Jump to content

City of Winchester: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 51°03′43″N 1°19′01″W / 51.062°N 1.317°W / 51.062; -1.317
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Addition of the City Council's two other MPs
(27 intermediate revisions by 10 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{About|the district in England|other uses|Winchester (disambiguation)}}
{{About|the local government district in England|main settlement in the district|Winchester|other uses|Winchester (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
Line 9: Line 9:
| utc_offset_DST = +1
| utc_offset_DST = +1


<!-- Elements common to administrative division of this type (English two-tier district) -->| settlement_type = [[Non-metropolitan district]], [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|Borough]], [[City status in the United Kingdom|City]]
<!-- Elements common to administrative division of this type (English two-tier district) -->| settlement_type = [[City status in the United Kingdom|City]], [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough]] and [[non-metropolitan district]]
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Country]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Country]]
Line 21: Line 21:
| government_type = Non-metropolitan district council
| government_type = Non-metropolitan district council
| leader_title = Leadership
| leader_title = Leadership
| leader_title1 = [[List of MPs elected in the 2015 United Kingdom general election|MPs]]
| leader_title1 = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MPs]]
| established_title1 = Incorporated
| established_title1 = Incorporated
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_blank1_title = Ethnicity
| blank1_name = [[ONS coding system|ONS code]]
| blank1_name = [[ONS coding system|ONS code]]
| blank2_name = [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|OS grid reference]]
| blank2_name = [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|OS grid reference]]


<!-- Elements unique to this article -->| official_name = Winchester
<!-- Elements unique to this article -->
| official_name = Winchester

| image_skyline = Winchesterguildhall.jpg
| image_skyline = View across Winchester - geograph.org.uk - 1628925.jpg
| imagesize =
| imagesize =
| image_alt =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = [[Winchester Guildhall]]
| image_caption = Winchester skyline
| image_shield = Wintonia.png
| image_shield = Coats of arms of Winchester.svg
| shield_size = 80px
| shield_size = 80px
| image_blank_emblem = Winchester City Council.svg
| image_blank_emblem =
| blank_emblem_size = 140px
| blank_emblem_size = 140px
| blank_emblem_type = Council logo
| blank_emblem_type =
| image_map = Winchester UK locator map.svg
| image_map = Winchester UK locator map.svg
| mapsize =
| mapsize =
Line 45: Line 46:
| subdivision_name3 = [[Hampshire]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Hampshire]]
| subdivision_name5 = [[Winchester]]
| subdivision_name5 = [[Winchester]]
| established_date1 = 1 April 1974
| established_date1 =
| governing_body = Winchester City Council
| governing_body = Winchester City Council
| leader_name1 = [[Danny Chambers]]<br />[[Suella Braverman]]<br />[[Paul Holmes (Eastleigh MP)|Paul Holmes]]
| leader_party = {{English district control|GSS=E07000086}}
| leader_name = Leader & Cabinet
| leader_name1 = [[Steve Brine]]<br />[[Flick Drummond]]
| area_rank = {{English district area rank|GSS=E07000094}} [[List of English districts by area|(of {{English district total}})]]
| area_rank = {{English district area rank|GSS=E07000094}} [[List of English districts by area|(of {{English district total}})]]
| area_total_km2 = 660.97
| area_total_km2 = 660.97
Line 55: Line 54:
| population_as_of = {{English statistics year}}
| population_as_of = {{English statistics year}}
| population_rank = {{English district rank|GSS=E07000094}} [[List of English districts by population|(of {{English district total}})]]
| population_rank = {{English district rank|GSS=E07000094}} [[List of English districts by population|(of {{English district total}})]]
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| population_blank1 = 97.8% White
| demographics_type1 = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=E07000094|title=Winchester Local Authority|access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
| demographics1_info1 =
{{Collapsible list
| 93.6% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
| 3.1% [[British Asians|Asian]]
| 2% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
| 0.7% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
| 0.6% [[Black British people|Black]]
}}
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->
| demographics_type2 = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span>
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
| demographics2_title1 = [[Religion in England|Religion]]
| demographics2_info1 =
{{Collapsible list
| 48.6% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]]
| 42.2% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
| 6.3% not stated
| 0.7% [[Hinduism in England|Hinduism]]
| 0.7% [[Islam in England|Islam]]
| 0.6% [[Buddhism in England|Buddhism]]
| 0.5% [[Religion in England|other]]
| 0.2% [[History of the Jews in England|Judaism]]
| 0.1% [[Sikhism in England|Sikhism]]
}}
| blank1_info = 24UP (ONS)<br />E07000094 (GSS)
| blank1_info = 24UP (ONS)<br />E07000094 (GSS)
| blank2_info = {{gbmappingsmall|SU485295}}
| blank2_info = {{gbmappingsmall|SU485295}}
| website = {{URL|www.winchester.gov.uk}}
| name = City of Winchester
}}
}}


'''Winchester''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|w|ɪ|n|tʃ|ᵻ|s|t|ər}}),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local Authority Districts, Counties and Unitary Authorities (April 2021) Map in United Kingdom |url=https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/documents/ons::local-authority-districts-counties-and-unitary-authorities-april-2021-map-in-united-kingdom--1/explore |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=Office for National Statistics: Open Geography Portal |language=en-us}}</ref> or the '''City of Winchester''', is a [[Non-metropolitan district|local government district]] with [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]] in [[Hampshire]], England.
[[File:180509-0953 23C3441 (42076195902).jpg|thumb|The City Council's coat of arms, displayed in [[Winchester Guildhall]]]]


The district is named after its main settlement of [[Winchester]], which is where the council is based and is also the [[county town]] of Hampshire. The city boundaries also encompass a large surrounding rural area, including the towns of [[New Alresford]] and [[Whiteley]] and numerous villages.
'''Winchester''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|w|ɪ|n|tʃ|ᵻ|s|t|ər}}),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local Authority Districts, Counties and Unitary Authorities (April 2021) Map in United Kingdom |url=https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/documents/ons::local-authority-districts-counties-and-unitary-authorities-april-2021-map-in-united-kingdom--1/explore |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=Office for National Statistics: Open Geography Portal |language=en-us}}</ref> commonly known as the '''City of Winchester''', is a [[Non-metropolitan district|non-metropolitan]] [[Districts of England|district]] in [[Hampshire]], [[England]], with [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]].


Parts of the district lie within the [[South Downs National Park]]. The neighbouring districts are [[Basingstoke and Deane]], [[East Hampshire]], [[Borough of Havant|Havant]], [[Portsmouth]], [[Borough of Fareham|Fareham]], [[Borough of Eastleigh|Eastleigh]] and [[Test Valley]].
The district covers the city of [[Winchester]], which it is named after, and a large area of central Hampshire including [[Bishop's Waltham]], [[Denmead]], [[New Alresford]], and [[Kings Worthy]] (for a full list of these, see the "Settlements and parishes" section below), for a total area of {{convert|255.2|sqmi}}. The [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 Census]] recorded the population of the district as 116,600.<ref>{{cite web |title=Population figures |url=https://www.winchester.gov.uk/data/census-2011/population-figures |publisher=Winchester City Council |date=14 July 2017 |access-date=24 October 2020}}</ref>


==History==
The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the [[Local Government Act 1972]], by the merger of the borough of Winchester with Droxford rural district and part of Winchester rural district. It borders [[Basingstoke and Deane]] to the north, [[East Hampshire]] to the east, the [[borough of Havant]] and the unitary authority area of [[Portsmouth]] to the south-east, the [[borough of Fareham]] to the south, the [[borough of Eastleigh]] to the south-west, and [[Test Valley]] to the west.
Winchester was an [[ancient borough]], which had additionally held city status from [[time immemorial]]. The city traces its history to the [[Roman Britain|Roman Era]], developing from the town of [[Venta Belgarum]]. It saw historic significance from its reconstruction under [[Alfred the Great]] in the 9th century and grew in prominence, serving as capital city until [[London]] replaced it as capital. The office of [[Mayor of Winchester]] was created sometime between 1190 and 1200, making it the second oldest [[mayors in England|mayoralty]] in England, after London.<ref>{{cite web |title=History of the Mayor |url=https://www.winchester.gov.uk/councillors-committees/mayor-of-winchester/history-mayor/ |website=Winchester City Council |access-date=17 November 2023}}</ref> Winchester saw a decline after plague swept the country, but began to recover from the 19th century.


The borough was reformed to become a [[municipal borough]] in 1836 under the [[Municipal Corporations Act 1835]], which reformed most boroughs across the country. It had its territory enlarged at the same time to bring developing suburbs within the city boundary.<ref>{{cite book |title=Municipal Corporations Act |date=1835 |page=459 |url=https://archive.org/details/statutesunitedk35britgoog/page/458/mode/2up?q=Winchester |access-date=17 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Parliamentary Boundaries Act 1832 |date=1832 |page=344 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Report_of_the_Commissioners_Appointed_to/H3FTAAAAcAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=report+of+the+commissioners+municipal+corporations+winchester&pg=PA895&printsec=frontcover |access-date=17 November 2023}}</ref> The borough was significantly enlarged in 1932, absorbing [[Weeke]] and gaining territory from several other surrounding parishes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Winchester Municipal Borough |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10153347 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=17 November 2023}}</ref>
The city traces its history to the [[Roman Britain|Roman Era]], developing from the town of [[Venta Belgarum]]. It saw historic significance from its reconstruction under Alfred the Great in the 9th century, and grew in prominence until London replaced it as capital; Winchester saw a decline after plague swept the country, but began to recover from the 19th century.

The modern district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the [[Local Government Act 1972]], covering the whole area of two former districts and parts of a third, which were all abolished at the same time:<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan District (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|access-date=17 November 2023}}</ref>
*[[Droxford Rural District]]
*[[Winchester]] [[Municipal Borough]]
*[[Winchester Rural District]] (except parishes of [[Botley, Hampshire|Botley]], [[Bursledon]], [[Fair Oak]], [[Hamble-le-Rice|Hamble]], [[Hedge End]], [[Hound, Hampshire|Hound]] and [[West End, Hampshire|West End]], which went to [[Borough of Eastleigh|Eastleigh]])
The new district was named Winchester after its largest settlement.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|number=551|access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref> Winchester's [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough status]] passed to the enlarged district from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor, continuing Winchester's series of mayors dating back to the twelfth century.<ref>{{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=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]|access-date=16 January 2012}}</ref> The city status formerly held by the municipal borough of Winchester was also transferred to the whole of the new district from its creation, allowing the council to call itself Winchester City Council.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=46255|page=4401|date=4 April 1974}}</ref>


==Governance==
==Governance==
{{Infobox legislature
| name = Winchester City Council
| native_name =
| transcription_name =
| legislature =
| coa_pic =
| coa_res =
| logo_pic = Winchester City Council.svg
| logo_res = 200px
| house_type = Non-metropolitan district
| body =
| houses =
| leader1_type = [[Mayor of Winchester|Mayor]]
| leader1 = Russell Gordon-Smith
| party1 = <br/>[[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]]
| election1 = 15 May 2024<ref>{{cite news |last1=Atkinson |first1=Christopher |title=New Winchester mayor appointed in special ceremony |url=https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/24323714.new-winchester-mayor-appointed-special-ceremony/ |access-date=6 July 2024 |work=Hampshire Chronicle |date=16 May 2024}}</ref>
| leader2_type = [[Leader of the council|Leader]]
| leader2 = Martin Tod
| party2 = <br/>[[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]]
| election2 = 18 May 2022
| leader3_type = [[Chief Executive]]
| leader3 = Laura Taylor
| party3 = <!-- Non-political role -->
| election3 = January 2017
| members = 45 councillors
| structure1 =
| structure1_res = 200px
| political_groups1 =
;Administration (33)
:{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] (33)}}
;Other parties (12)
:{{Color box|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] (8)
:{{Color box|{{party color|Green Party of England and Wales}}|border=darkgray}} [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green]] (3)
:{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}|border=darkgray}} [[Independent politician|Independent]] (1)}}
| voting_system1 = [[Plurality voting system|First past the post]]
| last_election1 = [[2024 Winchester City Council election|2 May 2024]]
| next_election2 = 7 May 2026
| session_room = The Guildhall Winchester (5699304062).jpg
| session_res =
| meeting_place = [[Winchester Guildhall|Guildhall]], The Broadway, High Street, Winchester, SO23{{nbsp}}9GH
| website = {{url|www.winchester.gov.uk}}
| footnotes =
}}
[[File:180509-0953 23C3441 (42076195902).jpg|thumb|The City Council's coat of arms, displayed in [[Winchester Guildhall]]]]


Winchester City Council provides [[Non-metropolitan district|district-level]] services. [[Non-metropolitan county|County-level]] services are provided by [[Hampshire County Council]]. Much of the district is covered by [[civil parish]]es, which form a third tier of local government.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=21 September 2023}}</ref>
=== Parliamentary constituencies ===
The City of Winchester is made up of two parliamentary constituencies. [[Winchester (UK Parliament constituency)|Winchester constituency]] covers the north-eastern part of the city, as well as [[Chandler's Ford]], which is part of [[Eastleigh (borough)|Eastleigh]]. The remainder constitutes [[Meon Valley (UK Parliament constituency)|Meon Valley]], which also covers part of [[East Hampshire]] and [[Havant]]. Winchester constituency has been represented by [[Steve Brine]] since 2010, whilst Meon Valley has been represented by [[Flick Drummond]] since the 2019 general election.


In the parts of the district within the South Downs National Park, [[town planning]] is the responsibility of the [[South Downs National Park Authority]]. The district council appoints one of its councillors to serve on the 27-person National Park Authority.<ref>{{cite web |title=Members |url=https://www.southdowns.gov.uk/national-park-authority/our-people/members/ |website=South Downs National Park Authority |access-date=21 September 2023}}</ref>
=== Winchester City Council ===
{{Main|Winchester local elections}}{{See also|Mayor of Winchester}}Elections to the council are held in three out of every four years, with one third of the seats on the council being elected at each election. From 1995 to the [[2004 Winchester Council election|2004 election]] the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] had a majority on the council, but after 2 years when no party held a majority the [[2006 Winchester Council election|2006 election]] saw the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative party]] gain control.<ref name="gain2">{{cite news|title=Local elections: Winchester|work=[[BBC News Online]]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/vote2006/locals/html/24up.stm|access-date=2010-02-04}}</ref> The [[2010 Winchester Council election|elections]] on 6 May 2010 saw the Liberal Democrats re take control of the council, however the council soon switched to NOC a year later in 2011. In 2012, the Conservative Party made their only Council gain of the entire English local elections and won a majority in Winchester once again.<ref name="libdem_20102">{{cite web|title=City Councillors|url=http://www.winchester.gov.uk/CouncilAndDemocracy/ElectedRepresentatives/CityCouncillors/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218114028/http://www.winchester.gov.uk/CouncilAndDemocracy/ElectedRepresentatives/CityCouncillors/|archive-date=18 February 2010|access-date=29 May 2010|publisher=Winchester City Council}}</ref> Subsequently, two Conservative councillors defected to the Liberal Democrat group, placing the council under No Overall Control.<ref name="CON_to_LD_Jan_142">{{Cite web|last=Rea|first=Robin|date=22 January 2014|title=Two Conservative Councillors join the Liberal Democrats|url=http://www.winld.org.uk/2014/01/22/two-conservative-councillors-join-the-liberal-democrats/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140127012035/http://www.winld.org.uk/2014/01/22/two-conservative-councillors-join-the-liberal-democrats/|archive-date=2014-01-27|access-date=2014-01-22|publisher=Winchester Liberal Democrats}}</ref> Following local elections on 7 May 2015, the Conservatives re-gained majority control of the council.<ref name="District_Election_Results_May_20152">{{Cite web|year=2015|title=Your Councillors by Ward|url=https://democracy.winchester.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=LIST&PIC=0|access-date=2015-08-05|website=Winchester.gov.uk|publisher=Winchester City Council}}</ref> Since the [[2016 Winchester City Council election|2016 council election]], in which new boundaries were introduced, no other parties than the Conservative and Liberal Democrats have held seats on the council. After the [[2019 Winchester City Council election|local elections on 2 May 2019]], the Liberal Democrats gained majority control. Three independent councillors were elected as Conservatives. Cllr Weston resigned from the party in late 2019.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=2022-07-10 |title=Your Councillors |url=https://democracy.winchester.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=PARTY&VW=LIST&PIC=0 |access-date=2022-07-10 |website=Winchester City Council}}</ref> Cllr Clementson was suspended from the party pending an investigation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Conservative Denmead councillor suspended from party accused of Islamophobic posts on anonymous Twitter account|url=https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/politics/conservative-denmead-councillor-suspended-party-accused-islamophobic-posts-anonymous-twitter-account-2891420|access-date=2020-08-07|website=portsmouth.co.uk|language=en}}</ref> Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the scheduled 2020 local elections were postponed until 2021, when they took place alongside elections for Hampshire County Council. In November 2020 Alresford & Itchen Valley councillor Lisa Griffiths resigned from the Conservative Party to sit as an independent.<ref>{{Cite web|title=City councillor resigns from Tories over fears work could embarrass party|url=https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/18881149.winchester-city-councillor-lisa-griffiths-resigns-tories/|access-date=2020-11-20|website=Hampshire Chronicle|language=en}}</ref> In September 2020, Liberal Democrat Councillor Kim Gottlieb (who joined the party after leaving the Conservatives) resigned as a Councillor, leaving one of the three St Michael seats vacant. The vacancy was subsequently won in [[2021 Winchester City Council election|2021 City Council election]] by the Liberal Democrats, who retained an overall majority on the council despite losing a seat to the Conservatives.


===Political control===
The council is currently led by a Liberal Democrat administration. The make up of the council as of August 2023 is:<ref name=":02" />
Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms has been as follows:<ref name=compositions>{{cite web |title=Compositions calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/?page_id=3825 |website=The Elections Centre |access-date=26 May 2023}}</ref><ref name=gain>{{cite news| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/council/html/3792.stm | title = Winchester | access-date = 2010-05-07 | work = [[BBC News Online]] | date=2009-04-19}}</ref><ref name="battery">{{cite news|url=http://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/8819277.Winchester_Lib_Dems_win_by_election_in_Oliver_s_Battery_and_Badger_Farm/|title=Winchester Lib Dems win by-election in Oliver's Battery and Badger Farm|date=28 January 2011|publisher=[[Hampshire Chronicle]]|access-date=28 January 2011}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2|Party in control || Years
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}} || 1974–1976
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1976–1979
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 1979–1987
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1987–1995
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} ||1995–2004
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2004–2006
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 2006–2010
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} ||2010–2011
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2011–2012
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 2012–2014
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2014–2015
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 2015–2019
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} ||2019–present
|}


===Leadership===
* [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] - 30
The role of [[List of mayors of Winchester|mayor of Winchester]] is now largely ceremonial, with political leadership instead provided by the [[leader of the council]]. The leaders since 1979 have been:<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes |url=https://democracy.winchester.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1 |website=Winchester City Council |access-date=20 July 2022}}</ref>
* [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] - 12

* [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]] - 2
{| class=wikitable
* [[Independent politician|Independent]] - 1
! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To
|-
| Ken Penman<ref>{{cite web |url=https://democracy.winchester.gov.uk/Data/Cabinet/200402110900/Agenda/04.02.11pdf.pdf |title= Cabinet, Wednesday, 11th February, 2004 9.00 am - Minutes |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=February 11, 2004 |website= Winchester City Council |publisher=Winchester City Council |access-date=December 22, 2023 |quote=Mr Penman had been a Member of the Council from 1962 to 1987 and Leader from 1979 to 1987}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|1979 || align=right|May 1987
|-
| Georgie Busher<ref>{{cite book | last =Macdonald | first =Jock | date =2022 | title =Gibbon's Years | location =Part 2 Section 45 | publisher =Matador Books | isbn =9781805146940 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Winchester-1973-2012.pdf |title= Winchester City Council Election Results 1973-2012 |author=Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher |date=August 13, 2013 |website= The Elections Centre |publisher=The Elections Centre |access-date=December 23, 2023 |quote=}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|May 1987 || align=right|May 1990
|-
| Allan Mitchell || {{party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=right|May 1994 || align=right|May 1998
|-
| John Steel || {{party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=right|May 1998 || align=right|May 2001
|-
| Rodney Sabine || {{party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=right|May 2001 || align=right|5 May 2002
|-
| Sheila Campbell || {{party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=right|May 2002 || align=right|7 May 2006
|-
| George Beckett || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|17 May 2006 || align=right|19 May 2010
|-
| Kelsey Learney || {{party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=right|19 May 2010 || align=right|18 May 2011
|-
| George Beckett || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|18 May 2011 || align=right|6 May 2012
|-
| Keith Wood || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|16 May 2012 || align=right|25 May 2014
|-
| Rob Humby || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|4 Jun 2014 || align=right|17 Feb 2015
|-
| Frank Pearson || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|19 Feb 2015 || align=right|20 May 2015
|-
| Stephen Godfrey || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|20 May 2015 || align=right|11 Jan 2017
|-
| Caroline Horrill || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|11 Jan 2017 || align=right|May 2019
|-
| Lucille Thompson || {{party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=right|15 May 2019 || align=right|May 2022
|-
| Martin Tod || {{party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=right|18 May 2022 ||
|}

===Composition===
Following the [[2024 Winchester City Council election|2024 election]] and a subsequent by-election in July 2024, the composition of the council was:<ref>{{cite news |title=Local elections 2024: full mayoral and council results for England |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2024/may/02/local-elections-2024-full-council-results-for-england |access-date=21 May 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=4 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Election results |url=https://www.winchester.gov.uk/elections/election-results |website=Winchester City Council |access-date=6 July 2024}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2| Party
! Councillors
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=center|33
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=center|8
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Green Party of England and Wales}} || align=center|3
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=center|1
|-
! colspan=2|Total !! align=center|45
|}

The next election is due in May 2026.

===Elections===
{{also|Winchester City Council elections}}
Since the last boundary changes in 2016 the council has comprised 45 [[councillor]]s representing 16 [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|wards]], with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with roughly a third of the council elected each time for a four year term of office. [[Hampshire County Council elections]] are held in the fourth year of the cycle when there are no city council elections.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Winchester (Electoral Changes) Order 2015|year=2015|number=2063|access-date=17 November 2023}}</ref>


{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
Line 104: Line 265:
|[[2022 Winchester City Council election|2022]]
|[[2022 Winchester City Council election|2022]]
|-
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
|Liberal Democrat
|Conservative
|Clare Pinniger
|Fiona Isaacs
|[[2021 Winchester City Council election|2021]]
|[[2024 Winchester City Council election|2024]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |Badger Farm & Oliver's Battery
| rowspan="3" |Badger Farm & Oliver's Battery
Line 123: Line 284:
|Conservative
|Conservative
|Jan Warwick
|Jan Warwick
|[[2021 Winchester City Council election|2021]]
|[[2024 Winchester City Council election|2024]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |Bishops Waltham
| rowspan="3" |Bishops Waltham
Line 136: Line 297:
|[[2022 Winchester City Council election|2022]]
|[[2022 Winchester City Council election|2022]]
|-
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
|Conservative
|Conservative
|Ritchie Latham
|Michael Kurn
|[[2021 Winchester City Council election|2021]]
|[[2024 Winchester City Council election|2024]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |Central Meon Valley
| rowspan="3" |Central Meon Valley
Line 152: Line 313:
|[[2022 Winchester City Council election|2022]]
|[[2022 Winchester City Council election|2022]]
|-
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Green Party of England and Wales}}" |
|Green
|Conservative
| Suzanne White
|Frank Pearson
|[[2021 Winchester City Council election|2021]]
|[[2024 Winchester City Council election|2024]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |Colden Common and Twyford
| rowspan="2" |Colden Common and Twyford
Line 179: Line 340:
|[[2022 Winchester City Council election|2022]]
|[[2022 Winchester City Council election|2022]]
|-
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
|Liberal Democrat
|Conservative
|Michael Bennett
|Mike Read
|[[2021 Winchester City Council election|2021]]
|[[2024 Winchester City Council election|2024]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |Southwick and Wickham
| rowspan="3" |Southwick and Wickham
Line 198: Line 359:
|Liberal Democrat
|Liberal Democrat
|Angela Clear
|Angela Clear
|[[2021 Winchester City Council election|2021]]
|[[2024 Winchester City Council election|2024]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |St Barnabas
| rowspan="3" |St Barnabas
Line 214: Line 375:
|Liberal Democrat
|Liberal Democrat
|Kelsie Learney
|Kelsie Learney
|[[2021 Winchester City Council election|2021]]
|[[2024 Winchester City Council election|2024]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |St Bartholomew
| rowspan="3" |St Bartholomew
Line 230: Line 391:
|Liberal Democrat
|Liberal Democrat
|John Tippett-Cooper
|John Tippett-Cooper
|[[2021 Winchester City Council election|2021]]
|[[2024 Winchester City Council election|2024]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |St Luke
| rowspan="2" |St Luke
Line 239: Line 400:
|-
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
|Liberal Democrat
|Liberal Democrat<ref>{{cite web |title=Councillor switches allegiance to rival party |url=https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/23345446.winchester-city-councillor-jamie-scott-switches-party-allegiance/ |website=Hampshire Chronicle |access-date=18 August 2023 |language=en |date=24 February 2023}}</ref>{{refn|name=JScott|group=n|Elected as a Conservative}}
|Jamie Scott
|Jamie Scott
|[[2021 Winchester City Council election|2021]]
|[[2024 Winchester City Council election|2024]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |St Michael
| rowspan="3" |St Michael
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
|Liberal Democrat
|Liberal Democrat
|Richard Murphy
|George Prest
|[[2023 Winchester City Council election|2023]]
|[[2024 Winchester City Council election#Changes 2024–2026|2024]]
|-
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
Line 256: Line 417:
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
|Liberal Democrat
|Liberal Democrat
|[[Rachel Aron]]
|Chris Edwards
|[[2021 Winchester City Council election|2021]]
|[[2024 Winchester City Council election|2024]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |St Paul
| rowspan="3" |St Paul
Line 273: Line 434:
|Liberal Democrat
|Liberal Democrat
|Chris Westwood
|Chris Westwood
|[[2021 Winchester City Council election|2021]]
|[[2024 Winchester City Council election|2024]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |The Worthys
| rowspan="3" |The Worthys
Line 289: Line 450:
|Liberal Democrats
|Liberal Democrats
|Steve Cramoysan
|Steve Cramoysan
|[[2021 Winchester City Council election|2021]]
|[[2024 Winchester City Council election|2024]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |Upper Meon Valley
| rowspan="2" |Upper Meon Valley
Line 316: Line 477:
|Liberal Democrats
|Liberal Democrats
|Vivian Achwal
|Vivian Achwal
|[[2021 Winchester City Council election|2021]]
|[[2024 Winchester City Council election|2024]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |Wonston & Micheldever
| rowspan="3" |Wonston & Micheldever
Line 332: Line 493:
|Conservative
|Conservative
|Stephen Godfrey
|Stephen Godfrey
|[[2021 Winchester City Council election|2021]]
|[[2024 Winchester City Council election|2024]]
|}
|}


Since 2024, the City of Winchester has straddled three parliamentary constituencies. [[Winchester (UK Parliament constituency)|Winchester constituency]] covers most of the district area, including 13 of the 16 City Council wards of the district. [[Hamble Valley (UK Parliament constituency)|Hamble Valley constituency]] lies mostly within the boroughs of [[Borough of Eastleigh|Eastleigh]] and [[Borough of Fareham|Fareham]], but also includes Winchester's Whiteley and Shedfield ward. [[Fareham and Waterlooville (UK Parliament constituency)|Fareham and Waterlooville constituency]] lies mostly in the Fareham and [[Borough of Havant|Havant]] districts, but also includes Winchester's Denmead and Southwick & Wickham wards.<ref name=electionmaps>{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=6 July 2024}}</ref> Since the boundaries were introduced in 2024, Winchester constituency has been represented by [[Danny Chambers]], Hamble Valley has been represented by [[Paul Holmes (Eastleigh MP)|Paul Holmes]] and Fareham and Waterlooville by [[Suella Braverman]].
=== County Council ===

[[Hampshire County Council]] holds elections every four years. Several Councillors are members of both the City and County Councils. In the [[2021 Hampshire County Council election|2021 elections]] the Winchester City district area elected seven representatives, out of 78:
===Premises===
{| class="wikitable"
The council meets at [[Winchester Guildhall]], on the section of High Street known as The Broadway. The main building was built between 1871 and 1875.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1095464|desc=Guildhall, Winchester|grade=II|access-date=17 November 2023}}</ref> The council's main offices are in an adjoining modern building called City Offices, to the rear of the Guildhall on Colebrook Street.<ref>{{cite web |title=Contact us |url=https://www.winchester.gov.uk/about/contact-us |website=Winchester City Council |access-date=17 November 2023}}</ref>
|-
!Ward
! colspan="2" |Party
!Member<ref>{{cite web|date=2017-05-04|title=County Council Election 2017 - Thursday, 4th May, 2017|url=https://democracy.hants.gov.uk/mgElectionResults.aspx?ID=13&V=1&RPID=9434685|access-date=29 October 2018|website=Hantsweb|publisher=Hampshire County Council}}</ref>
|-
|Winchester Eastgate
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
|Liberal Democrat
|Dominic Charles Alan Hiscock
|-
|Winchester Downlands
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|Conservative
|Jan Warwick
|-
|Winchester Westgate
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
|Liberal Democrat
|Martin Tod
|-
|Winchester Southern Parishes
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|Conservative||Patricia Stallard
|-
|Itchen Valley
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
|Liberal Democrat||Jackie Porter
|-
|Meon Valley
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|Conservative||Hugh Lumby
|-
|Bishop's Waltham
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|Conservative||Rob Humby
|}


== Demographics ==
== Demographics ==
Line 602: Line 728:
|}
|}


==Parishes==
==Settlements and parishes==
[[File:Whiteley Outlet Shopping Centre - geograph.org.uk - 1575917.jpg|thumb|[[Whiteley, Hampshire|Whiteley]], the district's second largest settlement, being a new town developed from the 1980s that partly straddles the neighbouring borough of Fareham.]]
{{OSM Location map|coord={{coord|51.021|-1.243}}|mark-title14=Whiteley and Shedfield|mark-coord9={{coord|51.0287|-1.3738}}|mark-title9=Badger Farm and Oliver's Battery|mark-coord10={{coord|51.0151|-1.3033}}|mark-title10=Colden Common and Twyford|mark-coord11={{coord|51.0165|-1.1700}}|mark-title11=Upper Meon Valley|mark-coord12={{coord|50.9548|-1.2296}}|mark-title12=Bishop's Waltham|mark-coord13={{coord|50.9300|-1.1252}}|mark-title13=Central Meon Valley|mark-coord14={{coord|50.9060|-1.2445}}|mark-coord15={{coord|50.8905|-1.1431}}|mark-coord8={{coord|51.0501|-1.3161}}|mark-title15=Southwick and Wickham|mark-coord16={{coord|50.9084|-1.0593}}|mark-title16=Denmead|mark-coord17={{coord|51.0031|-1.0231}}|label17=S O U T H D O W N S|labela17=N A T I O N A L P A R K|label-angle17=20|label-size17=12|mark-size17=0|label-color17=#81AF81|mark-title17=none|caption=Ward Boundaries in the City of Winchester following the 2016 boundary changes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/lgbce/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/30344/Hampshire_IT_Sht1_V1.pdf| title=Map of Hampshire (Electoral Changes) Order, 2016| website=The Local Government Boundary Commission for England|year=2016|access-date=29 October 2018}}</ref>|mark-title8=St Michael (Winchester)|mark-title7=St Luke (Winchester)|zoom=10|shape1=n-circle|width=336|height=440|mark-coord={{coord|51.031|-1.243}}|mark=Overlay city of winchester boundaries.svg|mark-size=419|mark-dim=0.802|mark-title=none|scalemark=170|map-data-light=Q1094226 <!-- boundary details via wikidata for fullscreen -->|mark-coord1={{coord|51.1532|-1.2936}}|mark-title1=Wonston and Micheldever|shape-color1=blue|mark-coord7={{coord|51.0535|-1.3463}}|shape-outline1=white|mark-size1=16|mark-coord2={{coord|51.1015|-1.3156}}|mark-title2=The Worthies|mark-coord3={{coord|51.1023|-1.1577}}|mark-title3=Alresford and Itchen Valley|mark-coord4={{coord|51.0708|-1.3477}}|mark-title4=St Paul (Winchester)|mark-coord5={{coord|51.0756|-1.3362}}|mark-title5=St Barnabas (Winchester)|mark-coord6={{coord|51.0714|-1.3010}}|mark-title6=St Bartholomew (Winchester)|auto-caption=1}}
[[File:Broad Street, New Alresford - geograph.org.uk - 97871.jpg|thumb|[[New Alresford]], the district's other town.]]
Settlements in the district include:
Much of the borough is covered by [[civil parish]]es. The main part of the Winchester urban area, roughly corresponding to the pre-1974 borough, is an [[unparished area]].<ref name=electionmaps/> The council runs a "Winchester Town Forum" for this area to discuss local matters in that area in the absence of a parish council.<ref>{{cite web |title=Winchester Town Forum |url=https://democracy.winchester.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=159 |website=Winchester City Council |access-date=17 November 2023}}</ref> The parish councils for New Alresford and Whiteley have declared their parishes to be towns, allowing them to take the style "town council". Some of the smaller parishes have a [[parish meeting]] rather than a parish council.<ref>{{cite web |title=Parish council contact details |url=https://democracy.winchester.gov.uk/mgParishCouncilDetails.aspx?bcr=1 |website=Winchester City Council |access-date=17 November 2023}}</ref>
*[[Abbotts Barton]], [[Abbots Worthy]], [[Avington, Hampshire|Avington]]

*[[Badger Farm]], [[Beauworth]], [[Bighton]], [[Bishops Sutton]], [[Bishops Waltham]], [[Boarhunt]], [[Bramdean]], [[Brockwood Park]]
The parishes are:
*[[Cheriton, Hampshire|Cheriton]], [[Chilcomb]], [[Colden Common]], [[Compton and Shawford]], [[Corhampton]], [[Crawley, Hampshire|Crawley]], [[Curdridge]]
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Denmead]], [[Droxford]], [[Durley]]
*[[Badger Farm]]
*[[Easton, Hampshire|Easton]], [[Exton, Hampshire|Exton]]
*[[Beauworth]]
*[[Hambledon, Hampshire|Hambledon]], [[Headbourne Worthy]], [[Hinton Ampner]], [[Hursley]]
*[[Bighton]]
*[[Itchen Abbas]], [[Itchen Stoke]], [[Itchen Valley]]
*[[Bishop's Waltham]]
*[[Kilmeston]], [[Kings Worthy]]
*[[Bishops Sutton]]
*[[Boarhunt]]
*[[Bramdean and Hinton Ampner]]
*[[Cheriton, Hampshire|Cheriton]]
*[[Chilcomb]]
*[[Colden Common]]
*[[Compton and Shawford]]
*[[Corhampton and Meonstoke|Corhampton & Meonstoke]]
*[[Crawley, Hampshire|Crawley]]
*[[Curdridge]]
*[[Denmead]]
*[[Droxford]]
*[[Durley]]
*[[Exton, Hampshire|Exton]]
*[[Hambledon, Hampshire|Hambledon]]
*[[Headbourne Worthy]]
*[[Hursley]]
*[[Itchen Stoke and Ovington]]
*[[Itchen Valley]]
*[[Kilmeston]]
*[[Kings Worthy]]
*[[Littleton and Harestock]]
*[[Littleton and Harestock]]
*[[Martyr Worthy]], [[Meonstoke]], [[Micheldever]], [[Morestead]]
*[[Micheldever]]
*[[New Alresford]], [[Northington]]
*[[New Alresford]]
*[[Newlands, Hampshire|Newlands]]
*[[Old Alresford]], [[Olivers Battery]], [[Otterbourne]], [[Ovington, Hampshire|Ovington]], [[Owslebury]]
*[[Northington]]
*[[Shedfield]], [[Soberton]], [[Southwick, Hampshire|Southwick]], [[South Wonston]], [[Sparsholt, Hampshire|Sparsholt]], [[Stoke Charity]], [[Sutton Scotney]], [[Swanmore]]
*[[Old Alresford]]
*[[Tichborne]], [[Twyford, Hampshire|Twyford]]
*[[Olivers Battery|Oliver's Battery]]
*[[Otterbourne]]
*[[Owslebury]]
*[[Shedfield]]
*[[Soberton]]
*[[South Wonston]]
*[[Southwick and Widley]]
*[[Sparsholt, Hampshire|Sparsholt]]
*[[Swanmore]]
*[[Tichborne]]
*[[Twyford, Hampshire|Twyford]]
*[[Upham, Hampshire|Upham]]
*[[Upham, Hampshire|Upham]]
*[[Warnford]]
*[[Warnford]], [[West Meon]], [[Whiteley]] (part), [[Wickham, Hampshire|Wickham]], [[Widley]], [[Winchester]], [[Winnall, Hampshire|Winnall]], [[Wonston]]
*[[West Meon]]

*[[Whiteley]]
=== Parishes ===
*[[Wickham, Hampshire#Wickham and Knowle civil parish|Wickham and Knowle]]
{| class="wikitable sortable"
*[[Wonston]]
|+
{{div col end}}
!Council
!Equivalent City Ward
|-
|[[Badger Farm]]
|Badger Farm & Olivers Battery
|-
|[[Beauworth]]
|Upper Meon Valley
|-
|[[Bighton]]
|Alresford & Itchen Valley
|-
|[[Bishop's Waltham]]
|Bishop's Waltham
|-
|[[Bishops Sutton]]
|Alresford & Itchen Valley
|-
|[[Boarhunt]]
|Southwick & Wicham
|-
|[[Bramdean and Hinton Ampner]]
|Upper Meon Valley
|-
|[[Cheriton, Hampshire|Cheriton]]
|Upper Meon Valley
|-
|[[Chilcomb]]
|Upper Meon Valley
|-
|[[Colden Common]]
|Colden Common & Twyford
|-
|[[Compton and Shawford|Compton & Shawford]]
|Badger Farm & Oliver's Battery
|-
|[[Corhampton and Meonstoke|Corhampton & Meonstoke]]
|Upper Meon Valley
|-
|[[Crawley, Hampshire|Crawley]]
|Wonston & Micheldever
|-
|[[Curdridge]]
|Whiteley & Shedfield
|-
|[[Denmead]]
|Denmead
|-
|[[Droxford]]
|Central Meon Valley
|-
|[[Durley]]
|Bishop's Waltham
|-
|[[Exton, Hampshire|Exton]]
|Upper Meon Valley
|-
|[[Hambledon, Hampshire|Hambledon]]
|Central Meon Valley
|-
|[[Headbourne Worthy]]
|The Worthys
|-
|[[Hursley]]
|Badger Farm & Oliver's Battery
|-
|[[Itchen Stoke and Ovington|Itchen Stoke & Ovington]]
|Alresford & Itchen Valley
|-
|[[Itchen Valley]]
|Alresford & Itchen Valley
|-
|[[Kilmeston]]
|Upper Meon Valley
|-
|[[Kings Worthy]]
|The Worthys
|-
|[[Littleton and Harestock]]
|Wonston & Micheldever
|-
|[[Micheldever]]
|Wonston & Micheldever
|-
|[[New Alresford]] (Town)
|Alresford & Itchen Valley
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Newlands, Hampshire|Newlands]]
|Denmead
|-
|Southwick & Wickham
|-
|[[Northington]]
|Alresford & Itchen Valley
|-
|[[Old Alresford]]
|Alresford & Itchen Valley
|-
|[[Olivers Battery|Oliver's Battery]]
|Badger Farm & Oliver's Battery
|-
|[[Otterbourne]]
|Badger Farm & Oliver's Battery
|-
|[[Owslebury]]
|Upper Meon Valley
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Shedfield]]
|Whiteley & Shedfield
|-
|Central Meon Valley
|-
|[[Soberton]]
|Central Meon Valley
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[South Wonston]]
|Wonston & Micheldever
|-
|The Worthys
|-
|[[Southwick and Widley|Southwick & Widley]]
|Southwick & Wickham
|-
|[[Sparsholt, Hampshire|Sparsholt]]
|Wonston & Micheldever
|-
|[[Swanmore]]
|Central Meon Valley
|-
|[[Tichborne]]
|Upper Meon Valley
|-
|[[Twyford, Hampshire|Twyford]]
|Colden Common & Twyford
|-
|[[Upham, Hampshire|Upham]]
|Upper Meon Valley
|-
|[[Warnford]]
|Upper Meon Valley
|-
|[[West Meon]]
|Upper Meon Valley
|-
|[[Whiteley]]
|Whiteley & Shedfield
|-
|[[Wickham, Hampshire|Wickham]]
|Southwick & Wickham
|-
|[[Wonston]]
|Wonston & Micheldever
|}


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}
{{Reflist|group=note}}
{{reflist|group=n}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Hampshire}}
{{SE England}}
{{SE England}}
{{UK cities}}
{{UK cities}}

Revision as of 07:23, 8 July 2024

This article is about the local government district in England. For main settlement in the district, see Winchester. For other uses, see Winchester (disambiguation).

Winchester
City, borough and non-metropolitan district
Winchester skyline
Winchester skyline
Coat of arms of Winchester
Coat of arms
Winchester shown within Hampshire
Winchester shown within Hampshire
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryEngland
RegionSouth East England
Non-metropolitan countyHampshire
StatusNon-metropolitan district, Borough, City time immemorial
Admin HQWinchester
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district council
 • BodyWinchester City Council
 • MPsDanny Chambers
Suella Braverman
Paul Holmes
Area
 • Total255.20 sq mi (660.97 km2)
 • Rank51st (of 296)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total130,268
 • Rank182nd (of 296)
 • Density510/sq mi (200/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)
[1]
 • Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
[1]
 • Religion
List
Time zoneUTC0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code24UP (ONS)
E07000094 (GSS)
OS grid referenceSU485295

Winchester (/ˈwɪntʃɪstər/),[2] or the City of Winchester, is a local government district with city status in Hampshire, England.

The district is named after its main settlement of Winchester, which is where the council is based and is also the county town of Hampshire. The city boundaries also encompass a large surrounding rural area, including the towns of New Alresford and Whiteley and numerous villages.

Parts of the district lie within the South Downs National Park. The neighbouring districts are Basingstoke and Deane, East Hampshire, Havant, Portsmouth, Fareham, Eastleigh and Test Valley.

History

Winchester was an ancient borough, which had additionally held city status from time immemorial. The city traces its history to the Roman Era, developing from the town of Venta Belgarum. It saw historic significance from its reconstruction under Alfred the Great in the 9th century and grew in prominence, serving as capital city until London replaced it as capital. The office of Mayor of Winchester was created sometime between 1190 and 1200, making it the second oldest mayoralty in England, after London.[3] Winchester saw a decline after plague swept the country, but began to recover from the 19th century.

The borough was reformed to become a municipal borough in 1836 under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, which reformed most boroughs across the country. It had its territory enlarged at the same time to bring developing suburbs within the city boundary.[4][5] The borough was significantly enlarged in 1932, absorbing Weeke and gaining territory from several other surrounding parishes.[6]

The modern district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the whole area of two former districts and parts of a third, which were all abolished at the same time:[7]

The new district was named Winchester after its largest settlement.[8] Winchester's borough status passed to the enlarged district from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor, continuing Winchester's series of mayors dating back to the twelfth century.[9] The city status formerly held by the municipal borough of Winchester was also transferred to the whole of the new district from its creation, allowing the council to call itself Winchester City Council.[10]

Governance

Winchester City Council
Logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Russell Gordon-Smith,
Liberal Democrat
since 15 May 2024[11]
Martin Tod,
Liberal Democrat
since 18 May 2022
Laura Taylor
since January 2017
Structure
Seats45 councillors
Political groups
Administration (33)
  Liberal Democrat (33)
Other parties (12)
  Conservative (8)
  Green (3)
  Independent (1)
Elections
First past the post
Last election
2 May 2024
Next election
7 May 2026
Meeting place
Guildhall, The Broadway, High Street, Winchester, SO23 9GH
Website
www.winchester.gov.uk
The City Council's coat of arms, displayed in Winchester Guildhall

Winchester City Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Hampshire County Council. Much of the district is covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[12][13]

In the parts of the district within the South Downs National Park, town planning is the responsibility of the South Downs National Park Authority. The district council appoints one of its councillors to serve on the 27-person National Park Authority.[14]

Political control

Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms has been as follows:[15][16][17]

Party in control Years
Independent 1974–1976
No overall control 1976–1979
Conservative 1979–1987
No overall control 1987–1995
Liberal Democrats 1995–2004
No overall control 2004–2006
Conservative 2006–2010
Liberal Democrats 2010–2011
No overall control 2011–2012
Conservative 2012–2014
No overall control 2014–2015
Conservative 2015–2019
Liberal Democrats 2019–present

Leadership

The role of mayor of Winchester is now largely ceremonial, with political leadership instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1979 have been:[18]

Councillor Party From To
Ken Penman[19] Conservative 1979 May 1987
Georgie Busher[20][21] Conservative May 1987 May 1990
Allan Mitchell Liberal Democrats May 1994 May 1998
John Steel Liberal Democrats May 1998 May 2001
Rodney Sabine Liberal Democrats May 2001 5 May 2002
Sheila Campbell Liberal Democrats May 2002 7 May 2006
George Beckett Conservative 17 May 2006 19 May 2010
Kelsey Learney Liberal Democrats 19 May 2010 18 May 2011
George Beckett Conservative 18 May 2011 6 May 2012
Keith Wood Conservative 16 May 2012 25 May 2014
Rob Humby Conservative 4 Jun 2014 17 Feb 2015
Frank Pearson Conservative 19 Feb 2015 20 May 2015
Stephen Godfrey Conservative 20 May 2015 11 Jan 2017
Caroline Horrill Conservative 11 Jan 2017 May 2019
Lucille Thompson Liberal Democrats 15 May 2019 May 2022
Martin Tod Liberal Democrats 18 May 2022

Composition

Following the 2024 election and a subsequent by-election in July 2024, the composition of the council was:[22][23]

Party Councillors
Liberal Democrats 33
Conservative 8
Green 3
Independent 1
Total 45

The next election is due in May 2026.

Elections

See also: Winchester City Council elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2016 the council has comprised 45 councillors representing 16 wards, with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with roughly a third of the council elected each time for a four year term of office. Hampshire County Council elections are held in the fourth year of the cycle when there are no city council elections.[24]

Ward Party Member Election
Alresford & Itchen Valley Liberal Democrat Russell Gordon-Smith 2023
Liberal Democrat Margot Power 2022
Liberal Democrat Clare Pinniger 2024
Badger Farm & Oliver's Battery Liberal Democrat Adrian Brophy 2023
Liberal Democrat Brian Laming 2022
Conservative Jan Warwick 2024
Bishops Waltham Liberal Democrat Jonathan Williams 2023
Conservative Steve Miller 2022
Conservative Ritchie Latham 2024
Central Meon Valley Green Danny Lee 2023
Green Malcolm Wallace 2022
Green Suzanne White 2024
Colden Common and Twyford Liberal Democrat Hannah Greenberg 2023
Independent[25][n 1] Sue Cook 2022
Denmead Conservative Paula Langford-Smith 2023
Conservative Caroline Brook 2022
Liberal Democrat Michael Bennett 2024
Southwick and Wickham Liberal Democrat Chris Chamberlain 2023
Liberal Democrat Neil Cutler 2022
Liberal Democrat Angela Clear 2024
St Barnabas Liberal Democrat Jonny Morris 2023
Liberal Democrat James Batho 2022
Liberal Democrat Kelsie Learney 2024
St Bartholomew Liberal Democrat Nathan Eve 2023
Liberal Democrat Kathleen Becker 2022
Liberal Democrat John Tippett-Cooper 2024
St Luke Liberal Democrat Charlie Wise 2023
Liberal Democrat Jamie Scott 2024
St Michael Liberal Democrat Richard Murphy 2024
Liberal Democrat Mark Reach 2022
Liberal Democrat Rachel Aron 2024
St Paul Liberal Democrat Martin Tod 2023
Liberal Democrat Lucille Thompson 2022
Liberal Democrat Chris Westwood 2024
The Worthys Liberal Democrat Jane Rutter 2023
Liberal Democrat Jackie Porter 2022
Liberal Democrats Steve Cramoysan 2024
Upper Meon Valley Liberal Democrat Jerry Pett 2023
Conservative Neil Bolton 2022
Whiteley & Shedfield Liberal Democrats Sudhakar Achwal 2023
Liberal Democrats Anne Small 2022
Liberal Democrats Vivian Achwal 2024
Wonston & Micheldever Conservative Caroline Horrill 2023
Conservative Partrick Cunningham 2022
Conservative Stephen Godfrey 2024

Since 2024, the City of Winchester has straddled three parliamentary constituencies. Winchester constituency covers most of the district area, including 13 of the 16 City Council wards of the district. Hamble Valley constituency lies mostly within the boroughs of Eastleigh and Fareham, but also includes Winchester's Whiteley and Shedfield ward. Fareham and Waterlooville constituency lies mostly in the Fareham and Havant districts, but also includes Winchester's Denmead and Southwick & Wickham wards.[26] Since the boundaries were introduced in 2024, Winchester constituency has been represented by Danny Chambers, Hamble Valley has been represented by Paul Holmes and Fareham and Waterlooville by Suella Braverman.

Premises

The council meets at Winchester Guildhall, on the section of High Street known as The Broadway. The main building was built between 1871 and 1875.[27] The council's main offices are in an adjoining modern building called City Offices, to the rear of the Guildhall on Colebrook Street.[28]

Demographics

Population pyramid of the City of Winchester

A Legatum Prosperity Index published by the Legatum Institute in October 2016 showed the City of Winchester as the third most prosperous council area in the United Kingdom, after the Borough of Waverley and Mole Valley.[29]

Ethnicity

Ethnic Group 1991[30] 2001[31] 2011[32]
Number % Number % Number %
White: Total 95,427 99% 104,907 97.8% 111,577 95.7%
White: British – – 101,689 94.8% 107,070 91.8%
White: Irish – – 750 733
White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller – – – – 263
White: Other – – 2,468 3,511
Asian or Asian British: Total 563 0.6% 1,063 1% 2,639 2.3%
Asian or Asian British: Indian 144 382 665
Asian or Asian British: Pakistani 31 44 92
Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi 80 180 222
Asian or Asian British: Chinese 142 324 745
Asian or Asian British: Other Asian 166 133 915
Black or Black British: Total 147 0.2% 270 0.3% 457 0.4%
Black or Black British: Caribbean 54 118 147
Black or Black British: African 41 126 250
Black or Black British: Other Black 52 26 60
Mixed or British Mixed: Total – – 708 0.7% 1,626 1.4%
Mixed: White and Black Caribbean – – 142 321
Mixed: White and Black African – – 86 180
Mixed: White and Asian – – 283 684
Mixed: Other Mixed – – 197 441
Other: Total 249 0.3% 274 0.3% 296 0.3%
Other: Arab – – – – 110
Other: Any other ethnic group 249 0.3% 274 0.3% 186
Total 96,386 100% 107,222 100% 116,595 100%

Parishes

Whiteley, the district's second largest settlement, being a new town developed from the 1980s that partly straddles the neighbouring borough of Fareham.
New Alresford, the district's other town.

Much of the borough is covered by civil parishes. The main part of the Winchester urban area, roughly corresponding to the pre-1974 borough, is an unparished area.[26] The council runs a "Winchester Town Forum" for this area to discuss local matters in that area in the absence of a parish council.[33] The parish councils for New Alresford and Whiteley have declared their parishes to be towns, allowing them to take the style "town council". Some of the smaller parishes have a parish meeting rather than a parish council.[34]

The parishes are:

Notes

  1. ^ Elected as a Conservative

References

  1. ^ a b UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Winchester Local Authority (E07000094)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Local Authority Districts, Counties and Unitary Authorities (April 2021) Map in United Kingdom". Office for National Statistics: Open Geography Portal. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  3. ^ "History of the Mayor". Winchester City Council. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  4. ^ Municipal Corporations Act. 1835. p. 459. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  5. ^ Parliamentary Boundaries Act 1832. 1832. p. 344. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Winchester Municipal Borough". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  7. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan District (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 17 November 2023
  8. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 31 May 2023
  9. ^ "District Councils and Boroughs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 28 March 1974. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  10. ^ "No. 46255". The London Gazette. 4 April 1974. p. 4401.
  11. ^ Atkinson, Christopher (16 May 2024). "New Winchester mayor appointed in special ceremony". Hampshire Chronicle. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
  13. ^ "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Members". South Downs National Park Authority. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  15. ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Winchester". BBC News Online. 19 April 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  17. ^ "Winchester Lib Dems win by-election in Oliver's Battery and Badger Farm". Hampshire Chronicle. 28 January 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  18. ^ "Council minutes". Winchester City Council. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  19. ^ "Cabinet, Wednesday, 11th February, 2004 9.00 am - Minutes" (PDF). Winchester City Council. Winchester City Council. 11 February 2004. Retrieved 22 December 2023. Mr Penman had been a Member of the Council from 1962 to 1987 and Leader from 1979 to 1987
  20. ^ Macdonald, Jock (2022). Gibbon's Years. Part 2 Section 45: Matador Books. ISBN 9781805146940.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  21. ^ Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher (13 August 2013). "Winchester City Council Election Results 1973-2012" (PDF). The Elections Centre. The Elections Centre. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  22. ^ "Local elections 2024: full mayoral and council results for England". The Guardian. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  23. ^ "Election results". Winchester City Council. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  24. ^ "The Winchester (Electoral Changes) Order 2015", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2015/2063, retrieved 17 November 2023
  25. ^ "City councillor resigns from the Conservatives to better represent residents". Hampshire Chronicle. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  26. ^ a b "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  27. ^ Historic England. "Guildhall, Winchester (Grade II) (1095464)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  28. ^ "Contact us". Winchester City Council. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  29. ^ Braiden, Gerry (13 October 2016). "Scots authority named amongst UK's top 10 most prosperous – as neighbouring city props up table". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  30. ^ Data is taken from United Kingdom Casweb Data services of the United Kingdom 1991 Census on Ethnic Data for England, Scotland and Wales (Table 6)
  31. ^ "Office of National Statistics; 2001 Census Key Statistics". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  32. ^ "2011 Census: Ethnic Group, local authorities in England and Wales". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  33. ^ "Winchester Town Forum". Winchester City Council. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  34. ^ "Parish council contact details". Winchester City Council. Retrieved 17 November 2023.

51°03′43″N 1°19′01″W / 51.062°N 1.317°W / 51.062; -1.317

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=City_of_Winchester&oldid=1233279282"