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Borough of Tewkesbury

The Borough of Tewkesbury is a local government district with borough status in Gloucestershire, England. The borough is named after its largest town, Tewkesbury, which is where the council is based. The district also includes the town of Winchcombe and numerous villages including Bishops Cleeve, Ashchurch, Churchdown, Innsworth and Brockworth as well as other hamlets and surrounding rural areas. Parts of the district lie within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In September 2024 the council voted to formally change the borough's name to North Gloucestershire, with the new name due to be brought into use from December 2024.

Tewkesbury Borough
Non-metropolitan district and borough
Tewkesbury Abbey in the town of Tewkesbury which the district is named after and governed from
Tewkesbury Abbey in the town of Tewkesbury which the district is named after and governed from
Tewkesbury shown within Gloucestershire
Tewkesbury shown within Gloucestershire
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionSouth West England
Non-metropolitan countyGloucestershire
StatusNon-metropolitan district
Admin HQTewkesbury
Incorporated1 April 1974
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district council
 • BodyTewkesbury Borough Council
 • MPsMatt Bishop
Cameron Thomas
Area
 • Total160.0 sq mi (414.4 km2)
 • Rank83rd (of 296)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total97,000
 • Rank248th (of 296)
 • Density610/sq mi (230/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)
[1]
 • Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
[1]
 • Religion
List
Time zoneUTC0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code23UG (ONS)
E07000083 (GSS)
OS grid referenceSO8855933566

The neighbouring districts are Cotswold, Cheltenham, Stroud, Gloucester, Forest of Dean, Malvern Hills and Wychavon.

History

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Prior to 1974 the borough of Tewkesbury only covered the town itself. The town was an ancient borough, having been granted a charter of incorporation by Elizabeth I in 1575.[2] The town was reformed in 1836 to become a municipal borough under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, governed by a body formally called the "mayor, aldermen and burgesses of the borough of Tewkesbury", but generally known as the corporation or town council.[3]

The modern district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the whole area of two former districts and part of a third, which were all abolished at the same time:[4]

The new district was named Tewkesbury after its main town.[5] The new district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the council to take the name Tewkesbury Borough Council and letting the chair of the council take the title of mayor.[6] A successor parish was created at the same time covering the area of the former municipal borough of Tewkesbury, with the parish council taking the name Tewkesbury Town Council.[7]

In 1991, the parishes of Leckhampton, Prestbury, Swindon and Up Hatherley were transferred to the neighbouring borough of Cheltenham.[8]

In 2024, the council consulted its residents on whether the borough's name should be changed to "North Gloucestershire".[9] The council voted to make the change at a meeting on 3 September 2024. The change means the council becomes "North Gloucestershire Borough Council"; the new branding is due to be brought into use from December 2024.[10]

Governance

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Tewkesbury Borough Council
Coat of arms or logo 
Type
Type
Leadership
Philip Workman,
Tewkesbury and Twining Independents
since 14 May 2024[11]
Richard Stanley,
Liberal Democrat
since 13 May 2023
Alistair Cunningham
since 13 June 2022[12]
Structure
Seats38 councillors
 
Political groups
  Liberal Democrat (16)
  Conservative (9)
  Independent (7)
  Green Party (4)
  TTI (2)
Elections
First past the post
Last election
4 May 2023
Next election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
 
Council Offices, Gloucester Road, Tewkesbury, GL20 5TT
Website
www.tewkesbury.gov.uk

Tewkesbury Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Gloucestershire County Council.[13] The whole district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[14]

Political control

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The council has been under no overall control since the 2023 election, with leadership roles shared between the Liberal Democrats, Greens and independent councillors.

The first election to the modern council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements took effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[15][16]

Party in control Years
No overall control 1974–1976
Independent 1976–1987
No overall control 1987–1991
Independent 1991–1995
No overall control 1995–2011
Conservative 2011–2023
No overall control 2023–present

Leadership

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The role of mayor is largely ceremonial. Political leadership is provided instead by the leader of the council. The leaders since 2007 have been:[17]

Councillor Party From To
Robert Vines Conservative 2007 16 May 2017
Dave Waters Conservative 16 May 2017 15 May 2018
Rob Bird Conservative 15 May 2018 7 May 2023
Richard Stanley Liberal Democrats 17 May 2023

Composition

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Following the 2023 election, the composition of the council was:[18]

Party Councillors
Liberal Democrats 16
Conservative 9
Independent 7
Green 4
Tewkesbury and Twyning Independents 2
Total 38

Of the independent councillors, two sit together as the "Isbourne and Winchcombe Independents", and the other five sit with local party the Tewkesbury and Twyning Independents as a group called "The Independents".[19] The next election is due in 2027.

Premises

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The council is based at the Council Offices on Gloucester Road in Tewkesbury. The building was purpose-built for the council, being completed in 1976.[20]

Towns and parishes

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Further information: List of civil parishes in Gloucestershire

The whole district is covered by civil parishes. The parish councils for Tewkesbury and Winchcombe take the style "town council". Some of the smaller parishes have a parish meeting rather than a parish council.[21]

Transport

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Gloucestershire Airport is in the borough, near to Gloucester and Cheltenham. The borough is also served by Ashchurch for Tewkesbury railway station on the mainline. Heritage railway the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway also has a number of stations in the borough.

Media

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Television

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The area is served by BBC West Midlands and ITV Central with television signals received from either the Ridge Hill[22] or Sutton Coldfield TV transmitters.[23] However, BBC West and ITV West Country are also received through cable and satellite television such as Freesat and Sky.

Radio

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Radio stations for the area are:

Newspapers

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The area is served by these local newspapers:[24]

Elections

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See also: Tewkesbury Borough Council elections

Since the last full review of boundaries in 2019 the council has comprised 38 councillors representing 20 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[25]

As of May 2023, the councillors were:[26]

Ward Councillor Party
Badgeworth Robert Vines Conservative
Brockworth East Charlotte Mills Independent
Jason Mills Independent
Brockworth West Craig Carter Independent
Deborah Harwood Independent
Churchdown Brookfield with Hucclecote Paul Smith Liberal Democrats
Richard Smith Liberal Democrats
Ian Yates Liberal Democrats
Churchdown St John's Stewart Dove Liberal Democrats
Mary Jordan Liberal Democrats
Liz Skelt Liberal Democrats
Cleeve Grange Thomas Budge Liberal Democrats
Cleeve Hill Nigel Adcock Liberal Democrats
Cheryl Agg Liberal Democrats
Cleeve St Michael's Alex Hegenbarth Liberal Democrats
Kashan Pervaiz Liberal Democrats
Cleeve West Richard Stanley Liberal Democrats
Murray Stewart Liberal Democrats
Highnam with Haw Bridge Paul McLain Conservative
Jill Smith Conservative
Innsworth Sarah Hands Liberal Democrats
Paul Ockelton Liberal Democrats
Isbourne Christopher Coleman Independent
Mel Gore Conservative
Northway Pauline Godwin Conservative
Elaine MacTiernam Independent
Severn Vale North Heather McLain Conservative
Severn Vale South Mark Williams Conservative
Shurdington George Porter Liberal Democrats
Tewkesbury East Hilarie Bowman Green
Helena Sundarajoo Green
Tewkesbury North and Twyning Mike Sztymiak Tewkesbury and Twyning Independents
Philip Workman Tewkesbury and Twyning Independents
Tewkesbury South Matt Dimond-Brown Green
Cate Cody Green
Winchcombe David Gray Conservative
Gemma Madle Independent
Jim Mason Conservative

References

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  1. ^ a b UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Tewkesbury Local Authority (E07000083)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ^ "The borough of Tewkesbury: Introduction Pages 110-118 A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 8". Victoria County History. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020 – via British History Online.
  3. ^ "Tewkesbury Municipal Borough". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  4. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 31 May 2023
  5. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 31 May 2023
  6. ^ "District Councils and Boroughs, 28 March 1974". Hansard. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Tewkesbury Town Council". Tewkesbury Town Council. Archived from the original on 30 January 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  8. ^ "The Gloucestershire (District Boundaries) Order 1991", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1991/281, retrieved 27 August 2023
  9. ^ Garcia, Carmelo (17 May 2024). "Public to be consulted on Tewkesbury Borough Council name change". BBC News. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Tewkesbury Borough Council votes to become North Gloucestershire Borough Council". Tewkesbury Borough Council. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  11. ^ "New Mayor for Tewkesbury Borough". Tewkesbury Borough Council. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  12. ^ "Tewkesbury Borough Council welcomes new chief executive". Tewkesbury Borough Council. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
  14. ^ "Election maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  15. ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  16. ^ Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael (2015). Tewkesbury Borough Council Election Results 1973–2011 (PDF). The Elections Centre, Plymouth University. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  17. ^ "Council minutes". Tewkesbury Borough Council. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  18. ^ "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
  19. ^ "Your councillors by party". Tewkesbury Borough Council. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  20. ^ "Council unveils its new HQ". Western Daily Press. Bristol. 16 September 1976. p. 14. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  21. ^ "Parish councils contact information". Tewkesbury Borough Council. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  22. ^ "Full Freeview on the Ridge Hill (County of Herefordshire, England) transmitter". UK Free TV. 1 May 2004. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  23. ^ "Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) Full Freeview transmitter". UK Free TV. 1 May 2004. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  24. ^ "A guide to national & local newspapers and their whereabouts" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 May 2022.
  25. ^ "The Tewkesbury (Electoral Changes) Order 2018", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2018/37, retrieved 29 August 2023
  26. ^ "Your Councillors by Ward". Retrieved 9 May 2023.
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