Municipal borough
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Municipal borough | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Non-county borough |
| Category | Local government district |
| Location | England and Wales |
| Found in | County |
| Created by | Municipal Corporations Act 1835 |
| Created | 1835 |
| Abolished by | Local Government Act 1972 |
| Abolished | 1974 |
| Possible status | City |
| Royal borough | |
| Government | Municipal corporation |
Municipal boroughs were a type of local government which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974.
The municipal boroughs were created by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 and allowed the creation of an elected town council, consisting of a mayor, aldermen and councillors to oversee many local affairs.
[edit] History
Boroughs had existed in England and Wales since mediæval times, as areas governed by a municipal corporation, which were conferred by Royal Charter. These corporations were usually self-selecting oligarchies. The 1835 Act required all municipal corporations to be elected according to a standard franchise, based on property ownership. At the same time, a procedure was established whereby a town could petition Parliament to be given borough status. The Act reformed 178 boroughs — others were left unreformed and either became irrelevant or were reformed later. Only the City of London Corporation survives as a local authority to today in an unreformed state.
In 1889, the Local Government Act 1888 created county councils across England and Wales. Boroughs were divided into two sorts, with some becoming county boroughs which were entirely self-governing and independent from county council administration.
The non-county boroughs had more limited powers of self-government, and shared power with county councils. In 1894, towns which had not been incorporated as boroughs became urban districts with similar powers to municipal boroughs.
The title of 'borough' was considered to be more dignified than 'urban district', and so many larger urban districts petitioned Parliament to be granted the status of a municipal borough, and many were granted this right. Borough status did not substantially increase local government powers, although municipal boroughs above a certain size had the right to run primary education.
See also: Boroughs incorporated in England and Wales 1835 - 1882, Unreformed boroughs in England and Wales 1835 - 1886 and Boroughs incorporated in England and Wales 1882 - 1974.
[edit] Abolition
Under the Local Government Act 1958, small municipal boroughs could be absorbed by surrounding rural districts to become rural boroughs, with the powers of a parish council. The borough corporation continued to exist, along with any civic dignities granted by the charter of incorporation.
- Bishops Castle, to Clun and Bishop's Castle Rural District in 1967
- Bridgnorth, to Bridgnorth Rural District in 1967
- Lostwithiel, to St Austell Rural District in 1968
- Ludlow, to Ludlow Rural District in 1967
- South Molton, to South Moulton Rural District in 1967
- Oswestry, to Oswestry Rural District in 1967
- Wenlock, to Bridgnorth Rural District in 1966
All municipal boroughs, of which there were over 200, were abolished on April 1, 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972. In England, they were replaced by metropolitan or non-metropolitan districts and in Wales by districts.
In most cases the civic privileges and coat of arms of the abolished boroughs were inherited by one of the new local authorities. District councils were permitted to apply for a charter to receive borough status, while small municipal boroughs became successor parishes with Town Councils headed by a town mayor. In a few cases charter trustees, a special committee of district councillors, were formed to pepetuate the mayoralty of a town or city.
