Borough of Melton

For other uses, see Melton (disambiguation).

Borough and non-metropolitan district in England

Borough of Melton

Borough and non-metropolitan district

Melton Mowbray, best known for both the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie and St Mary's Church. It is the administrative centre of the borough.

Shown within Leicestershire.

Sovereign state| United Kingdom
Constituent country| England
Region| East Midlands
Administrative county| Leicestershire
Founded| 1974
Admin. HQ| Melton Mowbray
Government

• Type| Melton Borough Council
• MPs:| Alicia Kearns
Area

• Total

| 186 sq mi (481 km2)
• Rank| 79th
Population

(2022)

• Total

| 52,433
• Rank| Ranked 293rd
• Density| 280/sq mi (110/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)

[1]

• Ethnic groups|

List

* 96.9% White
* 1.3% Mixed
* 1.2% Asian
* 0.4% Black
* 0.2% other

Religion (2021)

[1]

• Religion|

List

* 56.8% Christianity
* 41.7% no religion
* 1.2% other
* 0.3% Islam

Time zone| UTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time)
• Summer (DST)| UTC+1 (British Summer Time)
ONS code| 31UG (ONS)
E07000133 (GSS)
Ethnicity| 98.8% White
Website| melton.gov.uk

Melton is a local government district with borough status in north-eastern Leicestershire, England. It is named after its only town, Melton Mowbray. The borough also includes numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. The north of the district includes part of the Vale of Belvoir. Melton is the least populous district of its type and the fourth least populous district in England overall.

The neighbouring districts are Harborough, Charnwood, Rushcliffe, Newark and Sherwood, South Kesteven and Rutland.

## History

[edit]

The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the area of two former districts, which were both abolished at the same time:[2]

* Melton Mowbray Urban District
* Melton and Belvoir Rural District

The new district was named Melton after the area's only town, Melton Mowbray.[3] The district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.[4]

## Governance

[edit]

Melton Borough Council

Type
Type|

Non-metropolitan district

History
Founded| 1 April 1974
Leadership

Mayor

Siggy Atherton,
Conservative
since 15 May 2025[5]

Leader

Pip Allnatt,
Labour
since 24 May 2023[6]

Chief Executive

Edd de Coverly
since 28 August 2017[7]

Structure
Seats| 28 councillors

Political groups

Administration (14)
Independent (8)
Labour (6)
Other parties (14)
Conservative (11)
Liberal Democrat (1)
Independent (2)

Length of term

| 4 years
Elections

Last election

| 4 May 2023

Next election

| 6 May 2027
Meeting place
Parkside, Station Approach, Burton Street, Melton Mowbray, LE13 1GH
Website
www.melton.gov.uk

Melton Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Leicestershire County Council. Much of the borough is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[8][9]

### Political control

[edit]

The council has been under no overall control since the 2023 election, being run by a joint administration of Labour and most of the independent councillors, led by Labour councillor Pip Allnatt.[10]

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Since 1974 political control of the council has been as follows:[11]

Party in control | Years

|

| Conservative | 1974–1995
| No overall control | 1995–2003
| Conservative | 2003–2023
| No overall control | 2023–present

### Leadership

[edit]

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Melton. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 2011 have been:

Councillor | Party | From | To

|
|
|

Malise Graham |  | Conservative |  | 14 Dec 2011
Byron Rhodes[12][13] |  | Conservative | 14 Dec 2011 | 17 May 2016
Pam Posnett[13][14] |  | Conservative | 17 May 2016 | 16 May 2017
Joe Orson[14][15] |  | Conservative | 16 May 2017 | 10 May 2023
Pip Allnatt[16] |  | Labour | 24 May 2023 |

### Composition

[edit]

Following the 2023 election,[17][18] and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to May 2025, the composition of the council was:[19][20]

Party  | Councillors

|

| Conservative | 10
| Labour | 6
| Liberal Democrats | 1
| Independent | 10
Total  | 28

Of the ten independent councillors, eight sit together as the "Independent Group" which forms the council's administration with Labour.[21] The next election is due in 2027.[20]

### Elections

[edit]

See also: Melton Borough Council elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2003 the council has comprised 28 councillors representing 16 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[22]

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

### Premises

[edit]

The council is based at Parkside on Burton Street, adjoining Melton Mowbray railway station. The building was purpose-built for the council and opened in 2011.[23]

When first created in 1974 the council inherited offices at Egerton Lodge on Wilton Road from Melton Mowbray Urban District Council and at Warwick Lodge on Dalby Road from Melton and Belvoir Rural District Council.[24] In 1986 the council moved to a new building called Council Offices on Nottingham Road.[25] The Nottingham Road building burnt down on 30 May 2008.[26][27] The northern wing of the building was repaired and is now called Phoenix House, but the rest of the building was beyond repair and was demolished. The council instead chose to build new headquarters at Parkside, spending £5.6m on the new building.[23]

East Midlands Councils is based at the Pera Business Park on Nottingham Road, opposite the former Melton borough offices.[28] The former East Midlands Regional Assembly was based at the same site until it was abolished in 2010.

## Geography

[edit]

The district borders South Kesteven, in Lincolnshire, to the east, Rutland to the south, Charnwood to the west (along the A46 Fosse Way), and Rushcliffe and Newark and Sherwood in Nottinghamshire to the north. The north part of the district is known as the Vale of Belvoir.

## Parishes

[edit]

The former Melton Mowbray Urban District is an unparished area. The rest of the borough is divided into civil parishes.[9]

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

## Electoral wards

[edit]

The borough is divided into 16 electoral wards:[29]

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

## Economy

[edit]

Farming and food production are the main industries with Pedigree Petfoods in Melton, and its Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition at Waltham on the Wolds. There is a large creamery (Long Clawson Dairy) at Long Clawson. Samworth Brothers are headquartered in Melton. The Royal Army Veterinary Corps and Defence Animal Training Regiment are also in Melton.

The Birmingham to Peterborough Line runs through the borough, and the borough is criss-crossed by the A607 (Leicester-Grantham) and the A606 (Nottingham-Oakham). Both these roads meet in the centre of Melton (outside Melton Brooksby College), with resulting congestion.

## Food

[edit]

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

## Media

[edit]

The area is served by BBC East Midlands and ITV Central with television signals received from the Waltham transmitter which is situated at Waltham-on-the-Wolds, 5 miles (8 km) north-east of Melton Mowbray. [30]

Radio stations for the area are:

* BBC Radio Leicester on 104.9 FM
* Smooth East Midlands on 106.6 FM
* Capital Midlands on 96.2 FM
* Greatest Hits Radio Midlands on 106 FM
* The Eye, a community based station that serves Melton Mowbray and the Vale of Belvoir on 103 FM[31]

Local newspapers are Leicester Mercury and Melton Times[32]

## Education

[edit]

Entering the borough near Twyford on the B6047

Until September 2008, the district operated the three-tier education system, whereby there were three middle schools. All these schools fed into the same upper school in Melton from 14-18. At both GCSE and A level, the district's results are above the England average. From age 16 Students can attend either Melton Vale Post 16 Centre for academic sixth form courses, or Brooksby Melton College for vocational courses.

## Demography

[edit]

Melton population pyramid

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

Population growth in the Borough of Melton

Year  | 1951  | 1961  | 1971  | 1981  | 1991  | 2001  | 2011  |  | 2016  |  | 2021  | 2031
Population  | 32,825  | 34,512  | 38,897  | 42,578  | 45,105  | 47,890  | 50,376  |  | 50,900  |  | 53,000  | 55,500
Census [33] |  | ONS[34] |  | ONS Projections [35]

### Highest rate of accidental death in England in 2010/11

[edit]

In March 2012, Melton was identified as having the highest rate of accidental death by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, with statistics over the period from 2010/11 showing an average of 29 deaths for 100,000 people.[36]

## Coat of arms

[edit]

Coat of arms of Borough of Melton

Notes
Granted 17 December 1986[37]
Crest
On a wreath Argent and Gules a lion rampant quarterly Argent and Gules holding in the dexter claw a Latin cross Or and in the sinister claw a roll of parchment Proper.
Escutcheon
Quarterly Gules and Vert in the first and fourth quarters a tower and in the second and third quarters a garb Or over all a lion rampant Argent.
Supporters
On the dexter side a bull Sable armed Or and gorged with a collar dancetty of two points upward Argent and on the sinister side a horse Argent gorged with a like collar Gules each resting the interior hoof on a tower Or the whole upon a grassy compartment divided per pale by furrows.
Motto
Unity With Diversity

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Melton Local Authority (E07000133)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
2. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 22 August 2022
3. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 22 August 2022
4. ^ "District Councils and Boroughs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 28 March 1974. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
5. ^ "Melton Borough Council appoint new Mayor at the annual meeting of the Council". Melton Borough Council. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
6. ^ "Council minutes, 24 May 2023". Melton Borough Council. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
7. ^ "Chief Executive". Melton Borough Council. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
8. ^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
9. ^ a b "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
10. ^ "Council sets new direction". Melton Borough Council. 1 August 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
11. ^ "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 21 May 2025. (Put "Melton" in search box to see specific results.)
12. ^ "Council minutes, 14 Dec 2011" (PDF). Melton Borough Council. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
13. ^ a b "Council minutes, 17 May 2016" (PDF). Melton Borough Council. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
14. ^ a b "Council minutes, 16 May 2017". Melton Borough Council. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
15. ^ Rennie, Nick (10 May 2023). "Melton Borough Council leader resigns". Melton Times. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
16. ^ "Council minutes, 24 May 2023". Melton Borough Council. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
17. ^ "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
18. ^ "Melton result - Local Elections 2023". BBC News.
19. ^ Rennie, Nick (20 September 2023). "Melton's only Green borough councillor resigns". Melton Times. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
20. ^ a b "Melton". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
21. ^ "Your councillors by political grouping". Melton Borough Council. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
22. ^ "The Borough of Melton (Electoral Changes) Order 2002", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2002/2599, retrieved 31 October 2023
23. ^ a b "Memories flood back 10 years on from devastating Melton Council offices blaze". Melton Times. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
24. ^ "No. 50667". The London Gazette. 26 September 1986. p. 12520.
25. ^ "No. 50747". The London Gazette. 16 December 1986. p. 16227.
26. ^ "Melton Borough Council offices from the rear after the fire". Geograph. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
27. ^ Photos: Melton Council HQ Fire. "Melton Borough Council offices burn down in May 2008". BBC. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
28. ^ "East Midlands Councils". Retrieved 1 November 2023.
29. ^ "The Borough of Melton (Electoral Changes) Order 2002". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
30. ^ "Full Freeview on the Waltham (Leicestershire, England) transmitter". UK Free TV. 1 May 2004. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
31. ^ "103 The Eye". Retrieved 19 April 2024.
32. ^ "Melton Times". Retrieved 19 April 2024.
33. ^ Vision of Britain through time
34. ^ mid year estimate
35. ^ ONS population projections 2014 base / projections reduced by '21 - 500/'31 - 500 given an overestimation at 2016 - 600/
36. ^ Child Safety (26 March 2012). "New Injury Stats Show Burden Of Accidents And Regional Varia..." RoSPA. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
37. ^ "East Midlands Region". Civic Heraldry of England. Retrieved 5 March 2021.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Melton.

* Community profile at Leicestershire County Council
* Council returns to Melton in October 2008
* Council office demolished in June 2008
* Stapleford Miniature Railway

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