TW18{{nbsp}}1XB

| website = {{URL|https://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/}}

}}

Spelthorne Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Surrey County Council.{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|access-date=31 May 2023}} There are no civil parishes in the borough, which is an unparished area.{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=9 January 2023}}

On 27 February 2024, Spelthorne Borough Council unveiled their Corporate Plan for 2024-2028, highlighting their key priorities for the next few years. {{cite web |title=Corporate Plan 2024-2028 |url=https://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/corporateplan |website=Spelthorne Borough Council Corporate Plan |publisher=Spelthorne Borough Council}}

As of 2023, the council had £1.1 billion in borrowing, with the highest borrowing to income ratio of any council in England.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/nils-pratley-on-finance/2023/sep/19/lending-auditing-central-government-local-council-disaster |title=Loose lending and inadequate auditing: central government's role in the local council disaster |last=Pratley |first=Nils |newspaper=The Guardian |date=19 September 2023 |access-date=19 September 2023}}

The council has been under no overall control since 2020.{{cite news |last1=Phillips |first1=Jamie |title=Six councillors quit Conservative Party at Spelthorne Borough Council saying membership 'untenable' |url=https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/conservative-party-spelthorne-borough-council-18391447 |access-date=16 January 2024 |work=Surrey Live |date=9 June 2020}} Following the 2023 election, independent councillor Joanne Sexton was appointed leader of the council, with Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Bateson serving as deputy leader.

The first elections to the council were held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:{{cite web |title=Compositions Calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/composition_calc.html |access-date=26 November 2024 |website=The Elections Centre |publisher=University of Exeter}} (Put "Spelthorne" in search box to see specific results.){{cite news| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2007/councils/html/43uh.stm | title = Spelthorne | accessdate = 2009-10-03 | work = BBC News Online}}

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Spelthorne. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1995 have been:

Following the 2023 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to July 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|date=9 May 2023 |last1=Voce |first1=Antonio |last2=Leach |first2=Anna |last3=Hoog |first3=Niels de |last4=Torpey |first4=Paul |last5=Clarke |first5=Seán }}

Five of the independent councillors sit together as the 'Independent Spelthorne Group', the other sits with the Conservatives. The next election is due in 2027.{{cite web |title=Spelthorne |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=spelthorne |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=22 July 2024}}

File:Spelthorne UK ward map 2010 (blank).svg

{{also|Spelthorne Borough Council elections}}

Since the last boundary changes in 2003 the council has comprised 39 councillors representing 13 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held every four years.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Borough of Spelthorne (Electoral Changes) Order 1999|year=1999|number=2479|access-date=17 January 2024}}

The council offices are at Knowle Green in Staines. The building was opened in 1972 for the former Staines Urban District Council, shortly before that council was abolished in 1974 to be replaced by Spelthorne Borough Council.{{cite journal |title=Surrey County Council |journal=London Gazette |date=8 December 1972 |issue=45846 |page=14674 |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/45846/page/14674 |access-date=14 July 2022}}

The borough council estimates it has {{convert|750|acres|km2|order=flip}} of parks, including, from Shepperton upstream, the Thames Path.[http://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/article/2250/Parks-and-open-spaces Spelthorne BC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516182848/http://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/article/2250/Parks-and-open-spaces |date=16 May 2013 }} Park and Open Spaces. Retrieved 2013-07-04 Its sixteen main parks with recreational/sports facilities[http://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/article/2336/Park-facilities Spelthorne BC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708042610/http://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/article/2336/Park-facilities |date=8 July 2013 }} Sports Facilities. Retrieved 2013-07-04 are supplemented by small greens and linear parks, such as those by the River Thames. The largest parks have woodland and flowering meadow. These support diverse and rare grasses, invertebrates and birds on a rich alluvial soil: Laleham Park and Sunbury Park.

The final great reduction of private parks was that of the early 20th century, a sale of Laleham manor demesne by the Earl of Lucan. The Jockey Club, as owner of Kempton Park Racecourse, is successor to the domain of the lords of the manor of Kempton – about 40% is a large nature reserve with its internal two large ponds abutting the Kempton Park Reservoirs Site of Special Scientific Interest, on Thames flood meadow.

The borough has five reservoirs, covering more than 15% of land, which apart from their main use of ensuring a stable and energy-efficient drinking water supply to London, are bird reserves and in the case of the Queen Mary Reservoir, a sailing training centre. A similar percentage of land is covered by other lakes, mostly former gravel pits no longer pumped out of water. The {{convert|10|km|adj=on}} River Ash, Surrey starts and ends in the borough.

Of recognised high importance to nature is Staines Moor, which alongside Sheepwalk Lake and wetlands, Shepperton are the sites of special scientific interest (SSSI).SSSIs List and Management: Surrey Wildlife Trust.

Hospitality is widespread in the riverside towns. Sunbury and Staines town hubs are within {{convert|6|mi|0}} of top UK attractions such as Windsor Castle, Thorpe Park, Hampton Court, Twickenham Rugby Stadium and Kew Gardens.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

Staines is the borough's main station, being served by South Western Railway services to London Waterloo, Reading and Windsor & Eton Riverside.[https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/SNS.aspx Staines] National Rail

A January 2005 enhanced base map study by the Office for National Statistics managed to classify {{convert|50.8|km2}}, 99% of land in Spelthorne. The findings of this study showed that the land use in Spelthorne was as follows:{{Cite web |date=29 January 2007 |title=Land Use Statistics (Generalised Land Use Database) (2001 - 2005) |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6275254&c=spelthorne&d=13&e=8&g=6469912&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1415884663592&enc=1&dsFamilyId=1201 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113145615/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6275254&c=spelthorne&d=13&e=8&g=6469912&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1415884663592&enc=1&dsFamilyId=1201 |archive-date=13 November 2014 |access-date=13 November 2014 |website=Office for National Statistics}}

Two Rivers Retail Park and Elmsleigh Shopping Centre in Staines-upon-Thames.

In 2016 there were:

• 5,365 businesses (including retailers) in Spelthorne.
• a 10 screen cinema with Dolby Digital Surround Sound.
• 12 miles of river frontage for picturesque walks.
• 65% green belt land or water – a green and blue buffer offsetting local major economic contributors Heathrow Airport and the UK motorway network

{{main|Surrey#Sport}}

The district has two publicly sponsored leisure centres and two private clubs with pools, and two without pools:

• Sunbury and Staines Leisure Centres
• the Thames Club Staines
• Nuffield Health Sunbury
• Pure Gym Staines
• The Gym Sunbury

It has two golf courses.

School-taught English sports: cricket and football are played at many pitches; the third, rugby union is played at the London Irish Hazelwood Centre sharing pitches with London Irish Amateur Rugby Football Club in Sunbury. Staines Rugby Club play next to the Feltham-Hanworth-Sunbury tripoint in Lower Feltham.

Spelthorne has two football clubs – semi- or non-professional – as the top men's sides compete in the lower leagues:

Spelthorne hosts one of the county's major archery clubs (Spelthorne Archers) and five lawn bowls clubs.

Fishing is open to all, subject to rod licensing,[http://www.gov.uk/fishing-licences/when-you-need-a-licence When you need a licence] www.gov.uk from the Thames Path National Trail and adjoining islands in Laleham and Staines as well as at lakes in Shepperton and Ashford. One rowing club is in the borough, at Laleham, with others nearby including Staines Boat Club across Staines Bridge from the town centre which organises a regatta to Penton Hook in July for racing shells. Sunbury Skiff and Punting Club is the newest of all six which are quite clustered on the Thames, several of which incorporate dongola racing, dragon boat racing and canoeing. It organises an August regatta with fireworks.

In May the Staines 10k charity run takes place organised by two local running/'strolling' clubs and the council. One of the more than 720 nationwide 5,000-metre running competitions of the major organiser is around the rugby union club in its borders, which has a small nature reserve it owns to one end.{{Cite web|url=https://www.parkrun.org.uk/events/events/#geo=9.8/51.4/-0.5|title = Events | parkrun UK}}

Other venues hosting annual events in a range of sports are Kempton Park Racecourse and Staines Lammas Park.

File:Staines High Street - geograph.org.uk - 3594174.jpg

File:Spelthorne coat of arms mosaic.jpg

The stated proportion of land that is absorbed by domestic dwellings tends to be housing with gardens forming suburbs to London and otherwise has mid rise urban town centres with exceptional offices (in Staines-upon-Thames) and apartments (in Sunbury-on-Thames) which are high rise, including a minority of the social housing.

The non-urban parts, inclusive of the embanked water retaining reservoirs, are today for the most part Spelthorne's parks and lakes. The bulk of the rest is mostly narrow buffering land being arable farming, horse-grazing meadows and sheep grazing on the reservoir embankments and fringes with Green Belt legal status. Shopping is available in each of the towns and in the village of Shepperton but not in the other small villages which are connected by road and bus to the nearby towns. Kempton Park Racecourse and Shepperton Studios are in Spelthorne. Staines is the largest town and has local government and judicial buildings. Each of the towns has libraries and schools.

In July 2017, Shepperton was named as the UK's most courteous town by the National Campaign for Courtesy.

• Staines-upon-Thames
• Sunbury on Thames
• Shepperton
• Ashford
• Laleham{{refn|name=st|group= n|In Staines upon Thames post town. As with the first four places, these are ancient parishes, manors and were also in local services/improvements civil parishes from 1895 until 1974.{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/source.aspx?pubid=84&page=2&sort=1 |title=Ashford, Laleham, Littleton [and others outside of the borough]|editor=William Page |publisher=Institute of Historical Research |year=1911 |work=A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 2 |access-date=4 November 2014}}}}
• Stanwell{{refn|name=sv|group=n|}}
• Stanwell Moor{{refn|group=n|Former hamlet of Stanwell. In Staines upon Thames post town. Its verges, grazing and hay meadow parts have mostly become part of Staines Moor from which they have been indivisible since the 1820s when both were inclosed (privatised) from an area of common land alongside the River Colne and later transferred to the local authority.{{cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22238 |title=Stanwell: Introduction |editor=Susan Reynolds |publisher=Institute of Historical Research |year=1962 |work=A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3 |access-date=4 July 2013}}}}
• Upper Halliford{{refn|name=su|group=n|Former hamlet of Sunbury-on-Thames. In Shepperton post town.{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/source.aspx?pubid=85|title=Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury [and others outside the borough] |editor=Susan Reynolds |publisher=Institute of Historical Research |year=1962 |work=A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3 |access-date=4 November 2014}}}}
• Charlton{{refn|name=su|group=n}}
• Littleton{{refn|group=n|Covers a small area as covered most of the Queen Mary Reservoir. Of sporadic use: half-rural, half-suburban streets with trees and verges. The streets adjoin other housing across the Ash in Shepperton Green; within Shepperton post town and this is the home of Shepperton Studios.}}

• Kempton
• Astleham: see Littleton, above and Queen Mary Reservoir, above.

• {{flagicon|France}} Melun, France.
• {{flagicon|Mauritius}} Grand Port, Mauritius.{{Cite web |url=http://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/article/910/Twinning---SpelthorneMelunMauritius |title=Twinning with Melun, Île de France and Grand Port, Mauritius |access-date=16 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517124332/http://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/article/910/Twinning---SpelthorneMelunMauritius |archive-date=17 May 2014 |url-status=dead }}

{{Portal|Surrey}}

• Spelthorne (UK Parliament constituency)

Notes

{{Reflist|group=n}}

References

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/ Spelthorne Borough Council]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080420131442/http://www.brooklands.ac.uk/ashford.asp Brooklands College Ashford Campus]

{{Commons category|Borough of Spelthorne|Spelthorne}}

{{Spelthorne|state=expanded}}

{{SE_England}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spelthorne, Borough of}}

{{Surrey}}

Category:Non-metropolitan districts of Surrey

Category:Local authorities adjoining the River Thames

Category:Boroughs in England